The study of prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes of human adaption to high altitude environments.But to date,only a few...The study of prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes of human adaption to high altitude environments.But to date,only a few Paleolithic sites have been found on the Tibetan Plateau with clear stratigraphy and reliable dating.These sites are mainly distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin on the northeastern part of the plateau,and the sporadic fauna and flora remains excavated provide limited information about the subsistence strategies of hunter-gatherers.In 2014,relatively abundant animal remains were unearthed in the Lower Cultural Layer (LCL,15400-13100 cal yr BP) of the"151 site"located in the Qinghai Lake Basin,providing important information about human subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau during the Last Deglaciation.Zooarchaeological analysis of these faunal remains indicates that hunter-gatherers at the"151 site"mainly targeted large ungulates of Bos and wild horse/ass,and only brought back the most nutritious parts of animal carcasses including upper and intermediate limb bones,heads,and trunks (ribs and vertebrae).People then processed and consumed the carcasses around single hearths.Our comprehensive analyses of contemporaneous sites in the Qinghai Lake Basin show that a subsistence strategy involving opportunistic hunting of ungulates,high mobility,and short occupation of campsites was used by terminal Pleistocene huntergatherers to adapt to the high-altitude environment on the Tibetan Plateau.This subsistence strategy may have been a first step of gradual hunter-gatherer adaptation to the extreme conditions on the Tibetan Plateau after the Last Glacial Maximum,and laid the foundation for the widespread distribution of hunter-gatherers on the plateau during the Holocene.展开更多
Prehistoric projectile weapons are crucial for understanding the hunting behavior,survival strategies,and subsistence patterns of prehistoric humans.Arrowheads were the primary prehistoric projectile weapon,and here w...Prehistoric projectile weapons are crucial for understanding the hunting behavior,survival strategies,and subsistence patterns of prehistoric humans.Arrowheads were the primary prehistoric projectile weapon,and here we review the spatiotemporal distribution and changes in the morphology,quantity,and materials composition of arrowheads in the northern regions of China from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods to the Bronze Age,together with the factors that influenced these changes.The results reveal that primitive stone arrowheads appeared sporadically in the Middle Paleolithic period.Additionally,the“broad spectrum revolution”and microblade technology during the Upper Paleolithic promoted the regional-scale diffusion of broad and thick stone arrowheads in northern China.During the Neolithic period,relatively narrow and thin stone and bone arrowheads spread rapidly across the entire Yellow River Basin and most of northeastern China.The dominance of these two types of arrowheads alternated,during the period of 7000–5000 yr BP,the number of arrowheads peaked,possibly closely related to changes in the role of hunting(fishing and hunting)and gathering in the subsistence economy,human population size,and the emergence and development of a grinding technology.During the Bronze Age,a significant number of bronze arrowheads appeared,and the total number of arrowheads increased again,and their distribution expanded to northwestern China.The emergence of a bronze smelting technology and inter-group conflicts may have been the primary factors influencing this trend.Our results demonstrate that arrowheads were always an essential component of prehistoric tool kits.Due to technological developments in subsistence strategies,the morphology,function,and popularity of arrowheads underwent substantial changes during different periods.Therefore,a comprehensive study of prehistoric arrowheads can help better understand the subsistence patterns and processes of economic and societal development of prehistoric humans.展开更多
In contrast to primary animal products(meat,hide,blood,and bone)which can be extracted only once in the lifetime of an animal,secondary animal products are defined as those which can be exploited without slaughtering ...In contrast to primary animal products(meat,hide,blood,and bone)which can be extracted only once in the lifetime of an animal,secondary animal products are defined as those which can be exploited without slaughtering animals,for example milk,wool,power and dung.In the secondary products revolution model,the appearance of secondary animal products created a new type of human-animal relationship,increased the productivity and mobility of Neolithic farmers,and eventually facilitated the rise of complex societies in the Near East[1].展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41771225 & 41620104007)the Primary Supports for Scientific Research of Lanzhou University (Grant Nos. LZUJBKY-2016-254, LZUJBKY-2016-279 & LZUJBKY-2018-144)China Scholarship Council
文摘The study of prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes of human adaption to high altitude environments.But to date,only a few Paleolithic sites have been found on the Tibetan Plateau with clear stratigraphy and reliable dating.These sites are mainly distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin on the northeastern part of the plateau,and the sporadic fauna and flora remains excavated provide limited information about the subsistence strategies of hunter-gatherers.In 2014,relatively abundant animal remains were unearthed in the Lower Cultural Layer (LCL,15400-13100 cal yr BP) of the"151 site"located in the Qinghai Lake Basin,providing important information about human subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau during the Last Deglaciation.Zooarchaeological analysis of these faunal remains indicates that hunter-gatherers at the"151 site"mainly targeted large ungulates of Bos and wild horse/ass,and only brought back the most nutritious parts of animal carcasses including upper and intermediate limb bones,heads,and trunks (ribs and vertebrae).People then processed and consumed the carcasses around single hearths.Our comprehensive analyses of contemporaneous sites in the Qinghai Lake Basin show that a subsistence strategy involving opportunistic hunting of ungulates,high mobility,and short occupation of campsites was used by terminal Pleistocene huntergatherers to adapt to the high-altitude environment on the Tibetan Plateau.This subsistence strategy may have been a first step of gradual hunter-gatherer adaptation to the extreme conditions on the Tibetan Plateau after the Last Glacial Maximum,and laid the foundation for the widespread distribution of hunter-gatherers on the plateau during the Holocene.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2019QZKK0601-02)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.lzujbky-2021-ct03).
文摘Prehistoric projectile weapons are crucial for understanding the hunting behavior,survival strategies,and subsistence patterns of prehistoric humans.Arrowheads were the primary prehistoric projectile weapon,and here we review the spatiotemporal distribution and changes in the morphology,quantity,and materials composition of arrowheads in the northern regions of China from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods to the Bronze Age,together with the factors that influenced these changes.The results reveal that primitive stone arrowheads appeared sporadically in the Middle Paleolithic period.Additionally,the“broad spectrum revolution”and microblade technology during the Upper Paleolithic promoted the regional-scale diffusion of broad and thick stone arrowheads in northern China.During the Neolithic period,relatively narrow and thin stone and bone arrowheads spread rapidly across the entire Yellow River Basin and most of northeastern China.The dominance of these two types of arrowheads alternated,during the period of 7000–5000 yr BP,the number of arrowheads peaked,possibly closely related to changes in the role of hunting(fishing and hunting)and gathering in the subsistence economy,human population size,and the emergence and development of a grinding technology.During the Bronze Age,a significant number of bronze arrowheads appeared,and the total number of arrowheads increased again,and their distribution expanded to northwestern China.The emergence of a bronze smelting technology and inter-group conflicts may have been the primary factors influencing this trend.Our results demonstrate that arrowheads were always an essential component of prehistoric tool kits.Due to technological developments in subsistence strategies,the morphology,function,and popularity of arrowheads underwent substantial changes during different periods.Therefore,a comprehensive study of prehistoric arrowheads can help better understand the subsistence patterns and processes of economic and societal development of prehistoric humans.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41930323,42101147,and 41988101)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0601)。
文摘In contrast to primary animal products(meat,hide,blood,and bone)which can be extracted only once in the lifetime of an animal,secondary animal products are defined as those which can be exploited without slaughtering animals,for example milk,wool,power and dung.In the secondary products revolution model,the appearance of secondary animal products created a new type of human-animal relationship,increased the productivity and mobility of Neolithic farmers,and eventually facilitated the rise of complex societies in the Near East[1].
