Jar showing a stork with a fish and stone axe (彩繪鸛魚石斧圖陶缸)

Height: 46.8cm

Diameter at mouth: 62.7cm

Diameter at base: 20.1cm

Time: Neolithic, Yangshao Culture (5000-3000 BC)

Excavated in 1978 from Yancun Village in Linru County, Henan Province, it stems from the Yangshao Neolithic Culture. A colored jar was an artifact for a leader of a tribe to be buried with. Its white pigment signifies the tribe leader, the fish represents the enemy and the axe stands for power. It is a rare and valuable example of painted pottery from this early period.