The origin of cattle from Neolithic to early Bronze Age China
Cattle (Bos taurus) - the domesticated form of aurochs (Bos primigenius), was an important animal to humans since prehistoric times, not simply for food, but also provided hide, blood, dung and contributed greatly to the exploitation of dairy products, traction and the organization of human beliefs, cultural attitudes and social complexity. The early exploration of cattle pastoralism pointed to the region of Near East during the 11th and 10th millennia BP and spread southward and westward into neighboring regions soon after its establishment. Zooarchaeological data also provide substantial information on an increasing economic importance of cattle for both meat and milk production in these areas. As an independent locus of origin of food productions, Yangzi and Yellow River Basins of China were thought to be the birth place of many important crops and animals, including rice, millet, pigs and dogs. Wheat, barley, sheep, goats, and horses were introduced, already domesticated, from elsewhere. The possibilities of both indigenous domestication and introduction of cattle were raised; however, the precise circumstances of the earliest phases of cattle domestication remain mysterious due to the absence of convincing
Yu, Chong
Cattle
The origin of cattle from Neolithic to early Bronze Age China. Cattle (Bos taurus) - the domesticated form of aurochs (Bos primigenius), was an important animal to humans since prehistoric times, not simply for food, but also provided hide, blood, dung and contributed greatly to the exploitation of dairy products, traction and the organization of human beliefs, cultural attitudes and social complexity. The early exploration of cattle pastoralism pointed to the region of Near East during the 11th and 10th millennia BP and spread southward and westward into neighboring regions soon after its establishment. Zooarchaeological data also provide substantial information on an increasing economic importance of cattle for both meat and milk production in these areas. As an independent locus of origin of food productions, Yangzi and Yellow River Basins of China were thought to be the birth place of many important crops and animals, including rice, millet, pigs and dogs. Wheat, barley, sheep, goats, and horses were introduced, already domesticated, from elsewhere. The possibilities of both indigenous domestication and introduction of cattle were raised; however, the precise circumstances of the earliest phases of cattle domestication remain mysterious due to the absence of convincing
origin cattle bronze_age china cattle bos taurus domesticate form bos important animal_human since prehistoric time simply food also_provide hide blood dung contribute greatly exploitation dairy product organization human belief cultural attitude social_complexity early exploration cattle pastoralism point region near_east spread westward neighbor region soon establishment zooarchaeological_data also_provide substantial information increase economic importance cattle meat milk production area independent locus origin food_production yellow river china think birth place many important crop animal include rice millet dog wheat barley sheep_goat horse introduce already domesticate elsewhere possibility indigenous domestication introduction cattle raise however precise circumstance earliest phase cattle domestication remain mysterious due absence convincing