Broad-spectrum foodways in southern coastal Korea in the Holocene: Isotopic and archaeobotanical signatures in Neolithic shell middens

Abstract

Expanding diet breadth to previously unexplored resources was a key strategy in Neolithic adaptation through the Holocene. Most prominently, marine resources became substantial supplements in coastal and island regions worldwide. The Neolithic culture in Korea, known as the Chulmun, has been viewed as heavily based on a marine diet, as a large number of sites are shell middens with well-preserved marine resources. Terrestrial animal taxa are also documented in shell middens, but plant resources have been rarely reported because of the absence of archaeobotanical research. To help fill in this gap, we compared archaeobotanical and organic residue isotope data from four Neolithic shell middens, including Beombang, Bibongri, Sejukri, and Tongsamdong (7500 to 4000 cal BP). Results indicate that ca. Coastal inhabitants procured a broad-spectrum of resources from both marine and terrestrial taxa, while maintaining some difference in resource procurement across settlements from the Early Neolithic period. Particularly, the longer the occupation was, the wider the diet breadth became, including various plant resources and terrestrial animals. Our research demonstrates the utility of integrating archaeobotanical, grain impression, and isotopic methods, while building an additional robust case study demonstrating long-term niche construction and diverse resource seeking in coastal regions in the area.

New Marine Reservoir Correction Values (Δr) Applicable to Dates on Neolithic Shells From the South Coast of Korea

“…Early Neolithic people likely dwelled at or revisited Bibongri to take advantage of its broad-spectrum resources over generations. Archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological studies conducted at the site reflect diverse seasonal marine and terrestrial resources throughout the year (Kaneko 2008; Kwak et al 2020). Bibongri presented an affluent environment during the period where these shell middens were used.…”

“…This diverse combination of tools and dwelling structures represent at least multi-seasonal settlements at Bibongri. Diverse seasonal resources, which are reflected in plant and animal remains, were attractive to Bibongri people; they were able to sustain themselves through fishing-shellfishing, hunting, wild plant harvesting, and millet cultivation during the Early Neolithic period (Kwak et al 2020). A long tradition of such broad-spectrum resource use probably made Bibongri a vital cultural niche over several hundred years, similar to the findings on the east coast of Korea (Lee et al 2019).…”

“…More recent studies based on charred remains and grain impressions on pottery confirm the presence of both foxtail and broomcorn millets in the Early Neolithic context at Tongsamdong (Obata 2013) and Bibongri (Lee et al 2019; Kwak et al 2020). Both charred remains and Early Neolithic pottery with millet impressions from Shell Layer 1 at Bibongri push the introduction of millet to the Early Neolithic period (7700–5500 cal BP) (Lee et al 2019; Kwak et al 2020). Floated sediments also yielded diverse edible or medicinal plant taxa, including acorn ( Quercus cf.…”

Evaluating The Temporal Relationship Between Climatic and Demographic Events Using Radiocarbon Data: A Case-Study From The Chulmun Period, Korea

“…These sedentary communities are popularly regarded as early food producers practicing millet cultivation 24,28 . However, the practice of small-scale food production was not con ned to the new sedentary communities as the coastal communities also utilized plant resources, including millet and azuki bean, as early as the Initial Chulmun 42,43 .…”

“…The Chulmun settlers in the coastal region utilized diverse seasonal resources, both marine and terrestrial catch as well as millets, and probably used these sites as seasonal base camps rather than permanent settlements re ecting their residential mobility 28, 40,42 . They practiced a 'broad-spectrum economy' procuring a diverse array of marine and terrestrial resources by hunting, gathering, shing, and millet cultivation 42,43 .…”