To reiterate, the Chinese inhabitants on the frontier probably came into contact with Manchurian nomadic cultures, mixing cultures but not languages. While the more numerous Chinese eventually won out linguistically15, they were forever tainted culturally. The warrior culture of the Longshan spread up and down the coast of China, while the Yangshao culture continued on the upper Yellow River.
The Longshan pounded earth for dwellings and defense. The historical Shang dynasty that followed also utilized piled up earth as a defensive measure. It is not certain what threat would warrant these formidable fortifications, but probably military aggression either from nomads on the perimeter or local armies. These rings of earth became even more enormous during the Shang dynasty. These massive earthworks ultimately culminated in the Great Wall, which was definitely constructed to ke