Exploring plant bast fiber utilization in Neolithic societal transitions on the south Mongolian Plateau

Author(s): Yahui He

Year: 2025

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Technology, Production, and Social Changes in Chinese Archaeology" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

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The exploitation and technology of plant bast fiber have played a crucial role in human daily life for millennia. However, due to its perishable nature, plant fiber has remained underexplored in archaeological research. Recent advances in residue analysis using polarized light microscopy have proven effective in identifying micro-fiber remains, shedding new light on this material. The southern region of the Mongolian Plateau underwent profound societal transitions from hunting-gathering to sedentary lifestyles around 8,500 BP, culminating in the emergence of the first urban centers during the 5<sup>th</sup> millennium BP. Although extensive studies have documented the utilization of plants as food resources, the exploitation of bast fiber remains inadequately researched. This study addresses this gap by analyzing tools such as grinding stones and spindle whorls to explore the role of plant bast fiber in shaping social relationships during the Neolithic period in this region.

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Cite this Record

Exploring plant bast fiber utilization in Neolithic societal transitions on the south Mongolian Plateau. Yahui He. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 509735)

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51029