Bronzes from Northern China

In Inner Mongolia and other northern regions of China, along the border of China and the northern steppes of Eurasia, cultures that resembled those from the northern and western parts of the Mongolian Plateau and Siberia prospered. Here, bronzes similar to those of southern Siberia were used during the Shang (c. 16th-11th century B.C.) and Western Zhou (c. 11th-8th century B.C.) dynasties.

From the 8th and 7th centuries B.C., early nomadic cultures such as the Scythian culture, who were active along the coast of Black Sea, and the Sakan culture from Central Asia spread in the northern steppes of Eurasia. The Xiajiadian Upper Stratum Culture that spread throughout eastern Inner Mongolia during the late Western Zhou dynasty and the early Spring and Autumn period (770-476 B.C.) had a relationship with the nomadic cultures in the early stage. Relics of the cultures that existed during the middle Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.) have been found in three areas - namely Beijing and Hebei province, southern Inner Mongolia region, and Ningxia and Gansu region - included armor, horse tack and animal designs common with early nomadic culture.