The Inner Asian Mountain Corridor(IAMC)acted as a crossroads of trans-Eurasian exchange since approximately 6000 cal.yr BP.The history of the introduction and utilization of crops and livestock in the area has been in...The Inner Asian Mountain Corridor(IAMC)acted as a crossroads of trans-Eurasian exchange since approximately 6000 cal.yr BP.The history of the introduction and utilization of crops and livestock in the area has been intensively discussed,while geographical-temporal variations of human activities and subsistence strategies remain unclear.Here we report new zooarchaeological data and radiocarbon dates from the Naba Cemeteries,revealing herbivorous livestock were predominant animal resource during both the Bronze and Early Iron Ages,and sheep/goat and horse were paramount sacrificial animals in these two periods,respectively.In tandem with published radiocarbon dates,zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data from IAMC's prehistoric sites,we detect humans mainly engaged in hunting-gathering games in the IAMC during 8000-5000 cal.yr BP.During 5000-4000 cal.yr BP,the territory of agro-pastoral groups evidently expanded in the IAMC with a hotspot in the Altai Region,and wheat and barley were introduced into the area.In the following two millennia,herding became an economic mainstay,and cultivations of crops were ubiquitous in the IAMC's oases.We argue that prehistoric human activities in the IAMC were mainly affected by agro-pastoral expansions associated with exchanges across the Eurasia,which was likely promoted by climate change.展开更多
A series of criteria such as morphological metrics, pathology, age structure, sex ratios, relative proportions, archaeological phenomena, diet analysis, and DNA studies are established for identifying the origins of d...A series of criteria such as morphological metrics, pathology, age structure, sex ratios, relative proportions, archaeological phenomena, diet analysis, and DNA studies are established for identifying the origins of domestic animals in ancient China in a scientific way. Using these criteria, it is established that the earliest domestic dog has been found in southern Hebei Province(ca. 10,000 BP), and the earliest domestic pig in southern Henan Province(ca. 9000 BP). Domestic sheep have been found in the Gansu–Qinghai region dating from 5600–5000 BP, and domestic cattle in eastern Gansu Province(ca. 5000 BP). Domestic horses from the period 4000–3600 BP have been discovered in eastern Gansu, and domestic chickens have been identified from sites in eastern Henan Province dating to ca. 3300 BP. Although the locations and time of the origins of animal domestication vary, they are mostly located in northern China.展开更多
The transition of human societies from high mobility to sedentary lifestyles had a profound impact on subsistence,technology,and the origin of civilization.Sedentism was influenced by various factors such as climate c...The transition of human societies from high mobility to sedentary lifestyles had a profound impact on subsistence,technology,and the origin of civilization.Sedentism was influenced by various factors such as climate change,population growth,resource pressure,and technological innovation.The Tibetan Plateau,due to its alpine and hypoxic conditions,is an ideal region to study human adaptation to extreme environments.However,the prehistoric process of sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau is unclear and the chronological sequence and driving mechanism of sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau are still controversial.Previous studies have focused on the diffusion of agriculture from low to high elevation areas,with little attention given to the role of animal resources in sedentism.Seasonality analysis using animal remains is crucial in determining whether a site was occupied year-round.To establish the seasonal calendar of animal resource utilization,it is recommended to create a database of skeletal morphology,whole genome,and proteome of contemporary Tibetan Plateau fauna to aid in the identification of animal remains from archaeological sites.Thus,intricate web of human-animal-environment relationship and the role of animal resources in human sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau can then be evaluated.展开更多
During the climatic fluctuations in the late Late Pleistocene, hominins in China had experienced some significant changes and adaptations in terms of subsistence strategies. Based on the zooarchaeological analyses of ...During the climatic fluctuations in the late Late Pleistocene, hominins in China had experienced some significant changes and adaptations in terms of subsistence strategies. Based on the zooarchaeological analyses of the faunal remains from the Shuidougou site of North China and the Ma'anshan site of South China, the present study demonstratively indicates that the broad-spectrum diet and its closely-related resource intensification for hominins were already at their places roughly at 33–35 cal ka BP. Compared to hominins of earlier period, who would have preferentially exploited large and medium-sized ungulates, hunter-gathers at later period had otherwise incorporated more small-sized animals(especially the quick ones, such as birds and hares) into their diet. Meanwhile, hominins of the later time had also greatly accelerated extractions and exploitations of the nutritional yields from the large and medium-sized animals. However, it seems clear from the current study that there was significant difference regarding the potential mechanisms for the broad-spectrum adaptations of hominins in the late Late Pleistocene of China.展开更多
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
Laoya Cave is a long-term occupation site of Late Paleolithic humans in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwest China, where abundant lithic, bone materials were recovered. Dating by the AMS technique showed a significa...Laoya Cave is a long-term occupation site of Late Paleolithic humans in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwest China, where abundant lithic, bone materials were recovered. Dating by the AMS technique showed a significant depositional process during marine isotope stage(MIS) 3/2. In this study, the species spectrum was presented from the perspective of zooarchaeology and the mortality profile of large Cervidae was examined to help increase our understanding of the subsistence strategy of local people dealing with climate and environmental changes. The main part of the diet was focused on large Cervidae, and the dominance of Ungulates indicates effective management of the cave and local fauna. On the other hand, the mortality profiles of large Cervidae varied correspondingly with climate change. The evidence indicates a specialized hunting strategy that was also flexible, depending on the prevailing climate and environment.展开更多
Ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Ma’anshan Paleolithic site, of which 4358 pieces can be identified to skeletal elements or species. In this research, the bone assemblages are quantified based ...Ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Ma’anshan Paleolithic site, of which 4358 pieces can be identified to skeletal elements or species. In this research, the bone assemblages are quantified based on elements of MNI, MNE, and MAU. Then bone surface modifications and skeletal element profiles of the bone assemblages are studied to understand shlepping behaviors and reveal the technique of disarticulating and defleshing the animals’ bodies, etc. Based on the analyses of bone assemblages and the comparative study with the ethnoarchaeological as well as experimental data, it is assumed that later hominids at the site made fuller use of the game animals than the earlier hominids. Incorporating the lines of evidence from chronological dating, paleoenvironment, and polished bone tools between the two cultural layers, here we propose three hypotheses suggesting that the changes of environment, the migrations of the hominids from the North, or the demographic pulses may cause such a behavioral difference. However, it is yet to be determined which hypothesis can better explain the changes.展开更多
More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the ...More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the two predominant species in this assemblage, aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus), the differential influences and weights of a variety of taphonomic agencies in the formation of the assemblage are assessed respectively. Compared to the natural agencies, hominid hunting and the subsequent disarticulation, slaughtering, and their transport of the bone elements of the prey species are the main factors accounting for the formation of the present assemblage. More importantly, this study initiatively identifies hominid's differential treatment of the bones of aurochs and horse in the Paleolithic record of East Asia and demonstrably suggests that hominids at the site have already practiced sophisticated hunting techniques and subsistence strategies and may be quite familiar with the ecological and anatomical characteristics and nutritional values of the large-sized prey animals and can accordingly take different processing and handling strategies at the hunting site.展开更多
Seasonality study of Paleolithic archaeological faunal assemblages is important for reconstructing modes of animal death and ancient hominin strategies for prey acquisition. The dental cementum of animal teeth records...Seasonality study of Paleolithic archaeological faunal assemblages is important for reconstructing modes of animal death and ancient hominin strategies for prey acquisition. The dental cementum of animal teeth records the season of an individual animal in which it died, providing the necessary evidence for determining any patterns in season of death. This article presents the procedure and preliminary results of the application of cementum incremental analysis to equid teeth, which comprise the dominant component of the fauna from the Xujiayao Site—an early Late Pleistocene archaeological site in China. Results show multi-seasonal use in both the upper and lower layers of this site. Furthermore, attention is given to the method's future application in seasonality studies at Paleolithic archaeological sites in China.展开更多
The innovations of agricultural production and their extensive dispersal promoted the transformation of human livelihoods and profoundly influenced the evolution of human-land relationships in late prehistoric Eurasia...The innovations of agricultural production and their extensive dispersal promoted the transformation of human livelihoods and profoundly influenced the evolution of human-land relationships in late prehistoric Eurasia.The Steppe and Silk Roads(SSRs)played important roles in the transcontinental exchange and dispersal of cereal crops and livestock related to agricultural innovation across Eurasia before the Han Dynasty(202 BC to AD 220),while the geographical-temporal variations in prehistoric subsistence in relation to the spread and exchange of cereal crops and livestock originating from different areas of Eurasia still remain unclear.In this paper,we explore these issues based on the review and analysis of published archaeobotanical,zooarchaeological,and carbon-stable isotope data from human bones from Neolithic-Early Iron Age sites in areas along the SSRs,with a comparison to updated results based on radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analyses.Our results suggest that humans engaged in hunting game,while foxtail/broomcorn millet cultivation gradually became the primary subsistence strategy in Eastern SSRs from 10,500 to 6000 a BP.In contemporaneous Western SSRs,humans mainly cultivated wheat/barley and raised sheep/goats,cattle,and pigs.Trans-Eurasian exchange,which is reflected by the mixed utilization of wheat/barley and millet,emerged in the south-central Steppe during 6000–4000 a BP,while millet cultivation and pig husbandry became the dominant livelihoods in most areas of Eastern SSRs.During 4000–2200 a BP,Silk Roads became the major passageway for trans-Eurasian exchange,the interactive development of oasis agriculture and pastoralism facilitated intensive human settlement in the Central Silk Roads,and subsistence strategies substantially changed with significant geographical differences in Eastern SSRs,while subsistence in some areas of Western SSRs was evidently affected by the introduction and adoption of millet crops after 3000 a BP.The geographical-temporal variations in subsistence in the SSRs from the Neolithic to Early Iron Age were primarily affected by the prehistoric dispersal of farming groups across Eurasia,which was accompanied by the spread of cereal crops/livestock,while the impacts of climate change still need to be further evaluated.展开更多
Based on optimal foraging theory,prey animals from the Shuidonggou Locality 12(SDG12) are divided into three types according to body size and defense traits:high-ranked large game,low-ranked slow small game,and low-ra...Based on optimal foraging theory,prey animals from the Shuidonggou Locality 12(SDG12) are divided into three types according to body size and defense traits:high-ranked large game,low-ranked slow small game,and low-ranked fast small game.Application of the Reciprocal of Simpson's Index to the three types of animals from SDG12 yields a relatively high level of evenness,which implies a broader meat diet of the SDG12 hominids.Compared to values of taxonomic evenness from Mediterranean sites,it is suggested that this dietary expansion probably resulted from the occurrence of the Broad Spectrum Revolution rather than from climatic changes in the Shuidonggou area.Comparative studies between the Natufian phases in Hayonim Cave and the SDG12 validate this argument.展开更多
基金The NSFC-INSF Joint Research Project,No.42261144670The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program,No.2019QZKK0601。
文摘The Inner Asian Mountain Corridor(IAMC)acted as a crossroads of trans-Eurasian exchange since approximately 6000 cal.yr BP.The history of the introduction and utilization of crops and livestock in the area has been intensively discussed,while geographical-temporal variations of human activities and subsistence strategies remain unclear.Here we report new zooarchaeological data and radiocarbon dates from the Naba Cemeteries,revealing herbivorous livestock were predominant animal resource during both the Bronze and Early Iron Ages,and sheep/goat and horse were paramount sacrificial animals in these two periods,respectively.In tandem with published radiocarbon dates,zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data from IAMC's prehistoric sites,we detect humans mainly engaged in hunting-gathering games in the IAMC during 8000-5000 cal.yr BP.During 5000-4000 cal.yr BP,the territory of agro-pastoral groups evidently expanded in the IAMC with a hotspot in the Altai Region,and wheat and barley were introduced into the area.In the following two millennia,herding became an economic mainstay,and cultivations of crops were ubiquitous in the IAMC's oases.We argue that prehistoric human activities in the IAMC were mainly affected by agro-pastoral expansions associated with exchanges across the Eurasia,which was likely promoted by climate change.
文摘A series of criteria such as morphological metrics, pathology, age structure, sex ratios, relative proportions, archaeological phenomena, diet analysis, and DNA studies are established for identifying the origins of domestic animals in ancient China in a scientific way. Using these criteria, it is established that the earliest domestic dog has been found in southern Hebei Province(ca. 10,000 BP), and the earliest domestic pig in southern Henan Province(ca. 9000 BP). Domestic sheep have been found in the Gansu–Qinghai region dating from 5600–5000 BP, and domestic cattle in eastern Gansu Province(ca. 5000 BP). Domestic horses from the period 4000–3600 BP have been discovered in eastern Gansu, and domestic chickens have been identified from sites in eastern Henan Province dating to ca. 3300 BP. Although the locations and time of the origins of animal domestication vary, they are mostly located in northern China.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41930323The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program,No.2019QZKK0601。
文摘The transition of human societies from high mobility to sedentary lifestyles had a profound impact on subsistence,technology,and the origin of civilization.Sedentism was influenced by various factors such as climate change,population growth,resource pressure,and technological innovation.The Tibetan Plateau,due to its alpine and hypoxic conditions,is an ideal region to study human adaptation to extreme environments.However,the prehistoric process of sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau is unclear and the chronological sequence and driving mechanism of sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau are still controversial.Previous studies have focused on the diffusion of agriculture from low to high elevation areas,with little attention given to the role of animal resources in sedentism.Seasonality analysis using animal remains is crucial in determining whether a site was occupied year-round.To establish the seasonal calendar of animal resource utilization,it is recommended to create a database of skeletal morphology,whole genome,and proteome of contemporary Tibetan Plateau fauna to aid in the identification of animal remains from archaeological sites.Thus,intricate web of human-animal-environment relationship and the role of animal resources in human sedentism on the Tibetan Plateau can then be evaluated.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05130302)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZZD-EW-15)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41302017)
文摘During the climatic fluctuations in the late Late Pleistocene, hominins in China had experienced some significant changes and adaptations in terms of subsistence strategies. Based on the zooarchaeological analyses of the faunal remains from the Shuidougou site of North China and the Ma'anshan site of South China, the present study demonstratively indicates that the broad-spectrum diet and its closely-related resource intensification for hominins were already at their places roughly at 33–35 cal ka BP. Compared to hominins of earlier period, who would have preferentially exploited large and medium-sized ungulates, hunter-gathers at later period had otherwise incorporated more small-sized animals(especially the quick ones, such as birds and hares) into their diet. Meanwhile, hominins of the later time had also greatly accelerated extractions and exploitations of the nutritional yields from the large and medium-sized animals. However, it seems clear from the current study that there was significant difference regarding the potential mechanisms for the broad-spectrum adaptations of hominins in the late Late Pleistocene of China.
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 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41302015)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2015CB953803)
文摘Laoya Cave is a long-term occupation site of Late Paleolithic humans in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwest China, where abundant lithic, bone materials were recovered. Dating by the AMS technique showed a significant depositional process during marine isotope stage(MIS) 3/2. In this study, the species spectrum was presented from the perspective of zooarchaeology and the mortality profile of large Cervidae was examined to help increase our understanding of the subsistence strategy of local people dealing with climate and environmental changes. The main part of the diet was focused on large Cervidae, and the dominance of Ungulates indicates effective management of the cave and local fauna. On the other hand, the mortality profiles of large Cervidae varied correspondingly with climate change. The evidence indicates a specialized hunting strategy that was also flexible, depending on the prevailing climate and environment.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806400)International Cooperation Program of MST of China (Grant No. 2007DFB 20330)State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS) (Grant No. 09311)
文摘Ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Ma’anshan Paleolithic site, of which 4358 pieces can be identified to skeletal elements or species. In this research, the bone assemblages are quantified based on elements of MNI, MNE, and MAU. Then bone surface modifications and skeletal element profiles of the bone assemblages are studied to understand shlepping behaviors and reveal the technique of disarticulating and defleshing the animals’ bodies, etc. Based on the analyses of bone assemblages and the comparative study with the ethnoarchaeological as well as experimental data, it is assumed that later hominids at the site made fuller use of the game animals than the earlier hominids. Incorporating the lines of evidence from chronological dating, paleoenvironment, and polished bone tools between the two cultural layers, here we propose three hypotheses suggesting that the changes of environment, the migrations of the hominids from the North, or the demographic pulses may cause such a behavioral difference. However, it is yet to be determined which hypothesis can better explain the changes.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. KZCX2-YW-Q1-04 and KZCX2-EW-QN110)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05130302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40602006 and 40872115)
文摘More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the two predominant species in this assemblage, aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus), the differential influences and weights of a variety of taphonomic agencies in the formation of the assemblage are assessed respectively. Compared to the natural agencies, hominid hunting and the subsequent disarticulation, slaughtering, and their transport of the bone elements of the prey species are the main factors accounting for the formation of the present assemblage. More importantly, this study initiatively identifies hominid's differential treatment of the bones of aurochs and horse in the Paleolithic record of East Asia and demonstrably suggests that hominids at the site have already practiced sophisticated hunting techniques and subsistence strategies and may be quite familiar with the ecological and anatomical characteristics and nutritional values of the large-sized prey animals and can accordingly take different processing and handling strategies at the hunting site.
基金supported by the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No.KZZD-EW-15)the Fundamental Project for Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2014FY110300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41672024 & 41672023)
文摘Seasonality study of Paleolithic archaeological faunal assemblages is important for reconstructing modes of animal death and ancient hominin strategies for prey acquisition. The dental cementum of animal teeth records the season of an individual animal in which it died, providing the necessary evidence for determining any patterns in season of death. This article presents the procedure and preliminary results of the application of cementum incremental analysis to equid teeth, which comprise the dominant component of the fauna from the Xujiayao Site—an early Late Pleistocene archaeological site in China. Results show multi-seasonal use in both the upper and lower layers of this site. Furthermore, attention is given to the method's future application in seasonality studies at Paleolithic archaeological sites in China.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFA0606402)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(A)(Grant No.XDA2004010101)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0601)。
文摘The innovations of agricultural production and their extensive dispersal promoted the transformation of human livelihoods and profoundly influenced the evolution of human-land relationships in late prehistoric Eurasia.The Steppe and Silk Roads(SSRs)played important roles in the transcontinental exchange and dispersal of cereal crops and livestock related to agricultural innovation across Eurasia before the Han Dynasty(202 BC to AD 220),while the geographical-temporal variations in prehistoric subsistence in relation to the spread and exchange of cereal crops and livestock originating from different areas of Eurasia still remain unclear.In this paper,we explore these issues based on the review and analysis of published archaeobotanical,zooarchaeological,and carbon-stable isotope data from human bones from Neolithic-Early Iron Age sites in areas along the SSRs,with a comparison to updated results based on radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analyses.Our results suggest that humans engaged in hunting game,while foxtail/broomcorn millet cultivation gradually became the primary subsistence strategy in Eastern SSRs from 10,500 to 6000 a BP.In contemporaneous Western SSRs,humans mainly cultivated wheat/barley and raised sheep/goats,cattle,and pigs.Trans-Eurasian exchange,which is reflected by the mixed utilization of wheat/barley and millet,emerged in the south-central Steppe during 6000–4000 a BP,while millet cultivation and pig husbandry became the dominant livelihoods in most areas of Eastern SSRs.During 4000–2200 a BP,Silk Roads became the major passageway for trans-Eurasian exchange,the interactive development of oasis agriculture and pastoralism facilitated intensive human settlement in the Central Silk Roads,and subsistence strategies substantially changed with significant geographical differences in Eastern SSRs,while subsistence in some areas of Western SSRs was evidently affected by the introduction and adoption of millet crops after 3000 a BP.The geographical-temporal variations in subsistence in the SSRs from the Neolithic to Early Iron Age were primarily affected by the prehistoric dispersal of farming groups across Eurasia,which was accompanied by the spread of cereal crops/livestock,while the impacts of climate change still need to be further evaluated.
基金supported by Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA05130302)Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KZCX2-EW-QN110)National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2010CB950203)
文摘Based on optimal foraging theory,prey animals from the Shuidonggou Locality 12(SDG12) are divided into three types according to body size and defense traits:high-ranked large game,low-ranked slow small game,and low-ranked fast small game.Application of the Reciprocal of Simpson's Index to the three types of animals from SDG12 yields a relatively high level of evenness,which implies a broader meat diet of the SDG12 hominids.Compared to values of taxonomic evenness from Mediterranean sites,it is suggested that this dietary expansion probably resulted from the occurrence of the Broad Spectrum Revolution rather than from climatic changes in the Shuidonggou area.Comparative studies between the Natufian phases in Hayonim Cave and the SDG12 validate this argument.
