How did Yangshao farmers live in ancient Henan?

In ancient Henan, the farmers of the Yangshao culture lived in settled communities, occupying lands at the confluence of the Huang, Wei, and Fen rivers. Their lifestyle was characterized by the following:1

• Housing: They lived in sunken circular or rectangular dwellings, which were sometimes quite large. These pit houses provided natural insulation and represented a long-term commitment to their location.12
• Agriculture: Farmers cultivated foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, and kaoliang (a type of sorghum). They utilized primitive stone tools to work the easily cultivated loess soil.1
• Subsistence: While they were primarily farmers, they also engaged in hunting and fishing to supplement their diet. They practiced animal domestication, specifically keeping dogs and pigs.13
• Technology: The culture is well-known for its painted pottery, which was fired in kilns dug into the ground. They also produced silk and utilized both chipped and polished stone tools.3

These early agricultural communities were foundational to the development of civilization in the region.1