Dietary strategy of neolithic population in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River revealed by stable isotope mixed model
Background,aim,and scope The lower reaches of the Yangtze River are one of the main areas for the origins of rice cultivation.However,the contributions of rice and other food resources to the diet of the ancient population in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River is still poorly understood.We used a stable isotope mixed model to quantitatively reveal the contributions of potential foodstuffs,including rice,to the diet of neolithic populations in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Materials and methods In this work,we collected stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic data from human bones,animal bones,and plants in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Based on the Bayesian stable isotope mixed model,the dietary components of the neolithic population in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were studied.Results The stable isotopic values of human bones in the lower Yangtze River fell within the stable isotopic region for potential food sources,indicating that important food sources that humans likely consumed were considered in this study and that no important food sources were omitted.Human populations from different periods had different dietary compositions in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Discussion During 7.0-5.3 ka BP,the human population in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River may have consumed a variety of animal and plant resources.During this period,the contribution of rice crops to the human diet was basically equivalent to that of other wild plant resources.During 5.3-4.3 ka BP,the contribution of rice crops exceeded that of other wild plant and animal resources,becoming the main food resource of the Meirendi population.In addition,we found obvious differences in the dietary components of human populations belonging to the same culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,such as the Hemudu Culture and Liangzhu Culture.Conclusions The neolithic civilization process in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River coincided with the development of rice cultivation.In addition to rice cultivation,hunting and gathering also played a basic role in the development of neolithic civilization in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Recommendations and perspectives Compared with stable isotopic studies of human and animal bones in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,stable isotopic studies of plant remains are very limited.It is necessary to carry out stable isotopic studies of plant remains,including rice,from different sites in the future,which will provide accurate data for the application of stable isotope models.
the lower reaches of Yangtze Riverricedietary strategystable isotope mixing modelthe process of civilization