Morphological Standardization of Prestige Goods and Political Integration in Early States: A Case Study of Erlitou Jue Vessels, China

Abstract This study uses the Jue ceramic drinking vessel from Erlitou culture (c. 1750–1520 BCE) as a case study to investigate the role of prestige goods in political integration and regional dynamics within China’s early states. Despite prior emphasis on the symbolic significance of Jue vessels in elite identity and authority, quantitative examinations of their spatiotemporal morphological variations are rare. Geometric morphometric analysis and multivariate analysis of variance of 51 Jue vessels from the Erlitou center and its surrounding areas – Yiluo Basin, Zhengzhou Plain, Jinnan, region, and Southern Henan – reveal a clear trend in morphological standardization from Phases II to IV of Erlitou culture that correspond to political power centralization, especially during Phase III. However, vessels from Yiluo Basin closely align with central morphological standards, whereas those from the Jinnan region exhibit notable deviations, indicating higher local autonomy. Those from Zhengzhou Plain present an intermediate pattern. Evidently, the Erlitou elites employed flexible, regionally specific strategies of integration, ranging from direct control to symbolic compliance. Morphological consistency in prestige goods reflects centralized authority and negotiated regional relationships. Combining quantitative morphometrics with archaeological theory offers a refined framework for understanding the interplay between political power and material culture in early complex societies.