论蒙古鹿石的年代及相关问题

The Deer Stone is an important cultural remain which is scattered a lot in Mongolia, Mainly in the west and northwest areas. It is also found in the Eurasian grasslands but very little in quantity. as for its age, there exist many different views for a long time. Actually the Deer stone displays a way of personification of stone statue, so we usually can find carved weapons and tools on the waist of it. Nevertheless, we can deduce the age according to these carvings. Archaeological discoveries in the northern-grasslands of China show that the carvings on Deer stone are all the typical vessels that were very popular in the late Shang period. Such as the beast-headed or bell-headed short sword with curved handle, the beast-headed sword with upright blade dagger, the ring-headed or double ring-headed short sword, the mushroom-headed short sword, the tub-shaped htchet, the arrow-shaped vessels and etc. Thus lead us to the conclustion that most of the Deer Stones must be of the late Bronze Age(11-7BC).As for the Deer stone culture‘s Similarity in some aspects to that of cultures like Lijiaya, Weiyingzi, third phase of Weifang culture or Xiajiadian culture in the north parts of China, that reflects the northern grasslands bronze culture of China left a strong influence on the cultures of Mongolia.

On the Age of the Deer Stone in Mongolia and Related Problems