Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T10:11:07.078Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Paleodietary Analysis of Humans in Guanzhong Basin, Shaanxi Province Since 8000 BP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2017

Peng Cheng ,
Weijian Zhou ,
Wei Gong ,
YiZhi Zhu ,
Yachang Yang ,
G S Burr  and
Hua Du
Peng Cheng
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China Xi’an AMS Center and Province Key Laboratory, Xi’an 710043, China
Weijian Zhou*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China Xi’an AMS Center and Province Key Laboratory, Xi’an 710043, China Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Wei Gong
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China
YiZhi Zhu
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China Xi’an AMS Center and Province Key Laboratory, Xi’an 710043, China
Yachang Yang
Affiliation:
Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Xi’an 710043, China
G S Burr
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China Xi’an AMS Center and Province Key Laboratory, Xi’an 710043, China
Hua Du
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an 710061, China Xi’an AMS Center and Province Key Laboratory, Xi’an 710043, China
*
*Corresponding author. Email: Weijian@loess.llqg.ac.cn.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We identified human paleodietary changes from inhabitants of the Guanzhong basin since 8000 BP, based on published carbon and nitrogen isotopic measurements on bones, fauna and plant remains. We also directly measured 14C ages, δ13C and δ15N values from bones unearthed at the Zhouyuan site, west of Guanzhong, in order to reconstruct paleodietary changes of the ancient inhabitants. We found that during the Laoguantai period, animal foods were the main source of nourishment with supplementary plant-derived foods. After this period, plant-derived foods became the main food source, with supplementary animal sources. The development of dry farming led to increased consumption of foxtail millet and broomcorn millet. This trend persisted and marked a fundamental shift from hunting, gathering, and fishing to farming and animal domestication. The dietary trends of the ancient inhabitants also show pronounced regional differences through time. The use of domestic animals was proportionally higher in the eastern part of the Guanzhong region, while wild animals were more common in the west.

Keywords

14C datingδ13Cδ15Nfaunal and plant remainspaleodiet
Type
Applications
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 59 , Special Issue 5: 8th International Symposium, Edinburgh, 27 June – 1 July, 2016 Part 1 of 2 , October 2017 , pp. 1435 - 1446
Copyright
© 2017 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Selected Papers from the 8th Radiocarbon & Archaeology Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, 27 June–1 July 2016

References

REFERENCES

Ambrose, SH. 1990. Preparation and characterization of bone and tooth collagen for isotopic analysis. Journal of Arcaeological Science 17:431–451.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ambrose, SH. 1991. Effects of diet, climate and physiology on nitrogen isotope abundances in terrestrial food webs. Journal of Archaeological Science 18:293–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ambrose, SH. 1993. Isotopic analysis of paleodiets: methodological and interpretive considerations. In: Sandford MK, editor. Investigation of Ancient Human Tissue, Chemical Analyses in Anthropology. Langhorne, PA: Gordon and Breach Scientific. p 59–130.Google Scholar
Ambrose, SH. 2000. Controlled diet and climate experiments on nitrogen isotope ratios of rat bone collagen, hair and muscle. In: Ambrose SH, Katzenberg MA, editors. Biogeochemical Approaches to Paleodietary Studies. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum. p 43–259.Google Scholar
Ambrose, SH, Norr, L. 1993. Isotopic composition of dietary protein and energy versus bone collagen and apatite: purified diet growth experiments. In: Lambert JB, Grupe G, editors. Molecular Archaeology of Prehistoric Human Bone. Berlin: Springer. p 1–37.Google Scholar
Beiliu site. 1986. Report on the second and third excavation at Beiliu site in Weinan. Prehistory Z1:111–129. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Brown, TA, Nelson, DE, Vogel, JS, Southon, JR. 1988. Improved collagen extraction by modified Longin method. Radiocarbon 30(2):171–177.Google Scholar
Cai, LZ, Qiu, SH. 1984. 13C evidence for ancient diets in China. Archaeology 10:949–955. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Chen, X. 2012. Stable isotope and strontium isotope research of human bones from Liangjia cun site in Western Zhou period. Northwest University. In Chinese.Google Scholar
China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage, editor. 1992. An Atlas of Chinese Relics. Xi’an Map Publishing House. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Choy, K, Richards, MP. 2010. Isotopic evidence for diet in the Middle Chulmun period: a case study from the Tongsamdong shell midden, Korea. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 2(1):1–10.Google Scholar
Collins, MJ, Galley, P. 1998. Towards an optimal method of archaeological collagen extraction: the influence of pH and grinding. Anc Biomol 2:209–222.Google Scholar
Craig, OE, Bondioli, L, et al. 2013. Evaluating marine diets through radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis of victims of the AD79 eruption of Vesuvius. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 152:345–352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DeNiro, MJ. 1985. Postmortem preservation and alteration of in vivo bone collagen isotope ratios in relation to palaeodietary reconstruction. Nature 317:806–809.Google Scholar
Ekaterina, AP. 2005. Reconstructing northern Chinese Neolithic subsistence practices by isotopic analysis. Journal of Arcaeological Science 32:1176–1189.Google Scholar
Fu, Y. 2000. The faunal remains in Anban site at Fufeng. In: The Archaeology Department of Northwest University, editors. Anban Site in Fufeng. Beijing: Science Press. p 290–4. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Guo, Y, et al. 2016. Stable isotopic analysis of human remains from the Beiliu site. Archaeology and Cultural Relics 1:115–120. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Guo, Y, Hu, YW, et al. 2011. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope evidence in human diets based on evidence from the Jiangzhai site, China. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 30(2):149–157. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Harrison, R, Katzenberg, MA. 2003. Paleodiet studies using stable carbon isotopes from bone apatite and collagen: examples from Southern Ontario and San Nicolas Island, California. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 22(3):227–244.Google Scholar
Hu, SM, et al. 2007. The animal remains from Guantaoyuan archeological site in Baoji city, Shaanxi and its paleoevironmental significance. Journal of Northwest University (Natural Science Edition) 37(1):115–118. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Hu, Y, Ambrose, SH, Wang, C. 2006. Stable isotopic analysis of human bones from Jiahu site, Henan, China: implications for the transition to agriculture. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:1319–1330.Google Scholar
Hu, YW, Yang, XM, Wang, CS. 2000. Palaeodietary reviews. In: Wang CS, editor. Proceedings of Archaeometry, 2nd Edition. Hefei: University of Science and Technology of China Press. p 51–58.Google Scholar
Hu, YW, He, DL, Dong, Y, et al. 2005. Stable isotopic analysis on human bones from the Xigongqiao site, Tengzhou, Shandong. Quaternary Sciences 25(5):561–567. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Jiangzhai. 1988. Excavation of the Neolithic Site at Jiangzhai by the Excavation Group. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House. p 348–350. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Jull, AJT. 2007. Radiocarbon dating: AMS method. In: Elias SA, editor. Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Oxford: Elsevier. p 2911–2918.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kinaston, RL, Walter, RK, et al. 2013. The first New Zealanders: patterns of diet and mobility revealed through isotope analysis. PLOS ONE 8(5):1–11.Google Scholar
Kohn, MJ. 1999. Enhanced: you are what you eat. Science 283:335–336.Google Scholar
Ling, X. 2010. Study on Diet of Ancient Qin People. Northwest University. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Lingkou Village of Lintong. 2004. Report on Excavation of Lingkou Village Ruins Of Lintong in Shaanxi Province of China. Xi’an: Sanqin Publishing House. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Liu, H, et al. 2013. Results of soil sample flotation from two Yangshao sites in Shaanxi and a comparative study. Archaeology and Cultural Relics 4:106–112. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Liu, XY. 2012. Research of Plant Remains from Anban Site, China. Northwest University. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Lubritto, C, Sirignano, C, Ricci, P, Passariello, I, Quiros Castillo, JA. 2013. Radiocarbon chronology and paleodiet studies on the medieval rural site of Zaballa (Spain): preliminary insights into social archaeology of the site. Radiocarbon 55(2–3):1222–1232.Google Scholar
Ma, MM, Dong, GH, Lightfoot, E, Wang, H, Liu, XY, Jia, X, Zhang, KR, Chen, FH. 2014. Stable isotope analysis of human and faunal remains in the Western Loess Plateau, approximately 2000 cal BC. Archaeometry 56(Supplement):237–255.Google Scholar
Malainey, ME. 2011. Isotope analysis. In: Schiffer MB, editor. A Consumer’s Guide to Archaeological Science. New York: Springer. p 177–200.Google Scholar
Millard, AR. 2014. Convention for reporting radiocarbon determinations. Radiocarbon 56(2):555–559.Google Scholar
Pia, A, John, D. 2001. Early Neolithic diets in Baijia, Wei River valley, China: stable carbon and nitrogen istope analysis of human and faunal remains. Journal of Archaeological Science 38:2811–2817.Google Scholar
Reitsema, LJ, Crews, DE, Polcyn, M. 2010. Preliminary evidence for medieval Polish diet from carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Journal of Archaeological Science 37:1413–1423.Google Scholar
Richards, MP. 2002. A brief review of the archaeological evidence for Palaeolithic and Neolithic subsistence. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 56:1270–1278.Google Scholar
Rutgers, LV, van Strydonck, M, Boudin, M, van der Linde, C. 2009. Stable isotope data from the early Christian catacombs of ancient Rome: new insights into the dietary habits of Rome s early Christians. Journal of Archaeological Science 36:1127–1134.Google Scholar
Schoeninger, MJ, Moore, J. 1999. Subsistence strategies of two “savanna” chimpanzee populations: the stable isotope evidence. American Journal of Primatology 49:297–314.Google Scholar
Schoeninger, MJ. 1989. Reconstructing prehistoric human diet. In: Price TD, editor. The Chemistry of Prehistoric Human Bone. New York: Academic Press. p 211–229.Google Scholar
Schoeninger, MJ. 2010. Diet reconstruction and ecology using isotope ratios. In: Larsen CS, editor. A Companion to Biological Anthropology. Chichester: Wiley. p 445–464.Google Scholar
Sealy, J. 2001. Body tissue chemistry and palaeodiet. In: Brothwell DR, Pollard AM, editors. Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. London: Wiley. p 269–279.Google Scholar
Shi, YF. 1992. The climates and environments of Holocene megathermal in China. Beijing: Ocean Press. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Slota, PJ, Jull, AJT, Linick, TW. 1987. Preparation of small samples for 14C accelerator targets by catalytic reduction of CO2 . Radiocarbon 29(2):303–306.Google Scholar
Song, ZH. 2005. The Social Life History in Xia and Shang Periods. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press. p 349–368. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–363.Google Scholar
Tauber, H. 1981. 13C evidence for dietary habits of prehistoric man in Denmark. Nature 292:332–333.Google Scholar
Tong, WH. 1984. The remains of ancient agriculture from Cishan and related issues. Agricultural Archaeology 1:194–207. In Chinese.Google Scholar
van der Merwe, NJ. 1982. Carbon isotopes, photosynthesis and archaeology. American Scientist 70:596–606.Google Scholar
van der Merwe, NJ, Roosevelt, AC, Vogel, AC. 1981. Isotopic evidence for prehistoric subsistence change at Parmana, Venezuela. Nature 292:536–538.Google Scholar
van Klinken, GJ. 1999. Bone collagen quality indicators for palaeodietary and radiocarbon measurements. Journal of Archaeological Science 26(6):687–695.Google Scholar
Wang, R. 2004. Fishing, farming, and animal husbandry in the early and middle Neolithic of the middle Yellow River valley, China [PhD thesis]. Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign.Google Scholar
Xi’an Banpo. 1963. A Settlement Site of An Ancient Clan Community. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House. p 222–226. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Xinglonggou site. 2004. The excavation of Xinglonggou site in Chifeng County, Inner Mongolia. Archaeology 7:579–584. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Kuzmin, YV. 2015. Reconstruction of prehistoric and medieval dietary patterns in the Russian Far East, a review of current data. Radiocarbon 57(4):571–580.Google Scholar
Yuan, SX, et al. 2000. Comparison of different bone pretreatment methods for AMS 14C dating. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 172:424–427.Google Scholar
Zazzo, A, Munoz, O, Saliege, JF. 2014. Diet and mobility in a Late Neolithic population of coastal Oman inferred from radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 153:353–364.Google Scholar
Zhang, HY. 2007. On the periodization and typology of the Laoguantai culture in the Weishui River Valley. Acta Archaeologica Sinica 2:153–178. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhang, JZ. 1999. Wu Yang Jiahu. Beijing: Science Press. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhang, XL, Qiu, SH, et al. 2010. Studies on diet of the ancient people of the Yangshao cultural sites in the central plains. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 29(2):197–207. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhang, XL. 2003. Study on the diet of ancient people by analyzing bone elements and isotopes. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 22(2):62–75. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhang, YX. 2006. The analysis report on fanual remains in Xiaweiluo site. In: Northwestern University Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Research Center, Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute, editor. Xiaweiluo Site in Xunyi. Beijing: Science Press. p 546–8. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhao, C. 2011. A Study on the Faunal Remains of Neolithic in Guanzhong Region. Steppe Cultural Relics 2:101–108. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhao, ZJ, et al. 2004. Flotation results from Wangjiazui locality of the Zhouyuan site, Fufeng county of Shaanxi. Cultural Relics 10:89–96. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhao, ZJ. 2011. The flotation results and analysis of Zhuangli village at Zhouyuan site. In: Zhouyuan Archaeological Team, editor. The Excavation of the Bronze Asting Remains in Locus West of Zhuangli Village at Zhouyuan Site in the Springs of 2003 and 2004. Acta Archaeologica Sinica 2:295–300. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhong, H, Yang, YC, et al. 2015. The research on the remains of the carbonized plant in the New Street site, Lantian country, Shaanxi province. Cultural Relics of Southern China 3:36–43. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhou, QY, et al. 2008. Holocene environmental change and its impacts on cultural development in the Weihe Basin. Progress in Geography 27(5):12–18. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhou, WJ, Zhao, XL, Lu, XF, Liu, L, Wu, ZK, Cheng, P, Zhao, WN, Huang, CH. 2006. The 3MV multi-element AMS in Xi’an, China: unique features and preliminary tests. Radiocarbon 48(2):285–293.Google Scholar
Zhu, YZ, Cheng, P, Yang, YC. 2013. 14C dating and isotopic analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of “The Giant”. Quaternary International 308–309:42–44.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Cheng et al supplementary material

Table S2

Download Cheng et al supplementary material(File)
File 15.9 KB