·95· The Transformation of Cultural Exchange between North China and the Eurasian Steppe from the Late Warring States Period to the Middle Western Han The Transformation of Cultural Exchange between North China and the Eurasian Steppe from the Late Warring States Period to the Middle Western Han Pan Ling (潘玲) Abstract: During the late Warring States period, extensive cultural exchange flowed between North China and the Eurasian Steppe, but with the advent of the Chinese imperial dynasties, powerful Eurasian polities also emerged, temporarily diminishing exchange. During the middle Western Han period, when Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, he had to bypass the north Xinjiang region, as it was under the influence of the Xiongnu, choosing instead a route through environmentally more difficult regions because it maintained a greater distance from the power of the Xiongnu. We argue here that the so-called ȃopeningȄ of the Silk Road was not so much the beginning of a phase of unprecedented interaction as it was an extension, shift, and transformation of previously existing exchanges. Key Words: Eurasian Steppe; North China; late Warring States Period; Western Han; ani- mal-style plaques; Silk Road During the late Warring States period (ca. third century BC), there was close cultural exchange between the Eurasian Steppe and North China. But at the end of this period to the middle Western Han period (ca. first century BC), the nature of this cultural exchange changed, be- coming diminished and stagnant. As we show here, this process is clearly reflected in archae- ological relics. 1. Eurasian Steppe Elements in North China during the Late Warring States Period During the late Warring States period, cultural exchange between North China and the central Eurasian Steppe flourished as regional elites arose in the frontier zone of northern Chinaȯa zone which scholars often refer to as the Great Wall Belt. The uppermost elites in this northern zone played an active role in cultural transmis- sion between northern China and the Eurasian Steppe. The most distinguishing prestige goods exhibiting this cultural exchange with the Eura- sian Steppe are gold and silver belt ornaments, harness decorations, and adornments for wooden objects. Examples of these include items found in Tomb 2 at the Xigoupan 西沟畔 cemetery in ZФungeȂer ”anner 准格尔旗 (Xigoupan 1980), two tombs at the Aluchaideng 䭫鲁柴登 site in Hangjin Banner 杭锦旗 (Tian 1980), and three tombs excavated in 2006 at the Majiayuan 马家 塬 cemetery site in Tianshui 天水 municipality, Gansu Province (Majiayuan 2008). These same kinds of burial goods were also found in Tomb 30 at the Xinzhuangtou 辛庄头 cemetery at the Yan Xiadu 燕都 site (capital of the Yan 燕 state) in Hebei Province (Hebei 1996), demon- strating the broad expanse of cultural exchange throughout the northern frontier of the Chinese states. Moreover, these precious metal items appear in great numbers in most of the tombs Pan Ling: The Research Center for Frontier Archaeology of Jilin University, China, E-mail:panling8600@qq.com, Mo- bile: +8613504305735 Asian Archaeology 3 (2015): 95Ȯ106