Pots and potters of the Bronze Age of north-west Xinjiang

Bronze Age agro-pastoralist populations with economies and materials that are generally consistent with the Andronovo Culture-but with localised variations-are known throughout the mountains bordering the Eastern Eurasian Steppe. Recently, evidence for this tradition has also been found in north-west Xinjiang, China, although many questions remain about the production, use and significance of ceramics here. The authors' analyses of a sample of pottery from sites across the Bortala Valley permit the reconstruction of the ceramic chaine operatoire and offer two distinct stories: one of cultural connectivity with regional networks of Eurasian pastoralists, and another about self-expression through small-scale local ceramic production.