Vegetation, agriculture and social change in late Neolithic China : a phytolith study
Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Central China was the scene of important cultural developments, which impacted on agricultural practices and local vegetation. Using phytolith data from 4 archaeological -sites and a survey of a further 11 sites in Henan this project investigates changing crop choices, developments in crop processing and, to a lesser extent, differing local environments both temporally and spatially. Comparisons of relative levels of phytoliths from crop husks, Panicum, Setaria and Oryza, from each site and period were compared to provide evidence of changes in crop repertoire. Results from these investigations show crop variation both over time and in different parts of the region. Millet farming predominated in the more Northern sites in the Yellow River Valley, while rice was clearly the main crop at Baligang, the southernmost site within the Yangtze catchment. However, rice became more important in the Yellow River valley during the late Neolithic and interestingly despite a changing climate making rice farming more challenging in the Early Bronze Age farmers continued rice cultivation. Crop processing stages were interpreted by examination of differing proportions of phytoliths from
Weisskopf, A. R.
Vegetation, agriculture and social change in late Neolithic China : a phytolith study. Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Central China was the scene of important cultural developments, which impacted on agricultural practices and local vegetation. Using phytolith data from 4 archaeological -sites and a survey of a further 11 sites in Henan this project investigates changing crop choices, developments in crop processing and, to a lesser extent, differing local environments both temporally and spatially. Comparisons of relative levels of phytoliths from crop husks, Panicum, Setaria and Oryza, from each site and period were compared to provide evidence of changes in crop repertoire. Results from these investigations show crop variation both over time and in different parts of the region. Millet farming predominated in the more Northern sites in the Yellow River Valley, while rice was clearly the main crop at Baligang, the southernmost site within the Yangtze catchment. However, rice became more important in the Yellow River valley during the late Neolithic and interestingly despite a changing climate making rice farming more challenging in the Early Bronze Age farmers continued rice cultivation. Crop processing stages were interpreted by examination of differing proportions of phytoliths from
vegetation agriculture social_change late_neolithic china phytolith study late_neolithic early_bronze_age central china scene important cultural_development impacted agricultural_practice local vegetation using phytolith data archaeological sites survey site project_investigate change crop choice development crop_processing less_extent differ local_environment temporally spatially comparisons relative level phytoliths crop site period compare provide_evidence change crop repertoire investigation show crop variation time different_part region millet farming predominate northern site yellow river_valley rice clearly main crop site within catchment however rice become_important yellow river valley late_neolithic interestingly despite change climate making rice farm challenge early_bronze_age farmer continue rice cultivation crop_processing stage interpret examination differ proportion phytoliths