Palaeoethnobotanical research at the Yuezhuang site, a Houli Culture settlement in Jinan, Shandon... more Palaeoethnobotanical research at the Yuezhuang site, a Houli Culture settlement in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, dating to 8000–7700 cal. BP, documents human–environment interaction and the local subsistence economy soon after the initiation of food production in the region. This economy supported a sizeable community that occupied a kilometer stretch of floodplain along the Nandasha River. The research explores plant domestication, the extent to which the Yuezhuang population had developed a food production niche, and, to a lesser extent, the development of agriculture in the lower Yellow River valley. In order to do so, charred seeds from a variety of plant taxa were recovered by flotation of sediment from pits and cultural strata. Just over 30% of the seed assemblage is rice (Oryza sativa), broomcorn/common millet (Panicum miliaceum), and foxtail millet (Setaria italica subsp. italica). The status of several other plants such as soybean (Glycine max subsp. max or G. max subsp. soja), perilla (Perilla sp.), and chenopod (Chenopodium sp.) that are also cultivated in East Asia is also assessed. Most of the plant taxa are from open, sunlit, and anthropogenic, disrupted habitats. Diverse grasses similar to those found at later sites indicate that the farming niche documented at the late Neolithic Longshan Culture in Shandong Province was being established by 8000–7700 cal. BP. The plant remains assemblage is compared with three assemblages, two belonging to the Houli Culture and one from the late Neolithic Longshan Culture. Anthropogenic habitats and their formation, maintenance and use, wetland exploitation, cultivation, hunting–gathering–fishing, and animal management characterize the mature (late) Houli Culture niche.
【摘要】随着近年来植物考古新发现的增多，对我国早期小麦种植规模的探讨成为可能。经历了史前时期的初步传 播之后，小麦在夏商时期出现了强化种植的趋势，而这一种植规模的显著提升主要局限于中原地区，即商... more 【摘要】随着近年来植物考古新发现的增多，对我国早期小麦种植规模的探讨成为可能。经历了史前时期的初步传 播之后，小麦在夏商时期出现了强化种植的趋势，而这一种植规模的显著提升主要局限于中原地区，即商王朝统治的王畿范围之内。形成这一局面的动因，主要与早商时期政治扩张的历史背景有关。考古学分析表明，小麦在夏商时期种植规模的局部扩大，是一个自上而下的过程。 Abstract: Recent archaeobotanical work supplied a good database for the discussion of wheat cultivation scale of the Chinese Early Bronze Age. The find of wheat, mainly charred grains, of Chinese Neolithic and Bronze Age was listed and used for regional comparative study. It was clearly revealed that wheat cultivation was strengthened in the central plain with the rise of Xia and Shang. While other regions like Haidai area, did not see such trend, although their Neolithic wheat grainsdated even earlier than that of Central plain. Especially during the early Shang period, the scale of wheat cultivation dramatically increased. It may be related to the Erligang expansion.Political factors must have played important role for the extension of wheat cultivation during the early Bronze Age.Spread of wheat in China seemed to have followed an up-down mode.
The reconstruction of complex political formations in tropical and subtropical environments has l... more The reconstruction of complex political formations in tropical and subtropical environments has long been challenged by the ephemeral nature of archaeological deposits and the detectability of a settlement hierarchy. This paper presents findings from systematic archaeological surveys in the Lake Dian basin in southwest China to evaluate processes of political differentiation during the Bronze Age (ca. BC 900–100) and identified with the protohistoric kingdom of Dian. We discuss the problems of interpreting political consolidation based on mono-centers and ranked site size distributions. Our approach considers the contingent forms that ‘built’ landscapes can take in the humid subtropics in an effort to understand the variable relationship between politics and spatial scale. Combining traditional survey as well as subsurface methods suited for intensively worked paddy landscapes, we discuss the emergence and timing of multiple nucleated settlements as indicative of peer polity dynamics in the basin and examine the formation histories of large shell mound sites to highlight physical modifications that embedded central places during the Bronze Age period. We show that the boundary between on-site and off-site, living and non-living spaces is not solely determined by the availability of prime land but also by spatial conventions with discrete cultural and historical ramifications. By contextualizing macroscale views on complexity with an understanding of local scales of landscape transformation, we provide an alternative to models of pristine state formation based in temperate alluvial environments.
摘要：考古遗址中炭化植物遗存的保存会受到包括炭化过程在内的多种因素的影响，从而造成植物考古统计分析中的误差。炭化模拟实验对于解决这一问题有着重要意义。该研究对水稻和小麦进行模拟炭化，结合扫描电镜... more 摘要：考古遗址中炭化植物遗存的保存会受到包括炭化过程在内的多种因素的影响，从而造成植物考古统计分析中的误差。炭化模拟实验对于解决这一问题有着重要意义。该研究对水稻和小麦进行模拟炭化，结合扫描电镜下比 较炭化现代样品和考古遗址出土小麦、水稻的显微结构，发现模拟水稻遗存的炭化温度区间为180~210℃，模拟小麦遗存的炭化温度区间为215~315℃。小麦的炭化温度区间范围远远高于水稻，因此它在考古遗址中保存下来的几率可能要远高于水稻。 关键词：炭化实验； 水稻； 小麦； 植物考古 Abstract：Preservation of carbonized plant remains in archaeological sites will be affected by many factors， including the carbonization process. That will cause error in statistical analysis about archaeobotany. Carbonization experiment has an important significance to solve this problem.This study has a series of carbonization experiment about rice and wheat, and also will compare the carbonized samples to modern samples by combining with the scanning electron microscope. This study found that the temperature laboratory imitate rice remains is 180~210℃，and the wheat remains’is 215 ~315℃. So the range of carbonization temperature of wheat remains is much higher than the rice remains’，this study thinks the chances of carbonization for wheat are quite better than rice. Key words：Carbonization experiment；Rice；Wheat；Archaeobotany
2011年，为配合浙江桐乡董家桥遗址发掘资料的整理，了解东周先民与植物的互动情况，我们在董家桥遗址发掘区I区的灰沟和水井中的采集了少量土样，进行尝试性浮选。董家桥遗址的四份样品，时代均为东周时期... more 2011年，为配合浙江桐乡董家桥遗址发掘资料的整理，了解东周先民与植物的互动情况，我们在董家桥遗址发掘区I区的灰沟和水井中的采集了少量土样，进行尝试性浮选。董家桥遗址的四份样品，时代均为东周时期。从浮选结果来看，董家桥遗址东周时期的农作物以水稻为主，不仅发现了稻谷和大量的水稻小穗轴，还有一些湿地伴生杂草，但也有少量的粟类旱地作物，说明此时的农作物结构并非单一种植。
During the 2006-2008 excavation of Niucheng site, Jiangxi province, more than 100 flotation samp... more During the 2006-2008 excavation of Niucheng site, Jiangxi province, more than 100 flotation samples were systematically collected from 15 houses of the Shang and early Zhou periods. The crop assemblage included rice (Oryza sativa), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and fruits included kiwi (Actinidia chinensis), raspberry (Rubus sp.), peach (Amygdalus persica) and plum (Armeniaca mume). It was noticeable that foxtail millet occupied almost equally as high percentage and ubiquity as rice, which was rare from the earlier period in this area. We discussed the possible reasons and concluded that foxtail millet was planted locally and its cultivation was possibly strengthened with the coming of immigrants from the central plain. Plant remains from Niucheng site supplied the archaeobotanical evidence for the research on political expansion of Shang-Zhou dynasties to the Yangzi River valley.
Gary Crawford, Xuexiang Chen, Fengshi Luan, Jianhua Wang 2013 Plant Remains from the Yuezhuang Site of Changqing, Shandong Province. Jianghan Kaogu (Jiang Han Archaeology) 2: 107-116.
Abstract: The carbonized paddy of the Houli Culture gathered through flotation, from the soil sam... more Abstract: The carbonized paddy of the Houli Culture gathered through flotation, from the soil sample
of H124 of the Yuezhuang Site during the excavation from March to June 2003, has been reported
as one of the earliest paddy rice remains in northern China. This paper reveals the study result of all flotation
soil samples, in order to fully understand the relationships between ancient habitants and plants
of the site, and study on the using of plants and food production in the Yellow River valley during early
Holocene time.
Xuexiang Chen 2012 Preliminary Research on Agriculture of the Yueshi Culture. Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia)Vol.9, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 595-608, Science Press, Beijing.
Preliminary Research on Agriculture of Yueshi Culture
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Ar... more Preliminary Research on Agriculture of Yueshi Culture
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Archaeology, Shandong University, Jinan)
Yueshi culture of early Bronze Age had experienced a dry and cold period related to the 4000 aB.P. cold event. Agriculture was highly exposed to climate change, as farming activities directly depend on climatic conditions. However, agriculture also helped to provide solutions to the climate change problem. This paper summarized archaeological finds of agricultural tools, plant and animal remains of Yueshi culture and carried out the statistical analysis. The results showed the fundamental status of agriculture in economic life of Yueshi culture. People developed a set of agricultural tools, clearing woodlands for new area of cultivation, loosening soil and digging up weeds, and harvesting crops and wild plants. Archaeobotanical assemblage provided an important body of data pertaining to Yueshi agricultural system. Foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, rice, wheat, soybean and barley were reported from several sites. Millets kept been most common crops, while rice husbandry became less important due to climate change. Other dry-land crops, e.g. wheat, barley and soybean were paid more attention. Domesticated animals may include pig, dog, cattle and sheep. Wild animals were also important.
Lee G-A, Crawford GW, Liu L, Sasaki Y, Chen X 2011 Archaeological Soybean (Glycine max) in East Asia: Does Size Matter? PLoS ONE 6(11): e26720. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026720.
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang, Benheng Shi 2010 Excavation of Shang Burial 139 from the Daxinzhuang Site, Jinan, Shandong. Kaogu (Archaeology) 10: 3-6.
After the big discoveries of oracle bone inscription and Shang cemetery at Daxinzhuang site in 20... more After the big discoveries of oracle bone inscription and Shang cemetery at Daxinzhuang site in 2003, here we have another important excavation at the site in 2010. This brief report gives a detail description and initial interpretation on the burial M139 of Shang period. Excavators think that the burial belongs to late phase of Upper Erligang period, and its owner was a high level noble who hold both political and military power.
Xuexiang Chen, Liangzhi Wang, Qing Wang 2010 Discussion on the Plant Remains of Xijincheng Site (2006-2007), Boai County, Henan Province. Huaxia Kaogu (Hua Xia Archaeology) 3: 67-76.
Abstract: Flotation results from the 2006-2007 excavation of Xijincheng site revealed a complex c... more Abstract: Flotation results from the 2006-2007 excavation of Xijincheng site revealed a complex crop assemblage of Longshan period, Han and Tang-Song periods. There were millets, rice, wheat, barley, soybean and other beans. The results supplied important information of the change of crop assemblages at the site in different periods, and of the storage, processing, and consumption of different crops.
Xuexiang Chen 2009 Discussion on the Recent Finds of Wheat Remains of Chinese Prehistory, Dongyue Luncong (Dongyue Tribune) 6: 102-105.
摘要： 根据历史文献记载和最新考古发现，山东地区是我国小麦早期种植和传播过程中的一个重要区域。有学者据此提出山东地区的萊人首先培育了小麦。本文对文献记载和考古资料进行梳理，结合生物学研究成果，认... more 摘要： 根据历史文献记载和最新考古发现，山东地区是我国小麦早期种植和传播过程中的一个重要区域。有学者据此提出山东地区的萊人首先培育了小麦。本文对文献记载和考古资料进行梳理，结合生物学研究成果，认为目前的资料尚不能解决中国小麦是否独立起源的问题，更不能因为近年来山东较为集中地出土了年代较早的小麦遗存，就简单地将这些发现与历史文献挂钩，认为山东地区是小麦的起源地，甚至将小麦的培育驯化简单归功于某个族群。我国小麦的起源与传播问题仍有待于开展多学科的合作研究。
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang, Gary Feinman, Linda Nicholas, Anne Underhill 2009 Carbonized Seeds from the Field Survey in Southeastern Shandong. Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia)Vol.6, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 354-357, Science Press, Beijing.
Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia) Vol.5, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 368-371, Science Press, Beijing.
Carbonized Seeds and Fruits from the Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu, Shandong
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
... more Carbonized Seeds and Fruits from the Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu, Shandong
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
(1. Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University
2. Archaeological Institute of Jinan City)
Several flotation samples were collected from a profile of Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu in 2008, in order to understand the plant assemblage at the site. Ten samples from the Yueshi pits suggested that crop remains included foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine sp.), among which foxtail millet was the principal and broomcorn millet was less important, with wheat and soybean as minors. No rice was found from the samples, however, there were indeed few weeds indicating wet micro-environment.
A Case Study of Agriculture in the Shang Dynasty:
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site,... more A Case Study of Agriculture in the Shang Dynasty:
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site, Jinan, China
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang
(Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, 250100)
The paper provides the first systematic archaeobotanical remains of crops and weeds as well as other plant remains from the archaeological site of Shang dynasty in China. It is demonstrated that people had multiple cropping of foxtail and broomcorn millets, rice, wheat, soybean and hemp in the Daxinzhuang site. Wild soybean and beefsteak plant were probably also served as food resource, as well as the young plants of chenopods, knotweeds, etc. Fruits, nuts and tubers were minor parts of plant foods. Seed taxa indicate an open area for agricultural fields, with rivers around the site. People might have access to woods from the mountains not far away the site.
2008 Analysis of Macro Plant Remains from the Tangye Site, Jinan, Shandong Province. Nanfang Wenwu (Cultural Relics in Southern China) 2:120-125.
Abstract: Abundant carbonized seeds of crops and weeds and fruits were recovered from the flotati... more Abstract: Abundant carbonized seeds of crops and weeds and fruits were recovered from the flotation results at the Tangye site, Jinan, of the Zhou dynasty. Foxtail millet was most important staple food at the site. Other dry crops included broomcorn millet, soybean and wheat. No rice was found from all the samples. The crop patterns might be a result of adaption to the dry and cold climate at that time.
Palaeoethnobotanical research at the Yuezhuang site, a Houli Culture settlement in Jinan, Shandon... more Palaeoethnobotanical research at the Yuezhuang site, a Houli Culture settlement in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, dating to 8000–7700 cal. BP, documents human–environment interaction and the local subsistence economy soon after the initiation of food production in the region. This economy supported a sizeable community that occupied a kilometer stretch of floodplain along the Nandasha River. The research explores plant domestication, the extent to which the Yuezhuang population had developed a food production niche, and, to a lesser extent, the development of agriculture in the lower Yellow River valley. In order to do so, charred seeds from a variety of plant taxa were recovered by flotation of sediment from pits and cultural strata. Just over 30% of the seed assemblage is rice (Oryza sativa), broomcorn/common millet (Panicum miliaceum), and foxtail millet (Setaria italica subsp. italica). The status of several other plants such as soybean (Glycine max subsp. max or G. max subsp. soja), perilla (Perilla sp.), and chenopod (Chenopodium sp.) that are also cultivated in East Asia is also assessed. Most of the plant taxa are from open, sunlit, and anthropogenic, disrupted habitats. Diverse grasses similar to those found at later sites indicate that the farming niche documented at the late Neolithic Longshan Culture in Shandong Province was being established by 8000–7700 cal. BP. The plant remains assemblage is compared with three assemblages, two belonging to the Houli Culture and one from the late Neolithic Longshan Culture. Anthropogenic habitats and their formation, maintenance and use, wetland exploitation, cultivation, hunting–gathering–fishing, and animal management characterize the mature (late) Houli Culture niche.
【摘要】随着近年来植物考古新发现的增多，对我国早期小麦种植规模的探讨成为可能。经历了史前时期的初步传 播之后，小麦在夏商时期出现了强化种植的趋势，而这一种植规模的显著提升主要局限于中原地区，即商... more 【摘要】随着近年来植物考古新发现的增多，对我国早期小麦种植规模的探讨成为可能。经历了史前时期的初步传 播之后，小麦在夏商时期出现了强化种植的趋势，而这一种植规模的显著提升主要局限于中原地区，即商王朝统治的王畿范围之内。形成这一局面的动因，主要与早商时期政治扩张的历史背景有关。考古学分析表明，小麦在夏商时期种植规模的局部扩大，是一个自上而下的过程。 Abstract: Recent archaeobotanical work supplied a good database for the discussion of wheat cultivation scale of the Chinese Early Bronze Age. The find of wheat, mainly charred grains, of Chinese Neolithic and Bronze Age was listed and used for regional comparative study. It was clearly revealed that wheat cultivation was strengthened in the central plain with the rise of Xia and Shang. While other regions like Haidai area, did not see such trend, although their Neolithic wheat grainsdated even earlier than that of Central plain. Especially during the early Shang period, the scale of wheat cultivation dramatically increased. It may be related to the Erligang expansion.Political factors must have played important role for the extension of wheat cultivation during the early Bronze Age.Spread of wheat in China seemed to have followed an up-down mode.
The reconstruction of complex political formations in tropical and subtropical environments has l... more The reconstruction of complex political formations in tropical and subtropical environments has long been challenged by the ephemeral nature of archaeological deposits and the detectability of a settlement hierarchy. This paper presents findings from systematic archaeological surveys in the Lake Dian basin in southwest China to evaluate processes of political differentiation during the Bronze Age (ca. BC 900–100) and identified with the protohistoric kingdom of Dian. We discuss the problems of interpreting political consolidation based on mono-centers and ranked site size distributions. Our approach considers the contingent forms that ‘built’ landscapes can take in the humid subtropics in an effort to understand the variable relationship between politics and spatial scale. Combining traditional survey as well as subsurface methods suited for intensively worked paddy landscapes, we discuss the emergence and timing of multiple nucleated settlements as indicative of peer polity dynamics in the basin and examine the formation histories of large shell mound sites to highlight physical modifications that embedded central places during the Bronze Age period. We show that the boundary between on-site and off-site, living and non-living spaces is not solely determined by the availability of prime land but also by spatial conventions with discrete cultural and historical ramifications. By contextualizing macroscale views on complexity with an understanding of local scales of landscape transformation, we provide an alternative to models of pristine state formation based in temperate alluvial environments.
摘要：考古遗址中炭化植物遗存的保存会受到包括炭化过程在内的多种因素的影响，从而造成植物考古统计分析中的误差。炭化模拟实验对于解决这一问题有着重要意义。该研究对水稻和小麦进行模拟炭化，结合扫描电镜... more 摘要：考古遗址中炭化植物遗存的保存会受到包括炭化过程在内的多种因素的影响，从而造成植物考古统计分析中的误差。炭化模拟实验对于解决这一问题有着重要意义。该研究对水稻和小麦进行模拟炭化，结合扫描电镜下比 较炭化现代样品和考古遗址出土小麦、水稻的显微结构，发现模拟水稻遗存的炭化温度区间为180~210℃，模拟小麦遗存的炭化温度区间为215~315℃。小麦的炭化温度区间范围远远高于水稻，因此它在考古遗址中保存下来的几率可能要远高于水稻。 关键词：炭化实验； 水稻； 小麦； 植物考古 Abstract：Preservation of carbonized plant remains in archaeological sites will be affected by many factors， including the carbonization process. That will cause error in statistical analysis about archaeobotany. Carbonization experiment has an important significance to solve this problem.This study has a series of carbonization experiment about rice and wheat, and also will compare the carbonized samples to modern samples by combining with the scanning electron microscope. This study found that the temperature laboratory imitate rice remains is 180~210℃，and the wheat remains’is 215 ~315℃. So the range of carbonization temperature of wheat remains is much higher than the rice remains’，this study thinks the chances of carbonization for wheat are quite better than rice. Key words：Carbonization experiment；Rice；Wheat；Archaeobotany
2011年，为配合浙江桐乡董家桥遗址发掘资料的整理，了解东周先民与植物的互动情况，我们在董家桥遗址发掘区I区的灰沟和水井中的采集了少量土样，进行尝试性浮选。董家桥遗址的四份样品，时代均为东周时期... more 2011年，为配合浙江桐乡董家桥遗址发掘资料的整理，了解东周先民与植物的互动情况，我们在董家桥遗址发掘区I区的灰沟和水井中的采集了少量土样，进行尝试性浮选。董家桥遗址的四份样品，时代均为东周时期。从浮选结果来看，董家桥遗址东周时期的农作物以水稻为主，不仅发现了稻谷和大量的水稻小穗轴，还有一些湿地伴生杂草，但也有少量的粟类旱地作物，说明此时的农作物结构并非单一种植。
During the 2006-2008 excavation of Niucheng site, Jiangxi province, more than 100 flotation samp... more During the 2006-2008 excavation of Niucheng site, Jiangxi province, more than 100 flotation samples were systematically collected from 15 houses of the Shang and early Zhou periods. The crop assemblage included rice (Oryza sativa), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and fruits included kiwi (Actinidia chinensis), raspberry (Rubus sp.), peach (Amygdalus persica) and plum (Armeniaca mume). It was noticeable that foxtail millet occupied almost equally as high percentage and ubiquity as rice, which was rare from the earlier period in this area. We discussed the possible reasons and concluded that foxtail millet was planted locally and its cultivation was possibly strengthened with the coming of immigrants from the central plain. Plant remains from Niucheng site supplied the archaeobotanical evidence for the research on political expansion of Shang-Zhou dynasties to the Yangzi River valley.
Gary Crawford, Xuexiang Chen, Fengshi Luan, Jianhua Wang 2013 Plant Remains from the Yuezhuang Site of Changqing, Shandong Province. Jianghan Kaogu (Jiang Han Archaeology) 2: 107-116.
Abstract: The carbonized paddy of the Houli Culture gathered through flotation, from the soil sam... more Abstract: The carbonized paddy of the Houli Culture gathered through flotation, from the soil sample
of H124 of the Yuezhuang Site during the excavation from March to June 2003, has been reported
as one of the earliest paddy rice remains in northern China. This paper reveals the study result of all flotation
soil samples, in order to fully understand the relationships between ancient habitants and plants
of the site, and study on the using of plants and food production in the Yellow River valley during early
Holocene time.
Xuexiang Chen 2012 Preliminary Research on Agriculture of the Yueshi Culture. Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia)Vol.9, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 595-608, Science Press, Beijing.
Preliminary Research on Agriculture of Yueshi Culture
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Ar... more Preliminary Research on Agriculture of Yueshi Culture
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Archaeology, Shandong University, Jinan)
Yueshi culture of early Bronze Age had experienced a dry and cold period related to the 4000 aB.P. cold event. Agriculture was highly exposed to climate change, as farming activities directly depend on climatic conditions. However, agriculture also helped to provide solutions to the climate change problem. This paper summarized archaeological finds of agricultural tools, plant and animal remains of Yueshi culture and carried out the statistical analysis. The results showed the fundamental status of agriculture in economic life of Yueshi culture. People developed a set of agricultural tools, clearing woodlands for new area of cultivation, loosening soil and digging up weeds, and harvesting crops and wild plants. Archaeobotanical assemblage provided an important body of data pertaining to Yueshi agricultural system. Foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, rice, wheat, soybean and barley were reported from several sites. Millets kept been most common crops, while rice husbandry became less important due to climate change. Other dry-land crops, e.g. wheat, barley and soybean were paid more attention. Domesticated animals may include pig, dog, cattle and sheep. Wild animals were also important.
Lee G-A, Crawford GW, Liu L, Sasaki Y, Chen X 2011 Archaeological Soybean (Glycine max) in East Asia: Does Size Matter? PLoS ONE 6(11): e26720. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026720.
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang, Benheng Shi 2010 Excavation of Shang Burial 139 from the Daxinzhuang Site, Jinan, Shandong. Kaogu (Archaeology) 10: 3-6.
After the big discoveries of oracle bone inscription and Shang cemetery at Daxinzhuang site in 20... more After the big discoveries of oracle bone inscription and Shang cemetery at Daxinzhuang site in 2003, here we have another important excavation at the site in 2010. This brief report gives a detail description and initial interpretation on the burial M139 of Shang period. Excavators think that the burial belongs to late phase of Upper Erligang period, and its owner was a high level noble who hold both political and military power.
Xuexiang Chen, Liangzhi Wang, Qing Wang 2010 Discussion on the Plant Remains of Xijincheng Site (2006-2007), Boai County, Henan Province. Huaxia Kaogu (Hua Xia Archaeology) 3: 67-76.
Abstract: Flotation results from the 2006-2007 excavation of Xijincheng site revealed a complex c... more Abstract: Flotation results from the 2006-2007 excavation of Xijincheng site revealed a complex crop assemblage of Longshan period, Han and Tang-Song periods. There were millets, rice, wheat, barley, soybean and other beans. The results supplied important information of the change of crop assemblages at the site in different periods, and of the storage, processing, and consumption of different crops.
Xuexiang Chen 2009 Discussion on the Recent Finds of Wheat Remains of Chinese Prehistory, Dongyue Luncong (Dongyue Tribune) 6: 102-105.
摘要： 根据历史文献记载和最新考古发现，山东地区是我国小麦早期种植和传播过程中的一个重要区域。有学者据此提出山东地区的萊人首先培育了小麦。本文对文献记载和考古资料进行梳理，结合生物学研究成果，认... more 摘要： 根据历史文献记载和最新考古发现，山东地区是我国小麦早期种植和传播过程中的一个重要区域。有学者据此提出山东地区的萊人首先培育了小麦。本文对文献记载和考古资料进行梳理，结合生物学研究成果，认为目前的资料尚不能解决中国小麦是否独立起源的问题，更不能因为近年来山东较为集中地出土了年代较早的小麦遗存，就简单地将这些发现与历史文献挂钩，认为山东地区是小麦的起源地，甚至将小麦的培育驯化简单归功于某个族群。我国小麦的起源与传播问题仍有待于开展多学科的合作研究。
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang, Gary Feinman, Linda Nicholas, Anne Underhill 2009 Carbonized Seeds from the Field Survey in Southeastern Shandong. Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia)Vol.6, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 354-357, Science Press, Beijing.
Dongfang Kaogu (Archaeology of East Asia) Vol.5, edited by Research Center of East Asia Archaeology at Shandong University, pp. 368-371, Science Press, Beijing.
Carbonized Seeds and Fruits from the Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu, Shandong
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
... more Carbonized Seeds and Fruits from the Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu, Shandong
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
(1. Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University
2. Archaeological Institute of Jinan City)
Several flotation samples were collected from a profile of Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu in 2008, in order to understand the plant assemblage at the site. Ten samples from the Yueshi pits suggested that crop remains included foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine sp.), among which foxtail millet was the principal and broomcorn millet was less important, with wheat and soybean as minors. No rice was found from the samples, however, there were indeed few weeds indicating wet micro-environment.
A Case Study of Agriculture in the Shang Dynasty:
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site,... more A Case Study of Agriculture in the Shang Dynasty:
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site, Jinan, China
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang
(Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, 250100)
The paper provides the first systematic archaeobotanical remains of crops and weeds as well as other plant remains from the archaeological site of Shang dynasty in China. It is demonstrated that people had multiple cropping of foxtail and broomcorn millets, rice, wheat, soybean and hemp in the Daxinzhuang site. Wild soybean and beefsteak plant were probably also served as food resource, as well as the young plants of chenopods, knotweeds, etc. Fruits, nuts and tubers were minor parts of plant foods. Seed taxa indicate an open area for agricultural fields, with rivers around the site. People might have access to woods from the mountains not far away the site.
2008 Analysis of Macro Plant Remains from the Tangye Site, Jinan, Shandong Province. Nanfang Wenwu (Cultural Relics in Southern China) 2:120-125.
Abstract: Abundant carbonized seeds of crops and weeds and fruits were recovered from the flotati... more Abstract: Abundant carbonized seeds of crops and weeds and fruits were recovered from the flotation results at the Tangye site, Jinan, of the Zhou dynasty. Foxtail millet was most important staple food at the site. Other dry crops included broomcorn millet, soybean and wheat. No rice was found from all the samples. The crop patterns might be a result of adaption to the dry and cold climate at that time.
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Papers by Xuexiang Chen
and one from the late Neolithic Longshan Culture. Anthropogenic habitats and their formation, maintenance and use, wetland exploitation, cultivation, hunting–gathering–fishing, and animal management characterize the mature (late) Houli Culture niche.
Abstract: Recent archaeobotanical work supplied a good database for the discussion of wheat cultivation scale of the Chinese Early Bronze Age. The find of wheat, mainly charred grains, of Chinese Neolithic and
Bronze Age was listed and used for regional comparative study. It was clearly revealed that wheat cultivation was strengthened in the central plain with the rise of Xia and Shang. While other regions like Haidai area, did not see such trend, although their Neolithic wheat grainsdated even earlier than that of Central plain. Especially during the early Shang period, the scale of wheat cultivation dramatically increased. It may be related to the Erligang expansion.Political factors must have played important role for the extension of wheat cultivation during the early Bronze Age.Spread of wheat in China seemed to have followed an up-down mode.
hierarchy. This paper presents findings from systematic archaeological surveys in the Lake Dian basin in southwest China to evaluate processes of political differentiation during the Bronze Age (ca. BC 900–100) and identified with the protohistoric kingdom of Dian. We discuss the problems of interpreting political consolidation based on mono-centers and ranked site size distributions. Our approach considers the contingent forms that ‘built’ landscapes can take in the humid subtropics in an effort to understand the variable relationship between politics and spatial scale. Combining traditional survey as well as subsurface methods suited for intensively worked paddy landscapes, we discuss the emergence and timing of multiple nucleated settlements as indicative of peer polity dynamics in the basin and examine the formation histories of large shell mound sites to highlight physical modifications that embedded central places during the Bronze Age period. We show that the boundary between on-site and off-site, living and non-living spaces is not solely determined by the availability of prime land but also by spatial conventions with discrete cultural and historical ramifications. By contextualizing macroscale views on complexity with an understanding of local scales of landscape transformation, we provide an alternative to models of pristine
state formation based in temperate alluvial environments.
较炭化现代样品和考古遗址出土小麦、水稻的显微结构，发现模拟水稻遗存的炭化温度区间为180~210℃，模拟小麦遗存的炭化温度区间为215~315℃。小麦的炭化温度区间范围远远高于水稻，因此它在考古遗址中保存下来的几率可能要远高于水稻。
关键词：炭化实验； 水稻； 小麦； 植物考古
Abstract：Preservation of carbonized plant remains in archaeological sites will be affected by many factors，
including the carbonization process. That will cause error in statistical analysis about archaeobotany. Carbonization experiment has an important significance to solve this problem.This study has a series of carbonization experiment about rice and wheat, and also will compare the carbonized samples to modern samples by combining with the scanning electron microscope. This study found that the temperature laboratory imitate rice remains is 180~210℃，and the wheat remains’is 215 ~315℃. So the range of carbonization temperature of wheat remains is much higher than the rice remains’，this study thinks the chances of carbonization for wheat are quite better than rice.
Key words：Carbonization experiment；Rice；Wheat；Archaeobotany
of H124 of the Yuezhuang Site during the excavation from March to June 2003, has been reported
as one of the earliest paddy rice remains in northern China. This paper reveals the study result of all flotation
soil samples, in order to fully understand the relationships between ancient habitants and plants
of the site, and study on the using of plants and food production in the Yellow River valley during early
Holocene time.
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Archaeology, Shandong University, Jinan)
Yueshi culture of early Bronze Age had experienced a dry and cold period related to the 4000 aB.P. cold event. Agriculture was highly exposed to climate change, as farming activities directly depend on climatic conditions. However, agriculture also helped to provide solutions to the climate change problem. This paper summarized archaeological finds of agricultural tools, plant and animal remains of Yueshi culture and carried out the statistical analysis. The results showed the fundamental status of agriculture in economic life of Yueshi culture. People developed a set of agricultural tools, clearing woodlands for new area of cultivation, loosening soil and digging up weeds, and harvesting crops and wild plants. Archaeobotanical assemblage provided an important body of data pertaining to Yueshi agricultural system. Foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, rice, wheat, soybean and barley were reported from several sites. Millets kept been most common crops, while rice husbandry became less important due to climate change. Other dry-land crops, e.g. wheat, barley and soybean were paid more attention. Domesticated animals may include pig, dog, cattle and sheep. Wild animals were also important.
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
(1. Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University
2. Archaeological Institute of Jinan City)
Several flotation samples were collected from a profile of Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu in 2008, in order to understand the plant assemblage at the site. Ten samples from the Yueshi pits suggested that crop remains included foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine sp.), among which foxtail millet was the principal and broomcorn millet was less important, with wheat and soybean as minors. No rice was found from the samples, however, there were indeed few weeds indicating wet micro-environment.
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site, Jinan, China
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang
(Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, 250100)
The paper provides the first systematic archaeobotanical remains of crops and weeds as well as other plant remains from the archaeological site of Shang dynasty in China. It is demonstrated that people had multiple cropping of foxtail and broomcorn millets, rice, wheat, soybean and hemp in the Daxinzhuang site. Wild soybean and beefsteak plant were probably also served as food resource, as well as the young plants of chenopods, knotweeds, etc. Fruits, nuts and tubers were minor parts of plant foods. Seed taxa indicate an open area for agricultural fields, with rivers around the site. People might have access to woods from the mountains not far away the site.
and one from the late Neolithic Longshan Culture. Anthropogenic habitats and their formation, maintenance and use, wetland exploitation, cultivation, hunting–gathering–fishing, and animal management characterize the mature (late) Houli Culture niche.
Abstract: Recent archaeobotanical work supplied a good database for the discussion of wheat cultivation scale of the Chinese Early Bronze Age. The find of wheat, mainly charred grains, of Chinese Neolithic and
Bronze Age was listed and used for regional comparative study. It was clearly revealed that wheat cultivation was strengthened in the central plain with the rise of Xia and Shang. While other regions like Haidai area, did not see such trend, although their Neolithic wheat grainsdated even earlier than that of Central plain. Especially during the early Shang period, the scale of wheat cultivation dramatically increased. It may be related to the Erligang expansion.Political factors must have played important role for the extension of wheat cultivation during the early Bronze Age.Spread of wheat in China seemed to have followed an up-down mode.
hierarchy. This paper presents findings from systematic archaeological surveys in the Lake Dian basin in southwest China to evaluate processes of political differentiation during the Bronze Age (ca. BC 900–100) and identified with the protohistoric kingdom of Dian. We discuss the problems of interpreting political consolidation based on mono-centers and ranked site size distributions. Our approach considers the contingent forms that ‘built’ landscapes can take in the humid subtropics in an effort to understand the variable relationship between politics and spatial scale. Combining traditional survey as well as subsurface methods suited for intensively worked paddy landscapes, we discuss the emergence and timing of multiple nucleated settlements as indicative of peer polity dynamics in the basin and examine the formation histories of large shell mound sites to highlight physical modifications that embedded central places during the Bronze Age period. We show that the boundary between on-site and off-site, living and non-living spaces is not solely determined by the availability of prime land but also by spatial conventions with discrete cultural and historical ramifications. By contextualizing macroscale views on complexity with an understanding of local scales of landscape transformation, we provide an alternative to models of pristine
state formation based in temperate alluvial environments.
较炭化现代样品和考古遗址出土小麦、水稻的显微结构，发现模拟水稻遗存的炭化温度区间为180~210℃，模拟小麦遗存的炭化温度区间为215~315℃。小麦的炭化温度区间范围远远高于水稻，因此它在考古遗址中保存下来的几率可能要远高于水稻。
关键词：炭化实验； 水稻； 小麦； 植物考古
Abstract：Preservation of carbonized plant remains in archaeological sites will be affected by many factors，
including the carbonization process. That will cause error in statistical analysis about archaeobotany. Carbonization experiment has an important significance to solve this problem.This study has a series of carbonization experiment about rice and wheat, and also will compare the carbonized samples to modern samples by combining with the scanning electron microscope. This study found that the temperature laboratory imitate rice remains is 180~210℃，and the wheat remains’is 215 ~315℃. So the range of carbonization temperature of wheat remains is much higher than the rice remains’，this study thinks the chances of carbonization for wheat are quite better than rice.
Key words：Carbonization experiment；Rice；Wheat；Archaeobotany
of H124 of the Yuezhuang Site during the excavation from March to June 2003, has been reported
as one of the earliest paddy rice remains in northern China. This paper reveals the study result of all flotation
soil samples, in order to fully understand the relationships between ancient habitants and plants
of the site, and study on the using of plants and food production in the Yellow River valley during early
Holocene time.
Chen Xuexiang
(Center for East Asian Archaeology, Shandong University, Jinan)
Yueshi culture of early Bronze Age had experienced a dry and cold period related to the 4000 aB.P. cold event. Agriculture was highly exposed to climate change, as farming activities directly depend on climatic conditions. However, agriculture also helped to provide solutions to the climate change problem. This paper summarized archaeological finds of agricultural tools, plant and animal remains of Yueshi culture and carried out the statistical analysis. The results showed the fundamental status of agriculture in economic life of Yueshi culture. People developed a set of agricultural tools, clearing woodlands for new area of cultivation, loosening soil and digging up weeds, and harvesting crops and wild plants. Archaeobotanical assemblage provided an important body of data pertaining to Yueshi agricultural system. Foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, rice, wheat, soybean and barley were reported from several sites. Millets kept been most common crops, while rice husbandry became less important due to climate change. Other dry-land crops, e.g. wheat, barley and soybean were paid more attention. Domesticated animals may include pig, dog, cattle and sheep. Wild animals were also important.
Chen Xuexiang Guo Junfeng
(1. Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University
2. Archaeological Institute of Jinan City)
Several flotation samples were collected from a profile of Ma’an Site, Zhangqiu in 2008, in order to understand the plant assemblage at the site. Ten samples from the Yueshi pits suggested that crop remains included foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine sp.), among which foxtail millet was the principal and broomcorn millet was less important, with wheat and soybean as minors. No rice was found from the samples, however, there were indeed few weeds indicating wet micro-environment.
Macro Plant Remains from the Daxiznhuang site, Jinan, China
Xuexiang Chen, Hui Fang
(Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University, Jinan, 250100)
The paper provides the first systematic archaeobotanical remains of crops and weeds as well as other plant remains from the archaeological site of Shang dynasty in China. It is demonstrated that people had multiple cropping of foxtail and broomcorn millets, rice, wheat, soybean and hemp in the Daxinzhuang site. Wild soybean and beefsteak plant were probably also served as food resource, as well as the young plants of chenopods, knotweeds, etc. Fruits, nuts and tubers were minor parts of plant foods. Seed taxa indicate an open area for agricultural fields, with rivers around the site. People might have access to woods from the mountains not far away the site.