Analysis of Plant Micro-botanical Remains from the Jiahu, Peiligang and Tanghu Sites in the Upper Reaches of the Huaihe River

Summary

Since 2010, we have extracted plentiful plant micro-remains from the surfaces of both stone artifacts and pottery recovered from the Jiahu (9000-7500 cal. yr BP), Peiligang (8500-7000 cal. yr BP) and Tanghu sites in central Henan Province, China. Through micro-morphological examination, starch grains and phytoliths from Oryza, Triticeae Dumort and millet were identified. These remains reflect the existence of mixed farming of rice and millet in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River 7000 years ago. We also found plentiful plant micro-remains from Dioscorea, Vigna, Quercus, Coix, Trapa and lotus root. However, the composition ratios of micro-botanical remains in these three sites are significantly different. This finding indicates that the geographical and climatic conditions were different in these three sites. These conditions have affected human’s selection and acquisition of the plant resources. In conclusion, we believe that a mixed farming agricultural pattern of rice and millet had formed in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River between 9000 to 7000 BP. However, this pattern was initial and in the primary stage and gathering activities still played an important role in the ancient subsistence practices.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Use-wear, Experimental Archaeology and Residue Analysis in the People's Republic of China, A Session in Memory of George H. Odell   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage