During the time corresponding to the Shang and Zhou period in the Central Plains, several archaeological cultures co-existed in the western Sichuan plain, western Hubei and southern Shaanxi. The Shu people and some other ethnic groups in the western Sichuan plain founded the Shu state. The Shu culture features,in pottery,the brown sandy jar with small flat bottom, dou bowl with high stem, dish with ring-foot and various pointed-bottomed vessels. The Ba people lived in the western Hubei and created the Ba culture, which is characterized by the jar with flared rim and bulbous body,fu cauldron,urn with upright rim and straight collar,bo bowl and pointed-bottomed cup. The two cultures differ in some aspects. For example, in the Shu culture, the main cooking vessel is the small flat-bottomed jar,while in the Ba culture it is the flaring-rimmed bulbous-bodied jar and the fu. Further more, the Shu culture originated from the late Neolithic culture in western Sichuan,whereas the Ba culture from the Baimiao complex in western Hubei. So they are different archaeological cultures. The Baimashi Type culture in southern Shaanxi is characterized by black-surfaced pottery. The main vessel types are the jar and the distinctive basin with outturned broad rim. In addition,the cist-tomb existing in the Baimashi Type culture has been seen neither in the Shu nor in the Ba culture. As the black-surfaced pottery is the main pottery ware of the Longshan culture in the Hanshui River valley of southern Shaanxi,the Baimashi Type culture featuring this ware is obviously derived Shu nor in the Ba culture. As the black-surfaced pottery is the main pottery ware of the Longshan culture in the Hanshui River valley of southern Shaanxi,the Baimashi Type culture featuring this ware is obviously derived from the Longshan culture in southern Shaanxi. It can be concluded that these three cultures have their own characteristics and origin, and developed independently but exerted influence upon each other.
