Editing Bell (section)

== History ==
[[File:銅鈴 Chinese Bell.jpg|thumb|left|Chinese bronze bell, 18th–16th century BCE]]
[[File:Bianzhong.jpg|right|thumb|[[Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng]], dated 433 BCE]]
The earliest archaeological evidence of bells dates from the 3rd millennium BCE, and is traced to the [[Yangshao culture]] of [[Neolithic China]].{{sfn | von Falkenhausen | 1994 | p=132}} [[Ling (bell)|Clapper-bells]] made of pottery have been found in several archaeological sites.{{sfn|Huang|2002|pp=20–27}} The pottery bells later developed into metal bells. In West Asia, the first bells appear in 1000 BCE.{{sfn | von Falkenhausen | 1994 | p=132}} The earliest metal bells, with one found in the [[Taosi]] site and four in the [[Erlitou]] site, are dated to about 2000 BCE.{{sfn | von Falkenhausen | 1994 | pp=132, 329, 342|loc=Appendix I}} With the emergence of other kinds of bells during the [[Shang dynasty]] ({{circa|1600|1050 BCE}}), they were relegated to subservient functions; at Shang and [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] sites, they are also found as part of the horse-and-chariot gear and as collar-bells of dogs.{{sfn | von Falkenhausen | 1994 | p=134}} By the 13th century BCE, bells weighing over {{convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=off}} were being cast in China. After 1000 CE, iron became the most commonly used metal for bells instead of bronze. The earliest dated iron bell was manufactured in 1079, found in [[Hubei Province]].{{sfn | Rostoker | Bronson | Dvorak | 1984 | p=750}}

Bells west of China did not reach the same size until the 2nd millennium CE. Assyrian bells dated to the 7th century BCE were around 4 inches high. Roman bells dated to the 1st and 2nd century CE were around 8 inches high.{{sfn | Needham | 1962 | p=195}} The [[book of Exodus]] in the [[Bible]] notes that small gold bells were worn as ornaments on the hem of the robe of the [[High Priest of Israel|high priest]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|28:33–34|KJV}}</ref> Among the [[Classical Greece|ancient Greeks]], handbells were used in camps and garrisons and by patrols that went around to visit sentinels.{{sfn|National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge|1874}} Among the Romans, the hour of bathing was announced by a bell. They also used them in the home, as an ornament and emblem, and bells were placed around the necks of cattle and sheep so they could be found if they strayed. As late as the 10th century CE, European bells were no higher than 2 feet in height.{{sfn | Needham | 1962 | p=195}}