Harvesting and processing wild cereals in the Upper Palaeolithic Yellow River Valley, China

Liu, Li; Levin, Maureece J.; Bonomo, Michael F.; Wang, Jiajing; Shi, Jiachen; Chen, Xingcan; Han, Jiayi; Song, Yanhua

doi:10.15184/aqy.2018.36

Cited by 42 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Among these plants, starches of millet, Job's tears, Triticeae grasses, snake gourd root, yam, lily, and beans have all been found on grinding stones from Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic sites in north China (29,30).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origins of specialized pottery and diverse alcohol fermentation techniques in Early Neolithic China

Liu

Wang

Levin

et al. 2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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In China, pottery containers first appeared about 20000 cal. BP, and became diverse in form during the Early Neolithic (9000–7000 cal. BP), signaling the emergence of functionally specialized vessels. China is also well-known for its early development of alcohol production. However, few studies have focused on the connections between the two technologies. Based on the analysis of residues (starch, phytolith, and fungus) adhering to pottery from two Early Neolithic sites in north China, here we demonstrate that three material changes occurring in the Early Neolithic signal innovation of specialized alcoholic making known in north China: (i) the spread of cereal domestication (millet and rice), (ii) the emergence of dedicated pottery types, particularly globular jars as liquid storage vessels, and (iii) the development of cereal-based alcohol production with at least two fermentation methods: the use of cereal malts and the use of moldy grain and herbs (quandcaoqu) as starters. The latter method was arguably a unique invention initiated in China, and our findings account for the earliest known examples of this technique. The major ingredients include broomcorn millet, Triticeae grasses, Job’s tears, rice, beans, snake gourd root, ginger, possible yam and lily, and other plants, some probably with medicinal properties (e.g., ginger). Alcoholic beverages made with these methods were namedli,jiu, andchangin ancient texts, first recorded in the Shang oracle-bone inscriptions (ca. 3200 cal. BP); our findings have revealed a much deeper history of these diverse fermentation technologies in China.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origins of specialized pottery and diverse alcohol fermentation techniques in Early Neolithic China

Liu

Wang

Levin

et al. 2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

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“…Nevertheless, to confront these climate changes prehistoric hunter-gatherers not only relocated themselves, but also adjusted their subsistence strategies. Resource exploitation was intensified by the increase in hunting of small animals (Zhang et al, 2013), the exploitation of wild cereal plants (Liu et al, 2018), incipient food production (Yang et al, 2012) and other strategies (Chen and Yu, 2017). To meet the needs of intensified resource exploitation, new stone tools and blade and microblade technology emerged in North China after 40,000 BP (Brantingham et al, 2001; Elston et al, 2011; Kato, 2014; Li et al, 2016; Song et al, 2017; Yi et al, 2013), remaining prevalent in Northwest China in the Bronze Age and even into the historic period (Yue et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Guo

et al. 2019

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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Exploring prehistoric variation in human–environmental interaction is critical for understanding the historical patterns and mechanisms of long-term human–land evolution. In this paper we review the published radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) data from Late Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in China, analyze the spatial–temporal distribution of these sites, and compare it with the results of recent paleoclimatic and archaeological studies. We seek to study the trajectory and influencing factors of human–environmental interactions in late prehistoric China. We detect changing patterns in the relationship between humans and the environment during different phases of the prehistoric era in China. Climate change clearly affected the environment of hunter-gatherer groups between 50,000–10,000 BP (before present, defined as 1950AD), and variation in human population in Neolithic China (∼10,000–4000 BP) was likely influenced primarily by the development of agriculture, in addition to substantial climate events. The spatial scale of human settlements expanded in the Bronze Age (∼4000–2200 BP) in a period of cooling climate. During this time the impact of human activities on the environment increased significantly, primarily caused by technological innovations related to the onset of prehistoric transcontinental cultural exchange in Eurasia.

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“…Job's tears (C. lacryma-jobi) is an important plant resource that was used approximately 24,000 years ago (Liu L. et al, 2018). Liu et al conducted an experiment on starch and phytoliths for their identification in archaeological remains .…”

Section: Phytolith Types With High Taxonomic Value In C Lacryma-jobimentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytoliths in Inflorescence Bracts: Preliminary Results of an Investigation on Common Panicoideae Plants in China

Lü

Zhang

et al. 2020

Front. Plant Sci.

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Phytoliths in the inflorescence of Poaceae plants can be of high taxonomic value in some archaeological contexts and provide insight into plant taxonomy and crop domestication processes. In this study, phytoliths in every inflorescence bract of 38 common Panicoideae weeds and minor crops in China were studied. Based on dissection of the inflorescence into different bracts using a treatment that retained the phytoliths anatomical position, observations of inflorescence phytoliths types and distribution were described in detail. We found that INTERDIGITATING, Blocky amoeboid, Rectangular dentate, and Elongate dendritic with multi tent-like arch tops were of higher taxonomic value than the other types in our studied species. Both morphological and morphometric traits of the INTERDIGITATING were summarized and compared with previous studies; the findings suggested that genus level discrimination of some Paniceae species could be reliable, and tribe/species level discrimination might be feasible. The phytoliths in the involucre of domesticated and wild type Coix lacryma-jobi provided insight into the domestication process of this plant. Our data also indicated that phytolith production in the inflorescence bracts might be under the genetic and molecular control of inflorescence development. Thus, the findings of this study could assist future studies in plant taxonomy and archaeobotany.

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Harvesting and processing wild cereals in the Upper Palaeolithic Yellow River Valley, China

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 42 publications

References 28 publications

The origins of specialized pottery and diverse alcohol fermentation techniques in Early Neolithic China

The origins of specialized pottery and diverse alcohol fermentation techniques in Early Neolithic China

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Phytoliths in Inflorescence Bracts: Preliminary Results of an Investigation on Common Panicoideae Plants in China

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