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Stable Isotope Analysis of Human and Faunal Remains in the Western L oess P lateau, Approximately 2000 cal bc
Author(s) -
Ma M. M.,
Dong G. H.,
Lightfoot E.,
Wang H.,
Liu X. Y.,
Jia X.,
Zhang K. R.,
Chen F. H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12071
Subject(s) - omnivore , subsistence agriculture , isotope analysis , agriculture , geography , western europe , stable isotope ratio , prehistory , baltic amber , ecology , archaeology , biology , predation , physics , european union , quantum mechanics , economic policy , genus , business
During the second millennium bc , several significant changes were happening in prehistoric societies across E urasia. For instance, shifts in subsistence practice occurred in north‐western C hina, including the western L oess P lateau. However, the magnitude and nature of this dietary change are unclear and more detailed information and regional studies are needed in order to fully understand the reasons behind this change. In this study, palaeodiet is investigated at three sites ( X iahaishi, B uziping and B uzishan) in the western L oess P lateau, all dating to c .2000 cal bc , through stable isotope analysis of human and faunal remains, in order to explore the socio‐economic conditions prior to the subsistence shift. In general, humans and omnivores ( Canis and Sus ) had diets dominated by millet. Compared to other sites in G ansu Province, the humans and omnivores in this study were more reliant upon millet‐based agriculture, and millet‐based agriculture was more important and productive in the western L oess P lateau around 2000 cal bc .