Rethinking urbanism in the early Bronze Age of China: The role of craft specialists and community politics in the social construction of Yanshi Shangcheng

This paper challenges traditional models of Chinese urbanism which emphasize the role of elites in the urbanization process while deemphasizing the role of other social groups. Synthesizing data from recent excavation reports from the early Bronze Age site of Yanshi Shangcheng, and primary research on lifeways of potters, the contribution of craft specialists to urban development is evaluated for different phases of the city's evolution. Results indicate that artisans, residing in a distinct city district, were instrumental in transforming the city, both spatially and socially, during an expansion phase, reshaping the urban plan and transforming its demographics. Implications of the spatial segregation of craft specialists are explored, including the construction of artisan identity in local communities and status building in these communities through the practice of potent rituals. Findings imply a more complex political dynamic in the built urban environment than traditionally formulated for this period in northern China.