In prehistoric China, egalitarian communities were often organized into ‘bifurcated settlements’ (两分结构聚落). These settlements are characterized by distinct clustering of residential areas and even burial grounds into two distinct sectors. Ethnographic examples of bifurcated settlements indicate their internal organization is a reflection of a kind of kinship organization akin to the moieties of South America, phratries of North America, and marriage classes of Australia. In Pre-Qin China, individuals had two forms of surname: Xing (姓) and Shi (氏), which represented Xing group and Shi group (clan) respectively. Bifurcated settlement patterns are suggestive of Xing kinship structure (matri-clans), while later, hierarchical societies were organized along Shi kin lines (patri-clans).