As in much of the archaeology of prehistory, there is both confusion and debate regarding chronology, relationships, and nomenclature. I will take the view here that the Neolithic cultures at the mouth of the Yellow River in Shandong province were separate from, but had a reciprocal cultural relationship with the Yangshao-group cultures further west. The Dawenkou culture (ca.4200-2700BC) was named after finds made in Dawenkou in southern Shandong, and many of its pottery forms are direct precursors to those of the Longshan culture (ca.3000BC onwards) found at the Chengziyai and other sites in the Longshan area of western Shandong Province. The influence of this cultural lineage can be seen throughout northwest China as far as Gansu, and extended southwards even as far as Guangdong.

The Longshan lineage is particularly important in that they appear, via their architecture, artifacts, and rituals, to lead directly into the bronze age Xia (trad. 2205-1766BC) and Shang (1766-1045BC) dynasties. The Chengziyai site has raised oblong platforms of rammed earth that would have supported buildings much in the same way as those found at Anyang, northern capital of the Shang dynasty. Oracle bones also appear to have been used for the prediction of future events, something that continued well into the Shang period.

Far from the general image of "Stone age man", peoples of the Longshan lineage appear to have had a well developed aristocratic culture, as seen in their exceptionally fine black pottery and also in finds of stunning jewelry such as a composite jade hairpin inlaid with turquoise.

Although artifacts of shell, jade, stone, and wood have all been recovered at excavation, pottery remains are the most plentiful. These can broadly be classified into red, grey, white, and black pottery.

White pottery made of a predominantly kaolin clay appears exclusive to the Shandong region and is generally reserved for certain rather ritualistic shapes. The most famous are the Kui and the Li, three legged jugs whereby the contents can be heated directly over a fire. These are the precursors to the bronze ritual wine vessels of the Xia and Shang dynasties.

Relatively coarse grey pottery is also found at Dawenkou, one interesting form being a straight-sided vessel which tapers to a pointed base. Incised markings on these pieces have been interpreted as an early form of Chinese writing.

Red terracotta painted with black, white, and red pigments is found early on in the Dawenkou tradition. Patterns specific to the Longshan lineage include the characteristic eight-point star pattern and the four-petal flower pattern painted at the top of vessels. Pieces with the star pattern have been found as far south as Jiangsu province. Painted pottery soon appears to have been superceded by the production of black pottery.

The famous black pottery, formed on a fast-moving potter’s wheel and burnished to a glossy finish, is the most characteristic product of the Longshan lineage. The majority of pieces involve rather ritualistic shapes, the most remarkable being the "Pillar Beaker", a cup supported by a long hollow, often pierced stem about 3cm in diameter and up to 25cm in height. Other forms include stemcups (Dou), beakers with flared mouths, raised basins, covered jars, and beautifully proportioned pots. One characteristic of this black pottery is the abrupt changes in angle of many of the pieces, leading to the observation that they appear to have metal prototypes, even though none have ever been found.

Black and white pottery of the Longshan culture took the shapes of the Dawenkou tradition and rendered them with increasing complexity, poise, spatial balance, and refinement. Many of the black pieces are less than half a millimeter in thickness, the so-called "eggshell" black pottery, and represent masterpieces of the potter’s art which are never again equaled for their combination of elegance and delicacy.