Transcending the Niche of a Wild Progenitor: An Ecological Niche Perspective on the Spread of Archaeological Soybeans in China

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This study investigates the influence of climate change on the distribution and adaptation of wild soybeans and how it impacted ancient gathering/farming practices related to soybeans. Through quantitative pollen-based reconstruction and ecological niche modeling, it traces the effects of climate change on soybean domestication and post-domestication developments. During the early Holocene (9000-7000 cal. BP), the presence of soybeans started to shift from highly suitable to less suitable areas due to climatic fluctuations. This underscores the significant role of climatic factors in shaping soybean distribution during this period. Starting around 5,000 years ago, farmers, in response to climate challenges, began employing varietal diversification strategies in soybean cultivation. The 4.2 ka BP climatic event, characterized by deteriorating precipitation and temperature conditions, accelerated the development of soybean landraces. These varietal diversification strategies likely facilitated the spread of soybeans into different regions, including their movement southward into Fujian and Yunnan and westward into Gansu.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39178.0