This project uses Metropolitan Museum's resources extensively. I've taken photos...was taking videos...but was prohibited.
Homo erectus = Peking Man 500,000 BC near Beijing. (To link this to human ancestry by mere pattern without proof is mathematically unsound).
Early civilization: South. Zhejiang & Guangxi. 10k-7k B.C.
Neolithic Period
Early: pottery
Late: 30+ cultures, flute, lacquer, tiger & dragon themes, jade.
flute found: at Jiahu, Henan Province, from ulnea of red-nosed crane. 7k-5.7k BC.
Hemudu in Zhejiang, earliest found lacquer, from Lac tree.
河姆渡文化: wooden houses, weaving
仰韶文化: painted ceramics
大汶口文化: fire tech for fine undecorated black/white wares.
龙山文化: thine walls in ceramics
红山 & 良渚文化: jade/nephrite
2000 B.C: metal works, Bronze, Xia dynasty.
Shang Dynasty(1600-1050 BC): bronze vessels for wine/food. Cast using ceramic molds (piece-mold casting). Unlike Western/Egyptian's (or all other Bronze Age cultures) lost-wax casting method.
Zhou Dynasty: 1046BC, Zhou(West) took control of Shang(East). Written books 尚书 (history of takeover), 诗经 (poems/folk songs)
It certainly is remarkable to see the resemblance between Chinese pottery and that of the Greeks. A Comparison is crucial. And also the study of TaoTie (饕餮). The difference between Hu (壺) and Guan (罐), is that Guan is larger in body and used for storage while Hu is for serving tea, wine and such, usually comes with a handle. Like 鼎 (ding3), Guan is used for cooking as well.