Prehistoric groundstone tools including slabs (metate, mo-pan) and mullers (mano, mo-bang) are often considered to be tools that were used to process cereals in ancient China. Most archaeologists believe that groundst...Prehistoric groundstone tools including slabs (metate, mo-pan) and mullers (mano, mo-bang) are often considered to be tools that were used to process cereals in ancient China. Most archaeologists believe that groundstone tools are indicators of an agrarian economy. This study employed starch grain analysis to examine a slab and a muller excavated from the Shangzhai Site (7500-7000 cal a BP), Beijing. Identifiable starch grains recovered from the stone tools were classified into 9 genera and 12 species, most of which were from acorns and foxtail millets. Remains from the oak species Q. mongolicus, Q. acuttssima, and Q. dentate were identified as well as a few starch grains from broomcorn (Panicum miliaseum) and bean (Vigna sp.). Other starch grains were from unidentifiable roots and grasses. A variety of starch grains indicates that the grinding stone tools were used to process not only cereals, but also other seeds or roots that had to be ground or husked, thus bringing into question the aforementioned cereal hypothesis. Because the numbers of starch grains from nuts and millets were so large, both gathering and cultivation might have been important economic patterns before 7000 years ago in Beijing area. Moreover, the starch remains are derived from plants that indicate that the paleoclimate of Beijing was wetter and warmer than today’s.展开更多
Charred residues adhering to sherds of ceramic cooking vessels,pots (Fu),excavated from the Kuahuqiao site (8000-7000 cal a BP) in Zhejiang Province were examined using the method of starch grain analysis.Ancient star...Charred residues adhering to sherds of ceramic cooking vessels,pots (Fu),excavated from the Kuahuqiao site (8000-7000 cal a BP) in Zhejiang Province were examined using the method of starch grain analysis.Ancient starch grains were recovered from charred residues and were classified into 8 genera.Remains from rice (Oryza spp.),job's-tears (Coix chinesis T.),bean (Vigna spp.),acorn (Quercus spp.) as well as possibly buckeye tree (Aesculus chinensis B.) were identified.Other starch grains from unidentified plants were also recovered.Tracheids with bordered pits from softwood fibers were also found,indicating that some food might have been processed with wooden tools.The range of starch grains in the charred residues adhering to the ceramic pots reveals the diversity of ancient plant foods at the Kuahuqiao site,Zhejiang Province.展开更多
Chenqimogou site, located at the south bank of Tao River, is comprised of a large group of graves dated to ~4000 a BP. For its large scale, unique mortuary system, and abundant of typical artifacts, the site was named...Chenqimogou site, located at the south bank of Tao River, is comprised of a large group of graves dated to ~4000 a BP. For its large scale, unique mortuary system, and abundant of typical artifacts, the site was named one of 'Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2008 in China'. Many intact human skeletons have been excavated from the graves. Three teeth from two adult skeletons excavated from graves M187 and M194 were examined. Forty-eight starch grains were retrieved from dental calculus of three teeth. Six of those starch grains could not be identified because of damage. The others were classified into seven groups. Most of them were from wheat (Triticum aestivum) and/or barley (Hordeum vulgare). Remains possibly from foxtail millet (Setaria italica), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), gingkgo (Ginkgo biloba), acorn (Quercus spp.), bean, roots or tubers were identified. Ancient starch grains from dental calculus indicate that human foodstuffs primarily sourced from wheat, buckwheat, and foxtail millet. Acorn, beans, tubers or roots were supplements. A variety of starch grains retrieved from dental calculus revealed that diverse crops were cultivated in the Chenqimogou site 4000 years ago, and both dry-land farming and gathering were engaged.展开更多
江西社山头遗址是赣东北地区新石器时代的典型遗址,尚未开展相关环境考古和植物考古等方面的研究。对该遗址出土陶器内壁残留物的淀粉粒分析表明,内壁残留物中包含了不同种类植物的淀粉粒,主要来自稻类和粟类作物,还有部分块根块茎类植...江西社山头遗址是赣东北地区新石器时代的典型遗址,尚未开展相关环境考古和植物考古等方面的研究。对该遗址出土陶器内壁残留物的淀粉粒分析表明,内壁残留物中包含了不同种类植物的淀粉粒,主要来自稻类和粟类作物,还有部分块根块茎类植物以及部分暂时不能鉴定的淀粉粒。可鉴定淀粉粒中包括稻类7粒、粟类9粒、块根块茎类2粒。从恢复的植物种类上来看,社山头遗址区域在4500~3500 a BP这段时间的植物利用包括了稻类、粟类和部分块根块茎类植物。本研究结果可以为中国南方地区的植物考古和环境考古研究提供直接证据和补充,说明了该遗址古人类除水稻外其他植物资源的利用情况。同时本研究结果也可为南方地区古人类食谱和植物资源利用结构研究提供方法上的新思路。展开更多
The upper-middle Huai River valley(HRV) is located in the transition zone in the middle of eastern China. Previous studies have shown that the past populations in the upper HRV obtained plant food through gathering an...The upper-middle Huai River valley(HRV) is located in the transition zone in the middle of eastern China. Previous studies have shown that the past populations in the upper HRV obtained plant food through gathering and cultivation of both rice and millet during the middle Neolithic. However, for the middle HRV it is not very clear what methods were used by humans to obtain plant food in that time. In this paper, starch grain analysis was carried out on 17 stone tools and 29 cauldron pottery sherds unearthed at Shunshanji(8.5–7.0 kyr BP), which is known as the earliest Neolithic site in the middle HRV excavated so far. Here, ancient starches from Coix lacryma-jobi, Triticeae, Oryza sativa, Trichosanthes kirilowii and one unidentified specie were recovered. This study contributes to the limited knowledge of food strategies as observed in the middle HRV. It demonstrates that both gathering and cultivation of rice took place during the middle-Neolithic. Among the identified species, Coix lacryma-jobi appears to have been the main plant food at Shunshanji. Moreover, it is clear that Oryza sativa was not consumed as much as other plant species according to the occurrence frequency of different starch grains. Starch grains were also found on the used surfaces of grinding stone implements as well as pestles, which means that these stone tools were used for food processing. In addition, axes from Shunshanji may also have been used for food processing as well as wood working because starches were also found on the edge of axes. Information about subsistence strategies and tool use at Shunshanji will also be helpful to understanding the utilization of plants and agricultural development in the middle HRV during the early-middle Neolithic period.展开更多
It is generally recognized that millet agriculture originated in northern China. However, the domestication process of foxtail millet(Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum) is still poorly understood...It is generally recognized that millet agriculture originated in northern China. However, the domestication process of foxtail millet(Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum) is still poorly understood. Based on statistical and morphological analyses of ancient millet starch grains, a tangible hypothesis has been proposed for the long-term domestication of green foxtail millet(S. viridis). However, the hypothesis requires validation by evidence from more regions and more archaeological finds. The West Liaohe region is one of the earliest regions of millet cultivation. Here, we report ancient starch grains recovered from 12 stone grinding tools from eight sites of the Xiaohexi culture(before 8.5 ka BP), Xinglongwa culture(8.2–7.4 ka BP), Zhaobaogou culture(7.0–6.4 ka BP), and Hongshan culture(6.5–5.0 ka BP) in the West Liaohe region of China. Our results indicate that the proportion of millet starch grains with wrinkled surfaces and rough edges, which are diagnostic of wild millet grasses, decreased from 13.0% to 3.4% from the Xiaohexi culture to the Hongshan culture. Millet starch grains measuring >16.8 ?m, a size class recorded only in domesticated foxtail millet, increased from 55.0% to 62.1%. These millet data imply that the process of millet domestication in the West Liaohe region began in the Xiaohexi period and continued up to the Hongshan period.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40771205)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 40625002)Knowledge Innovation Project from Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZC2-YW-315-5)
文摘Prehistoric groundstone tools including slabs (metate, mo-pan) and mullers (mano, mo-bang) are often considered to be tools that were used to process cereals in ancient China. Most archaeologists believe that groundstone tools are indicators of an agrarian economy. This study employed starch grain analysis to examine a slab and a muller excavated from the Shangzhai Site (7500-7000 cal a BP), Beijing. Identifiable starch grains recovered from the stone tools were classified into 9 genera and 12 species, most of which were from acorns and foxtail millets. Remains from the oak species Q. mongolicus, Q. acuttssima, and Q. dentate were identified as well as a few starch grains from broomcorn (Panicum miliaseum) and bean (Vigna sp.). Other starch grains were from unidentifiable roots and grasses. A variety of starch grains indicates that the grinding stone tools were used to process not only cereals, but also other seeds or roots that had to be ground or husked, thus bringing into question the aforementioned cereal hypothesis. Because the numbers of starch grains from nuts and millets were so large, both gathering and cultivation might have been important economic patterns before 7000 years ago in Beijing area. Moreover, the starch remains are derived from plants that indicate that the paleoclimate of Beijing was wetter and warmer than today’s.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40771205)National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 40625002)Knowledge Innovation Project from Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZC2-YW-315-5)
文摘Charred residues adhering to sherds of ceramic cooking vessels,pots (Fu),excavated from the Kuahuqiao site (8000-7000 cal a BP) in Zhejiang Province were examined using the method of starch grain analysis.Ancient starch grains were recovered from charred residues and were classified into 8 genera.Remains from rice (Oryza spp.),job's-tears (Coix chinesis T.),bean (Vigna spp.),acorn (Quercus spp.) as well as possibly buckeye tree (Aesculus chinensis B.) were identified.Other starch grains from unidentified plants were also recovered.Tracheids with bordered pits from softwood fibers were also found,indicating that some food might have been processed with wooden tools.The range of starch grains in the charred residues adhering to the ceramic pots reveals the diversity of ancient plant foods at the Kuahuqiao site,Zhejiang Province.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40771205)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 40625002)Knowledge Innovation Project from Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX2-YW-315)
文摘Chenqimogou site, located at the south bank of Tao River, is comprised of a large group of graves dated to ~4000 a BP. For its large scale, unique mortuary system, and abundant of typical artifacts, the site was named one of 'Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2008 in China'. Many intact human skeletons have been excavated from the graves. Three teeth from two adult skeletons excavated from graves M187 and M194 were examined. Forty-eight starch grains were retrieved from dental calculus of three teeth. Six of those starch grains could not be identified because of damage. The others were classified into seven groups. Most of them were from wheat (Triticum aestivum) and/or barley (Hordeum vulgare). Remains possibly from foxtail millet (Setaria italica), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), gingkgo (Ginkgo biloba), acorn (Quercus spp.), bean, roots or tubers were identified. Ancient starch grains from dental calculus indicate that human foodstuffs primarily sourced from wheat, buckwheat, and foxtail millet. Acorn, beans, tubers or roots were supplements. A variety of starch grains retrieved from dental calculus revealed that diverse crops were cultivated in the Chenqimogou site 4000 years ago, and both dry-land farming and gathering were engaged.
文摘江西社山头遗址是赣东北地区新石器时代的典型遗址,尚未开展相关环境考古和植物考古等方面的研究。对该遗址出土陶器内壁残留物的淀粉粒分析表明,内壁残留物中包含了不同种类植物的淀粉粒,主要来自稻类和粟类作物,还有部分块根块茎类植物以及部分暂时不能鉴定的淀粉粒。可鉴定淀粉粒中包括稻类7粒、粟类9粒、块根块茎类2粒。从恢复的植物种类上来看,社山头遗址区域在4500~3500 a BP这段时间的植物利用包括了稻类、粟类和部分块根块茎类植物。本研究结果可以为中国南方地区的植物考古和环境考古研究提供直接证据和补充,说明了该遗址古人类除水稻外其他植物资源的利用情况。同时本研究结果也可为南方地区古人类食谱和植物资源利用结构研究提供方法上的新思路。
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05130503)the Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project of the Ministry of Education (Grant No. 15YJA780003)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41472148, 41502164)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 201321101)
文摘The upper-middle Huai River valley(HRV) is located in the transition zone in the middle of eastern China. Previous studies have shown that the past populations in the upper HRV obtained plant food through gathering and cultivation of both rice and millet during the middle Neolithic. However, for the middle HRV it is not very clear what methods were used by humans to obtain plant food in that time. In this paper, starch grain analysis was carried out on 17 stone tools and 29 cauldron pottery sherds unearthed at Shunshanji(8.5–7.0 kyr BP), which is known as the earliest Neolithic site in the middle HRV excavated so far. Here, ancient starches from Coix lacryma-jobi, Triticeae, Oryza sativa, Trichosanthes kirilowii and one unidentified specie were recovered. This study contributes to the limited knowledge of food strategies as observed in the middle HRV. It demonstrates that both gathering and cultivation of rice took place during the middle-Neolithic. Among the identified species, Coix lacryma-jobi appears to have been the main plant food at Shunshanji. Moreover, it is clear that Oryza sativa was not consumed as much as other plant species according to the occurrence frequency of different starch grains. Starch grains were also found on the used surfaces of grinding stone implements as well as pestles, which means that these stone tools were used for food processing. In addition, axes from Shunshanji may also have been used for food processing as well as wood working because starches were also found on the edge of axes. Information about subsistence strategies and tool use at Shunshanji will also be helpful to understanding the utilization of plants and agricultural development in the middle HRV during the early-middle Neolithic period.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. XDA05130603 & XDA05130402)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41371217, 41072140 & 41301208)
文摘It is generally recognized that millet agriculture originated in northern China. However, the domestication process of foxtail millet(Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet(Panicum miliaceum) is still poorly understood. Based on statistical and morphological analyses of ancient millet starch grains, a tangible hypothesis has been proposed for the long-term domestication of green foxtail millet(S. viridis). However, the hypothesis requires validation by evidence from more regions and more archaeological finds. The West Liaohe region is one of the earliest regions of millet cultivation. Here, we report ancient starch grains recovered from 12 stone grinding tools from eight sites of the Xiaohexi culture(before 8.5 ka BP), Xinglongwa culture(8.2–7.4 ka BP), Zhaobaogou culture(7.0–6.4 ka BP), and Hongshan culture(6.5–5.0 ka BP) in the West Liaohe region of China. Our results indicate that the proportion of millet starch grains with wrinkled surfaces and rough edges, which are diagnostic of wild millet grasses, decreased from 13.0% to 3.4% from the Xiaohexi culture to the Hongshan culture. Millet starch grains measuring >16.8 ?m, a size class recorded only in domesticated foxtail millet, increased from 55.0% to 62.1%. These millet data imply that the process of millet domestication in the West Liaohe region began in the Xiaohexi period and continued up to the Hongshan period.
