Adaptability of Millets and Landscapes: Ancient Cultivation in North-Central Asia

Abstract

Millet is a highly adaptable plant whose cultivation dramatically altered ancient economies in northern Asia. The adoption of millet is associated with increased subsistence reliability in semi-arid settings and perceived as a cultigen compatible with pastoralism. Here, we examine the pace of millet’s transmission and locales of adoption by compiling stable carbon isotope data from humans and fauna, then comparing them to environmental variables. The Bayesian modelling of isotope data allows for the assessment of changes in dietary intake over time and space. Our results suggest variability in the pace of adoption and intensification of millet production across northern Asia.

North Central Asia isotopic database for archaeological samples

“…To the best of our knowledge, we identified all published studies related to stable isotopes in North Central Asia. Our focus was specifically on sites with carbon and nitrogen isotopic values to provide a synthesized dietary reconstruction of this region, aimed at determining the introduction of millet [1] . Additional information related to stable isotope collection (collagen yield, %C, %N, and atomic C/N) is included.…”

“…The North Central Asia Isotopic Database (NCAID) consists of published stable isotope data for archaeological human, animal, and, plant samples from across North Central Asia ( Fig. 1 ) [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] . Data was retrieved from 35 of publications creating a dataset with 3,143 individual entries, consisting of 2,494 of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic measurements.…”