The SanDai region of northern China: Xia, Shang and Zhou

Shang era

Bronze Ting vessel, Shang 1. Bronze Ting vessel, Shang dynasty.
Bronze sacrificial vessel, Shang 2. Shang bronze vessel, originally used by the king for sacrificial food.
Shang spear head 3. Shang spearhead. White jade blade on a bronze haft inlaid with turquoise.
Shang shell writing 4. Shell writing. The earliest writing dates from the early Shang and consisted of prayers written as pictographs and ideographs scratched on bone or shell.

Zhou Dynasty

Western Zhou pit dwelling 1. Pit dwelling at Chang-chia-p'o. Western Zhou housing continued the neolithic tradition of sub-terranean pits covered with thatched roofs. Typically the pit was shoulder deep, and had fire-hardened walls and floor, a sleeping area, storage niches, depressed fireplace, deep storage pits, and an entrance ramp.
Western Zhou inscription 2. An inscription from the Shih-yu kuei. From such inscriptions we can reconstruct the officials in the royal household and military officers. This inscription concerns the commander of a special military unit consisting of "city people."
Western Zhou kuei 3. Western Zhou Meng kuei bronze from Ch'ang-chia-p'o. Decorative bird theme.