Cowrie Use and Social Differentiation in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 bce )

This study examines the usage and sociopolitical significance of cowries ( Monetaria moneta and Monetaria annulus ) in the Zhouyuan region during the Western Zhou period (1046–771 bce ), a key phase in the early development of Chinese statecraft. Through systematic analysis of over 2000 cowries excavated in tombs from three representative sites—Yaojia, Kongtougou, and Zhougongmiao—we assess species composition, modification types, and size distributions. These metrics are correlated with tomb rank, sex of the deceased, and chronological phase (Early, Middle, Late Western Zhou) to investigate diachronic and intergroup variations. Results show that cowrie usage peaked in the Middle Western Zhou period, with significant disparities in quantity and modification forms across social strata and between sexes. High‐ranking males disproportionately possessed larger cowries and types with complex modifications (e.g., ground dorsal and large‐hole), while lower‐ranking individuals and females had limited access, especially during the Middle phase. Over time, the decline in species diversity and rise in M. moneta ratios suggest shifts in supply routes, while the simplification of modifications indicates increasing constraints on cowrie resources. These changes coincided with the rise of the ceming ritual system and diminishing political reliance on cowrie‐based symbolism. The study argues that cowries functioned not only as prestige goods but as ritualized symbols of sociopolitical authority and hierarchy. Their declining use in the Late Western Zhou period reflects broader transformations in elite strategies of power legitimation

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