This rare pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes as well as finely-burnished jars such as this. 

This jar is relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring to it when tapped. It is also quite "heavily-potted" and has unusual "stepped" manufacture marks around the inner wall. It has a finely-burnished smooth surface, although in places this surface has delaminated and flaked away. The lower surface shows lightly-impressed cord impressions. The surface colour of the pottery varies slightly, a result of uneven conditions in the Neolithic kiln during firing.

The most interesting feature of this jar is the series of incised geometric patterns that surround about two-thirds of the shoulder (why the patterns do not extend around the entire shoulder is unknown). The design is mostly in one band although there are individual patterns as well, but just what meaning they have, it is doubtful that we shall ever know as these designs pre-date writing. It is extremely rare to see an incised pattern such as this.

Height 12.75 cm, diameter 14.5 cm. This jar is in remarkable condition with the only repair being to a surface chip on the outer rim, and this is not at all obvious.

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