Photo of Ancient Chinese Black Pottery Cauldron

-- Black Pottery Cauldron made by the Hemudu Culture. Dated during the Neolithic Period (ca. 5000 - 3000 B.C.); excavated at Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, 1973 The Hemudu Culture, which was located along the lower reaches of the Yangzi River, formed these cooking cauldrons from built-up layers of clay flakes, which were decorated with an overlapping rope pattern. They were placed over open fires.