Erlitou culture
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The Erlitou culture (Chinese: 二里頭; pinyin: Èrlǐtóu) was an early Bronze Age society and archaeological culture in the Yellow River valley. Early estimates dated it from approximately 1900 to 1500 BC. Radiocarbon dating studies since 2007 have yielded a narrower date range of 1750–1500 BC. The culture is named after Erlitou, an archaeological site in Yanshi, Henan. It was widely spread throughout Henan and Shanxi and later appeared in Shaanxi and Hubei. Most archaeologists consider Erlitou the first state-level society in China. Chinese archaeologists generally identify the Erlitou culture with the later part of the Xia dynasty, due to its location and chronology being consistent with traditional accounts. Some Western scholars argue that such a conclusion is premature, as unlike the Late Shang period, no contemporary written records have yet been found to prove the linkage.
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