Terracotta Tripod with Raised Nodes
Period: Peiligang Culture period
Unearthed Place: Peiligang Site in Xinzheng
时代：裴李岗文化时期
出土地点：新郑裴李岗遗址
The important feature of the Neolithic Age is the emergence of agricultural production, which provided a relatively stable food supply for human beings and changed the diet structure of ancient people, leading to their demand for cooking utensils.
新石器时代的重要特征是出现了农耕生产，原始种植业给人类提供了比较稳定的粮食供应，改变了先民的饮食结构，导致了先民对炊煮类器具的需求。
The Terracotta Tripod with Raised Nodes is a piece of red pottery related to the Peiligang Culture.
乳钉纹红陶鼎，红陶器，裴李岗文化，高22厘米、口径23厘米，1977年新郑裴李岗遗址出土，现藏于河南博物院。
The shape of the tripod is such as round bottom pot with deep belly. It’s mouth is open and the base is thin, there are traces of mud in the walls. Below the mouth of the pottery about 3 to 11 centimeters, three rows of nods are placed. The first and second row are 10 nodes existing,while the third is 12.
器身形如深腹圜底盆，敞口薄胎，内壁留有泥条盘筑的痕迹。口沿下约3至11厘米处捏塑三排扁圆锥状乳钉，下排现存12枚，中、上排各现存10枚。
Considering the age of the tripod, the use of nods on it is not so clear, it may be an kind of aesthetic decoration, or aim to be handled easily, or strengthen the body and increase the heating area and so on. There are three rectangular feet under the body of the tripod, which form a stable triangular support, and it is also convenient to add fuel under the tripod when make a fire on the ground.
由于年代久远，乳钉的用途目前还不明确，推测可能有：增加美感的装饰、便于把持、加固器身和增大受热面积等作用。器身下有三个长方形足，构成稳定的三角支撑，也便于平地起灶时在鼎下添加薪火。
The tripod is made of red pottery with sand, which can not only increase the permeability, but also enhance its heat resistance, so that it will not collapse under multiple high temperature heating
陶鼎质地为夹砂红陶，既可增加透气性，又能增强其耐热性，使其在多次高温加热下不致发生崩裂。
Tripod has special significance in Chinese traditional culture and is a representative vessel of Chinese culture.The Terracotta Tripod with Raised Nodes is the oldest pottery tripod found in China.
鼎在中华传统文化中具有极其特殊的意义，是中华文化的代表性器物。它是目前发现的中国最古老的陶鼎。（文图来源：河南博物院）
