Stanford International Symposium

Transitions from Foraging to Farming in Ancient China and Beyond:

An Archaeobotanical Perspective

April 21-23, 2017

Sponsoredby:

StanfordArchaeologyCenter

ConfuciusInstitute,DepartmentofEastAsianLanguagesandCultures

FreemanSpogliInstituteforInternationalStudies

Ofer Bar-Yosef Harvard University

Presentation Title

TheOriginsofAgricultureinChina–AViewfromWesternAsia

Bio Since1968,OferBar-YosefhasbeenteachingvariouscoursesinarchaeologyatHarvardandHebrewUniversities.HeorganizedseveralinternationalconferencesontheNatufianculture(Valbonne1989,Paris2010),ontheLevalloisTechnique(Philadelphia1995),theAurignacianculture(Lisbon2003),andtheNeolithicdemographictransition(Harvard,2007).Oferhasworkedasanarchaeologistsince1959andparticipatedactivelyinawiderangeofexcavationsofprehistoricsitesilluminatinghumanculturalevolution.ThesitesarelocatedinIsrael,Sinai(Egypt),Turkey,CzechRepublic,RepublicofGeorgia,andthePeople’sRepublicofChina.HisworkaddedevidenceforearlyhumandispersalsfromAfricatoEurasiaatthesiteof‘Ubeidiya(ca.1.5Ma)intheJordanValley.Morerecently,asaco-directorofalargeIsraeli-French-Americanresearchprogram,hespenttwodecadesoffieldandlaboratoryresearchinKebara,Qafzeh,andHayonimcavesinIsrael(withB.Vandermeersch,L.Meignen,P.Goldberg,A.Belfer-Cohenandothers)demonstratingtheearlyarrivalofModernhumansintheLevantandthelateappearanceofNeanderthalsintheNearEast.OferstudiedUpperPaleolithicassemblagesfromSinai,Israel,CzechRepublic,Georgia,andcurrentlyinChina.Heco-directedtheexcavationsatNetivHagdud,anearlyNeolithicsettlementintheJordanValleywithProf.Gopher.In2004-5heco-directedtheexcavationsatYuchanyancave(HunanProvince)withProf.J.Yuan.CurrentlyOferisinvolvedinfieldprogramsinGeorgiaandChina.Hehasco-edited16volumes(includingfourmajorsitereports)andauthored,orco-authoredover300papersandbookchapters.

Abstract

Theadvantageofacomparativegeographicapproachtothestudyofanarchaeologicalresearchsubjectisthatamodelbuiltandtestedinareasonablywell-investigatedareamayassistusinbuildingamodelforconductingexcavationsinarelativelynewregion.ThisismybasicapproachinadvocatingtheLevantineortheFertileCrescentmodel,totheissueofthetransitionfromforagingtofarminginChina.MorethantwohundredyearsofgatheringbotanicalandzoologicalinformationinwesternAsiawhereemployedbyarchaeologicalresearchaccompaniedinthelast80yearsbyarchaeobotanicalandarchaeozoologicalresearchallowedustobuildaframeworkforreachinganunderstandingof‘when’and‘how’hunter-gatherersbecamefarmers.Eventhequestionof‘why’foragersbegancultivationwasstudiedwithinthecontextofpopulationgrowthandcompetitionforresourcescoupledwithclimaticfluctuations.InwardmigrationofforeignersfromNorthAfrica,anissuerecentlyunderstudy,basedonpalaeogenetics,supportsamodelof‘relativedemographicpressure’asthetriggerfortheemergenceoftheNatufianculture.SeveralreasonscurrentlyrecordedinWesternAsiaarenotuniquetothisregion.InarecentsurveyItriedtoindicatethatcultivationofwildplants,knownforhunter-gatherersformillennia,weresystematicallycultivatedforsometime.However,domesticatedcropsinafewCenters(sensuHarlan1971)wereadoptedthroughtransmissionofeitherseeds,techniquesorincomingmigrants,wherecropspeciesdidnotnaturallygrow.Apparently,asthearchaeobotanicalChineseevidencefromsitesinthenorth(millet)andthesouth(rice)keepsaccumulating,similartrendscanbediscerned.CultivationofvariousannualplantsisbecomingevidencedasitwasshownintheJapanesearchipelago.Examplesfromothercontinents,suchasAfricacanbecited.Oncebasicfarmingwasestablished,additionalannualandperennialplantsbecomedomesticated.TheNeolithicRevolutionintheCenterswasafastprocesswhencomparedtothelengthofhumanevolution.Ambiguitiescausedbythefirstpublishedradiocarbondates(especiallythosemadeoncharcoalsamples)ledtomisunderstandingswheredidtheDomesticationSyndromeachieved.Moreover,studiesconcerningthearchaeobotanicalinformationasindependentofculturalchanges(evidenceforseafaring,rivertransport,socialstructure,etc.)resultedintheunfoundedproposaltosuggestmany(upto14-22)centersofdomestication.Insum,IwilltrytopresentinmylecturehowtheFertileCrescentmodelmayassistthefuturestudyoftheoriginsofagricultureinChina.

Gary W. Crawford University of Toronto Mississauga

Presentation Title

EarlyNeolithicPalaeoethnobotanyinShandongProvince,China:LessonsfromtheYuezhuangSite

Bio GaryCrawfordisaFellowoftheRoyalSocietyofCanada,isaProfessorofAnthropologyattheUniversityofTorontoMississaugawherehehastaughtsince1979.Hisinterestslieinancienthumanecologyandspantwocontinents:NorthAmericaandEastAsia.Hepioneeredresearchontherelationshipsbetweenplantsandpeople(palaeoethnobotany)inOntarioandJapaninthe1970sandearly1980sandhelpedstartpalaeoethnobotanicalresearchinNorthChinainthelate1990s.The

flotationdevicehedesignedisinusethroughoutJapanandChina.HiscurrentresearchfocusesonpeopleandplantinteractionsandagriculturaloriginsinOntarioandEastAsiaandhowancientpeopleinteractedwiththeenvironmentinwhichtheylived.Hehaspublishedtwotextbooks,amonographonJapanesearchaeology,hostedatelevisionseriesonarchaeologyforTVOntario,andhaspublishedwidelyinjournalssuchasAntiquity,PLOSOne,PNAS,CurrentAnthropology,AmericanAntiquity,andTheHolocene.Inadditiontohisscholarlywork,Prof.CrawfordhasservedontheboardoftheOntarioHeritageFoundationandspentnearlytwodecadesservingtheuniversitycommunityastheChairoftwodepartments(atdifferenttimes),AssociateDeanofSocialSciencesatUTM,andinanActingcapacityinseveralotheradministrativepositions.HeiscurrentlyservingasanelectedmemberoftheAcademicBoardoftheGoverningCounciloftheUniversityofToronto.

Abstract

TheYuezhuangsiteisoneofabout16HouliCulturesettlementsinShandongProvince,Chinaanddatestoca.8000–7500cal.BP.ShandongUniversityhasexcavatedtwootherHouliculturesitesareinJinancity,includingXiheandZhangmatunfromwhichplantremainshavealsobeencollected.Palaeoethnobotanicalresearchdocumentshuman–environmentinteractionandthelocalsubsistenceeconomysoonaftertheinitiationoffoodproductionintheregion.ThiseconomysupportedasizeablecommunitythatoccupiedakilometerstretchoffloodplainalongsouthbankoftheNandashaRiver.Sofar,thearchaeologicalevidenceconsistsofpitsandditches,animalbone,potteryandstonetoolsbutnodwellings.TheearliestHouliCulturepresencedatestoabout9000BPatZhangmatun.Earlierdates(ca.10,000BP)havebeenreportedfromothersites,buttheyappeartobeoutliers.Oneofthequestionsourresearchaddressedwas:“wherealongthetrajectorybetweenhunting-gatheringandagriculturedidtheHouliCultureeconomysit?”Inotherwords,towhatextenthadtheYuezhuangpopulationdevelopedafoodproductionniche?Inordertodoso,charredseedsfromavarietyofplanttaxawererecoveredbyflotationofsedimentfrompitsandculturalstrata.About30%oftheseedassemblageiscrops:rice(Oryzasativa),broomcorn/commonmillet(Panicummiliaceum),andfoxtailmillet(Setariaitalicasubsp.italica).Severalotherplantssuchassoybean(Glycinemaxsubsp.maxorG.maxsubsp.soja),perilla(Perillasp.),andchenopod(Chenopodiumsp.)thatarealsocultivatedinEastAsiaarealsopartoftheassemblage.Itisnotclearwhethertheywerecultivated,butwecannotruleoutthepossibility.ThisproportionissimilartoLateNeolithicplantremainsassemblagesinthearea.Mostoftheotherplanttaxaarefromopen,sunlit,andanthropogenic,disruptedhabitats,similartothosedocumentedforthelateNeolithicLongshanCultureinShandongProvince.Afewarboreal(woody)plantsappearintheEarlyNeolithicarchaeologicalrecordofShandong.Anthropogenichabitatsandtheirformation,maintenanceanduse,wetlandexploitation,cultivation,hunting–gathering–fishing,andanimalmanagementcharacterizethemature(late)HouliCultureniche.AlthoughnotidenticaltoLateNeolithicassemblages,itisquitesimilar,indicatingthattheLateHouliculturewassubstantiallyinvestedinresourcemanagementandfoodproduction.TheHoulipresenceonthelandscapealsofacilitatednewecologicalopportunitiesforplantandanimalpopulations,someofwhichwouldeventuallybecomeeconomicallyimportant.

Jade d’Alpoim Guedes Washington State University

Presentation Title

MovingAgricultureontotheRoofoftheWorld:WhatComputationalModelingTellsUsAboutForager/FarmerInteractionsontheTibetanPlateau

Bio Jaded’AlpoimGuedesisanassistantprofessorofAnthropologyatWashingtonStateUniversity.Sheisapaleoethnobotanistandcomputationalmodellerwhostudieshowhumansadaptedtheirforagingpracticesandagriculturalstrategiestonewenvironments.JadeearnedherPhDatHarvardUniversityin2013andcarriedoutapostdoctoralfellowshipinEarthPlanetarySciencewhereshedevelopedcomputationalmodelsthatchartedthespreadofagriculturetoSouthwestChinaandtheTibetanPlateau.ShedirectsthepaleoethnobotanylaboratoryatWashingtonStateUniversitywhereshehasanalyzedmaterialfromawidevarietyofcontextsacrossChina,SoutheastAsia,HarappaandthePacificNorthwest.ShecurrentlydirectsanNSFfundedinterdisciplinaryfieldworkprojectintheJiuzhaigouNationalParkthatusesacombinationofcomputationalmodeling,ancientclimatereconstructionandgeomorphologytocharthowhumansadaptedtheirlifestylestothechallengingenvironmentofthefoothillsoftheHimalayas.Thisprojectalsoinvolvesexperimentalresearchandfieldtrialsofcroplandracesaimedatimprovingthemodelsusedtounderstandancientcropdistributionandtheirresistancetoclimatechange.

Abstract

Researchonagriculture'sspreadinEastAsiahasfollowedanunderlyingassumption:thatfarmingproducedequallyreliablereturnsacrossthevastexpanseofterritoriesintowhichitspreadandalwaysplacedfarmersatademographicadvantage.SignificantecologicalbarrierstogrowingcropsontheTibetanPlateaumeantthattheoppositewastrue.Usingecologicalnichemodelingtoilluminatehowforagersandfarmersinteractedinenvironmentsmarginaltocropcultivation,thispaperdemonstratesthatthehigherelevationreachesofthe“thirdpole”constitutedabarrierforexpandingmilletfarmers.Intheseareasforagersmaintainedacompetitiveadvantage.Followingtheendoftheclimaticoptimum,decreasingtemperatureseffectivelyendedmilletfarmer’sexpansion.ItwasonlyfollowingtheintroductionofasuiteofnewcropsandanimalsthattheTibetaneconomyasweknowittodaywasabletoflourish,butalsothatpastoralistsandfarmersfinallybegantotrulyencroachonforagerterritory.

Richard Fullagar University of Wollongong

Presentation Title

Stonetoolfunction,plantexploitationandforaginghistoriesinAsiaandAustralia

Bio RichardFullagarisemployedasaProfessorialResearchFellowintheCentreforArchaeologicalScience,UniversityofWollongong,Australia,andisalsodirectorofanarchaeologicalcompany.HepreviouslyheldresearchpositionsattheAustralianMuseumandtheUniversityofSydneyandhasextensivefieldexperience.Hepioneeredresearchintoresiduesandusewearonstonetoolsandcurrentprojectsincludeanalysisofstone

toolsfromDenisovaCave(Siberia,Russia),LiangBuaCaveandSoaBasin(Flores,Indonesia)andanearlybonebreakagesite(California,USA).Recentpublicationsincludestudiesofexperimentalmethodologies,earlyagricultureintheNewGuineaHighlands,theoldestAustralianoccupationsite(Madjedbebe)andPleistocenegrindingstonesfromLakeMungo(southeasternAustralia).

Abstract

In2009,Denhametal.(Quat.Int.202:29–40)publishedareviewofarchaeobotanicalevidencefromAustraliaandNewGuinea.WeaimedtounderstandmodernhumancolonizationoftheAsian-Australianregionandhowgeneralistpracticesandpatternsofbehaviourbecamemoreregionallydistinct.WedocumentedsophisticatedplantexploitationpracticesinthePleistocene,andHolocenecomplexities,withtransitionstoagricultureemerginginonlysomelocations.Itistimelytoreviewagainthesedatainthelightofnewarchaeologicalfindsfromtheregion,newmethodsofanalysisandrevisedageestimatesformodernhumans(e.g.atMadjedbebe,northernAustralia,by65ka,andatLiangBua,Indonesia,by50ka).TheearliestevidenceofoccupationinAustraliashowsplantexploitation,grindingtechnologiesincludingedge-groundhatchets,bifaciallyretouchedtoolsandevidenceofartwithhaematitecrayons.DatafromMadjedbebeconfirmevidenceforearlyseedgrinding,tuberprocessingandnutexploitation.PolishedflaketoolsfromLiangBuaindicatearangeofplantprocessingforatleastthepast30kyr.ThemodelhasimplicationsforanalyzingtheChinesestoneartifactrecord,whichpotentiallyprovidesamuchlongerrecordofmodernhumanplantexploitation.

Wei Ge Xiamen University

Presentation Title

UpdatedCluesfortheSpreadingofAgricultureinSEChina:Multi-disciplinaryEvidences

Bio GeWeiisanassociateprofessoratXiamenUniversity.HeisalsothelabdirectorforAnthropologyandArchaeologyfortheSchoolofhumanities.HereceivedhisPh.D.fromtheUniversityofScienceandTechnologyofChinaforthedissertationontheApplicationofStarchAnalysisinChineseArchaeologyinJune2010.Dr.Ge’sresearchworknowmainlyfocusesonthereconstructingofsubsistenceeconomyofprehistoricSEChina,bycombiningmultipleevidencesfrombotanicalremainsandisotopicanalysisofanimalbones.

Abstract

ToinvestigatethedevelopmentofprehistoryagricultureofSEChina,weconductedmulti-disciplinarystudiesinFujianProvince.Researchesonmicro-botanicalremainsfromQihedongcavesiteindicatingatraditionoftuberusefromlatePleistocenetohistoricalperiod,whichcouldbethereasonforlackofgrassagricultureinSEChina.CarbonizedseedsfoundfromHulushanlateNeolithicsiteprovedtheagricultureofriceandmilletof4000BP.StableisotopeanalysesofhumanandpigbonesfromTanshishan,PingfengshanandHuangguashancoastalshellmiddensitessuggesttheexistingofricecultivationof5000BPandmilletcultivationof3700-3500BP.Thesefindingsprovidenewinformationforthespreadingofprehistoryagricultureinthisarea.

Lisa Kealhofer Santa Clara University

Presentation Title

AgricultureandPoliticalEconomy:GordionintheLongueDurée

Bio LisaKealhoferisaProfessorintheAnthropologyandEnvironmentalStudiesandSciencesDepartmentsatSantaClaraUniversity.ShereceivedherPh.D.inAnthropologyfromtheUniversityofPennsylvania.HerresearchareasincludeAnatoliaandSoutheastAsia,whereshefocusesonproductionandexchange(ceramics),landuse,environmentalchange,andpracticesofpower.CurrentprojectsincludethestudyofpoliticallandscapesinAnatoliaandinSoutheastAsia,aswellascollaborationsinthewesternPacific.

Abstract Archaeologistshavelongarguedthatagriculturalstrategies,particularly‘intensification,’areamajorfactorindestabilizingenvironments.Narrativesofsocietalcollapsestandardlypointtoacomponentofenvironmentaldegradationindiscussionsofpoliticalbreakdown.RecentworkintheGordionregion,centralAnatolia,demonstratesthatmajorenvironmentalchangeisweaklyconnectedtosimplemeasuresofagriculturalintensificationoverthelast5000years.Detailedstreamhistories,coupledwithsettlementintensitymeasuresfromsurveydata,showthatmajorenvironmentalchangespredatesignificantsettlementinsmallwatersheds,whileinthelargestsystemstheypost-datehighintensitysettlement.Soil,slope,climate,andmanagementstrategiesmatterforlandscapeoutcomes.Integratedevidenceoflongtermpatternsinagriculturalstrategies,settlementchanges,andsoilerosionintheregionshowsthatenvironmentaltippingpointsarecomplexlyrelatedtothetimingofpoliticalcentralization.

Amanda G. Henry Leiden University, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Presentation Title

InterpretationsofStarchGrainRecordsforDietaryTransitionsMustAccountforTaphonomy,Contamination,MethodsVariabilityandReferenceMaterials

Bio

AmandaG.HenryisanassociateprofessorintheFacultyofArchaeologyatLeidenUniversity,wheresheisstudyingtheroleofplantfoodsinhumanevolution,andhowabehavioralecologyframeworkcanhelpusunderstandtheforagingchoicesmadebyourhomininancestors.

Abstract

Analysesofstarchgrainspreservedonarchaeologicalmaterialssuchaspottery,grindstones,anddentalcalculuscanelucidateshiftsinhumandietarytransitions,suchastheoriginandspreadofagriculture.Theappearanceofstarchesfromplantsinregionsoutsideoftheirnativehabitats,andthepotentialforshiftsinstarchmorphologyduetodomesticationbothwouldbemarkersforearlyuseofdomesticatedfoods.However,thestarchrecordincludesalargenumberofpossibleproblems.Starchgrainsarecommoninmodernlandscapesandlaboratories,makingmoderncontaminationextremelylikely.Starchesareremovedfromthearchaeologicalrecordduetobacterialaction,hightemperatures,wateraction,extremesofpHandotherfactors,andthesefactorsmaydifferentiallyeffectvariousplanttaxa,furtherbiasingtherecord.Manyofthemethodsusedtoisolatestarchesfromarchaeologicalsamplesaremoreeffectiveoncertainstarchtypes,andareknowntobiasagainstdamagedstarches.Finally,theconfidentidentificationofancientstarchesreliesonhavinganextremelythoroughreferencecollectionthatincludesnotonlytheplantsofinterest,butalsoalargenumberofclosely-anddistantly-relatedtaxafromthesameregion.Anyattempttousestarchestodocumentdomesticationmustfirstaddresstheseissues.

Gyoung-Ah Lee University of Oregon

Presentation Title

ReconstructingprehistoricplantresourceintheKoreanPeninsulaintheHoloceneenvironment:comparingmacroscopicandmicroscopicplantRemains

Bio Lee’sresearchfocusistheoriginsofagriculture,culturallandscape,andhuman-environmentalinteractioninEastAsia.ShehasbeenconductinginterdisciplinaryprojectsintheYellowRivervalleyofnorthcentralChina,theborderregionbetweenChinaandKorea,andsouthernKorea.Recently,shestartedanislandarchaeologyprojectinJejuwiththeNationalGeographicsupporttounderstandpeoplingandculturalconnectionsovertheoceans,islandadaptation,andoriginsofpotteryandfarminginAsia.

Abstract

Chulmunculture,documentedbyover870sitesacrosstheKoreanPeninsula,presentsalong-standingNeolithicculturalnicheconstructionfromtheearlyHolocene.Thispresentationwilloverviewenvironmentalchangesandconcurrentsocio-economicshiftsfromthePleistocene-HolocenetransitiontotheendofHoloceneOptimumperiod.IncreasingevidenceonearlyplantmanagementindicatesChulmuneconomywasnotassimpleasusedtobethought.Dataonmacroscopicandmicroscopicplantresourceusewillbecomparedwithchangingsettlementpatternsandlandscapechoice.Departingfromaone-wayloopframeworkofenvironmentalimpactsandculturalconsequence,thisresearchwillillustratetheChulmuneconomicprogressinalong-termevolutionaryperspective.

Xinyi Liu Washington University in St. Louis

Presentation Title

BetweenFertileCrescents:Trans-EurasianExchangeofCerealCrops

Bio XinyiLiuisanassistantprofessorofanthropologicalarchaeologyatWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis.HeisthedirectortheLaboratoryfortheAnalysisofEarlyFood-webs(LAEF).LiupreviouslytaughtandworkedattheUniversityofCambridgeuponhemovedtoWashingtonUniversityin2014.HewaseducatedinChinaandUK,andobtainedhisPhDin2010atUniversityofCambridge.Liu’smainresearchinterestslayinsubjectssuchastheoriginsoffoodproduction,dispersalofagriculture,andtheprehistoryofChina.

Abstract Muchhascometolightaboutthetimingandthepathwaysoffoodglobalizationinprehistory,pathwayswhichrangewidelyinaltitudeaswellasincontinentally.Oneissueincomprehendingthesemovementsistounderstandtheearlyhumanmovementsthatcarriedthem.Asecondissueistheirpersistenceoftheseagriculturalresourcesinnovelhabitatsandthenecessaryadaptiveresponses,andthenewpossibilitiesofworkingwithexoticplants.

Li Liu Stanford University

Presentation Title

HarvestingandProcessingWildMilletintheUpperPaleolithicYellowRiverValley,China:Apathwaytodomestication

Bio LiLiuistheSirRobertHoTungProfessorinChineseArchaeologyintheDepartmentofEastAsianLanguagesandCulturesatStanfordUniversitysince2010.PreviouslyshetaughtarchaeologyatLaTrobeUniversityinMelbourne,Australia,for14yearsandwaselectedasFellowofAcademyofHumanitiesinAustralia.ShehasaBAinHistory(ArchaeologyMajor)fromNorthwestUniversityinChina,anMAinAnthropologyfromTempleUniversityinPhiladelphia,andaPhDinAnthropologyfromHarvardUniversity.HerresearchinterestsincludearchaeologyofearlyChina(NeolithicandBronzeAge);ritualpracticeinancientChina;culturalinteractionbetweenChinaandotherpartsoftheOldWorld;domesticationofplantsandanimalsinChina;developmentofcomplexsocietiesandstateformation;settlementarchaeology;urbanism;starchgrainanalysis;andlithicusewearanalysis.

Abstract

ThereconstructionofalonghistoryofplantexploitationatShizitanLocality29revealedtheinitialstageofwildmilletexploitationinthemiddleYellowRiverregion.ResiduesanduseweartracesoncuttingtoolsandgrindingstonesindicatethatPaleolithichunter-gatherersbegantoharvestandprocesswildcereals(TriticeaeandJob’stears)some28,000yearsago.Theybegantoharvestwildmilletsaround24,000yearsagoattheonsetofLastGlacialMaximum,whichwasabout14,000yearsbeforethemorphologicallydomesticatedmilletsoccurredintheearlyHoloceneinChina.TheintensifiedexploitationofwildmilletsduringtheLGMmayhavebeenapartofnewsubsistencestrategyinresponsetothecold-dryconditionswithanexpansionofthesteppeecosystem.Thislongprocessofwildcerealcollectionindicatesthattheearlystageofpredomesticationcultivationofmilletmayhavebeeninitiatedbythehunter-gatherersonthispartofChina.

Houyuan Lu Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Presentation Title

TimingofShangshanCultureandtheProcessofRiceDomestication

Bio

Dr.HouyuanLuisaprofessorinInstituteofGeologyandGeophysics,ChineseAcademyofSciences.Hisresearchfocusesonthepollenandphytolith,thecharacterofprehistorichumanadaptations,includingagriculturaloriginsandthequantitativereconstructionof

palaeoclimaticalhistoryineastAsia.Hehasmorethan150publicationsinvariousjournalsinthefield,includingNatureandPNAS.HeisthepanelmemberofPalynology,PalynologyAssociationofChina,TheChinaSocietyonTibetPlateau,andChineseAssociationforQuaternaryResearch.Healsoservicedastheassociateeditor-in-chiefofQuaternarySciences.

Abstract

Phytolithremainsofrice(Oryzasativa)recoveredfromtheShangshansiteintheLowerYangtzeofChinahavepreviouslybeenrecognizedastheearliestexampleofricecultivation.However,duetothepoorpreservationofmacro-plantfossils,manyradiocarbondateswerederivedfromundifferentiatedorganicmaterialsinpotterysherds.Thesematerialsremainasourceofdebatebecauseofpotentialcontaminationbyoldcarbon.Directdatingofthericeremainsmightservetoclarifytheirage.Here,wefirstvalidatethereliabilityofphytolithdatinginthestudyregionthroughacomparisonwithdatesobtainedfromothermaterialfromthesamelayerorcontext.OurphytolithdataindicatethatriceremainsretrievedfromearlystagesoftheShangshanandHehuashansiteshaveagesofca.9400andca.9000calyrBP,respectively.Thericebulliformphytolithsindicatetheyareclosertomoderndomesticatedspecies,suggestingthatricedomesticationmayhavebegunatShangshannearly10,000yearsago.Theevidencealsoindicatesthatbarnyardgrass(Echinochloaspp.)wasamajorsubsistenceresource,alongsidesmallerquantitiesofacorn(Lithocarpus/Quercussensulato)andwaterchestnuts(Trapa).Theearlymanagedwetlandenvironmentsmightbeinitiallyharvestedformultiplegrainspeciesincludingbarnyardgrassesandrice.

Linda Perry Presentation Title

ChiliPeppersintheAmericas:TracingDomestication

Bio

Dr.LindaPerryisaFulbrightSeniorSpecialistinarchaeobotanyandaformerSmithsonianFellow,ResearchCollaborator,andResearchAssociate.Shehasbeenworkingwitharchaeobotanicalsamplesfornearlytwentyyears,andhastaughtinthefieldsofbiology,botany,environmentalscience,archaeologyandanthropology.Linda’sworkincorporatesarchaeobotanicalanalysesintoancientcontextstogaininsightintothebehavior,organization,anddevelopmentofpastsocieties.Tostudythesesubjectssheemploysmanymethodsincludingmicrofossilanalysesofbothartifactsandsediments,macrobotanicalanalysis,andwoodidentification.

Abstract

Chilipeppers(Capsicumspp.)arearguablythemostwidelycultivatedfoodplantsthatoriginatedintheAmericas.OnlyfivehundredyearsaftertheintroductionofpeppersintoEurope,thespicyfruitshavebeenincorporatedintocuisinesworldwide.Despitewidespreadinterestinchilipeppers,acombinationoffactorsincludingthenumbersofspeciesinvolved(atleastfive)andthenatureofthearchaeobotanicalrecordhavenotallowedforacomprehensiveunderstandingofthehistoriesoftheseimportantspiceplants.

Thisproblemcannowbeovercomeduetoourincreasingunderstandingofagenus-specificstarchmicrofossilthatallowsustoidentifychilipeppersfrommostarchaeologicalcontexts.Wewillalsobeabletousethismicrofossiltotraceboththedomesticationanddispersalofchilies.Starchmicrofossilsfromchilipeppershavebeenfoundatsevensitesdatingfrom6000yearsbeforepresenttoEuropeancontactandrangingfromtheBahamastosouthernPeru.ThestarchgrainassemblagesfromthesesitesalsodemonstratethatmaizeandchiliesoccurredtogetherasanancientandwidespreadNeotropicalplantfoodcomplexthatpredatespotteryinsomeregions.

Maureece Levin Stanford University

Presentation Title

Agroforestry,Migrations,andHumanNicheConstructioninCentral-EasternMicronesia

Bio

MaureeceLevinisapostdoctoralscholarattheStanfordArchaeologyCenter.Herresearchinterestscenteronpastfoodproductionsystems,historicalecology,andhumannicheconstructioninthePacificIslandsandinEastAsia.Sheisapaleoethnobotanistwhoemploysphytoliths,starch,andplantmacroremainanalysisinherwork,aswellasethnoarchaeology.

LevincompletedherPh.D.attheUniversityofOregonin2015,whereshestudiedmanagedagroforestsinPohnpei,Micronesiausinglandscapesurvey,andancientandmodernbotanicaldata.HercurrentworkincludesongoingprojectsonPohnpeiandPingelapislandsinMicronesia,aswellascollaborativeworkatStanfordonplantmicroremainsfromPaleolithicandNeolithicsitesinnortheastChina.

Abstract

Theislandsofcentral-easternMicronesiawereoriginallysettledabouttwomillenniaagobydescendantsofLapitapeoples.Modernlandscapesintheregionaretheresultofintenseecologicalengineeringbytheinitialsettlersandtheirdescendants;thisprocesswasfacilitatedbythetransportofwesternPacificcultigenstotheregion.UsingacasestudyfromthehighislandofPohnpei,thispresentationappliesthetheoryofculturalnicheconstructiontounderstandingthefeedbackbetweenfoodproduction-relatedecologicalengineeringandthesocialandphysicalenvironmentinthisregion.Phytolith,plantmacroremain,andsurveydatashowthatPohnpeianshaveengagedinintensivelandscapemanagementtodeveloplandscapesamenabletotreeandrootcropproduction.Additionally,peoplewerelikelyabletosettlethemoreremoteandecologicallyimpoverishedcoralislandsinthecentral-easternMicronesianregionbyengaginginsimilarpractices.

Arlene M. Rosen University of Texas at Austin

Presentation Title

RefashioningChina’sNature:MicrobotanicalEvidenceforthespreadofEarlyNeolithicAgriculturetotheLoessPlateauanditsImpactonMiddleHoloceneLandscapes

Bio ArleneRosenisaProfessorofEnvironmentalArchaeologyandGeoarchaeologyintheDepartmentofAnthropologyattheUniversityofTexasatAustin.SheisworkingonhumanenvironmentalrelationsduringlaterprehistoryandinearlycomplexsocietiesintheLevant,China,andMongolia.SheistheauthorofCivilizingClimate:SocialResponsestoClimateChangeintheAncientNearEast(2007:AltamiraPress),andnumerousjournalarticlesdealingwithissuesofhumanadaptationstoclimatechange,earlyagriculturalcommunities,andhumanimpactontheenvironment,publishedinissuesofPNAS,CurrentAnthropology,TheHolocene,JournalofAnthropologicalArchaeology,QuaternaryResearch,NatureandCultureamongothers.SherecentlyorganizedaninternationalworkshopentitledTheAnthropoceneintheLongueDuréewhichhassincebeenpublishedasaspecialissueofTheHolocenein2015.

Abstract

Mostofourinsightsaboutthespreadofearlycultivationfromcenterswherewildprogenitorsofcropsoriginatedtothehinterlands,comefromon-sitedatafromsuchcontextsasashpits,middens,hearthsandmillingstones.ThereismuchtobelearnedaswellfromexaminingcontextsattheinterfacebetweentheperipheriesofarchaeologicalsitesandthenaturallandscapesthatwerecontemporarywithNeolithicsitesinthesehinterlands.Geoarchaeological,phytolith,andstarchstudiesoflandscapesimmediatelyadjacenttoarchaeologicalsitesdistantfromtheheartland,cancontributeinformationonthedirectimpactofincipientcultivationandsubsequentintensificationoftheseearlycrops.Thisdirectconnectionallowsustounderstandaspectsofeconomicdecision-making,andcultivationstrategiesoftheearliestcultivators,andhowtheseaffectedlocalsitecatchments.

TheoriginandspreadofthefirstfarmingcommunitiesontotheLoessPlateauofnorthernChinaprovidesagoodexampleofthis.PreviouslypublishedsedimentprofilesalongtheLiujianStream,immediatelyadjacenttothesiteofHuizuiintheYiluoRiverBasin,providedevidenceforhumanland-usebeginningwiththeearlyMid-Holocenedepositswhichareconsistentwithstablehillslopesoils,indicatingthatthefirstmixedforager-milletfarmersofthePeiligangNeolithichadaverylightecologicalfootprintonthelandscape.ThisisincontrasttothelatermiddleNeolithicYangshaoPeriodfarmers.Sediments,phytolithsandstarchesfromtheYangshaoPeriodrevealedevidencefortheearliestNeolithicpaddyfarmingwelloutsideofthenaturalhabitatofwildrice.Inadditiontoevidenceformassivedeforestationandsoilerosion,a15mdeepalluvialsequencecontainingsetsofgravels(beginningca.7200calBP)andgleyedsoilsdatingfromca.6600calBP,containedricephytolithsandarchaeologicalwastesuggestingmanuring.Thesesignsofintensivelandscapemanagementwenthand-in-handwithrapidlyincreasingsocialcomplexityfromtheearliesttolatestNeolithicperiodsinnorthernChina(Rosenetal.inpress).AnewgeoarchaeologicalsectionfurtherdownstreamontheLiujianstream,providessediment,starch,andmicrobotanicalevidenceforearlycultivationactivitiesinthevicinitywhichgobacktoEarlyHoloceneandrecordPeiligongPeriodlanduseandcultivation.

Alison Weisskopf University College London

Presentation Title

ForagingtoFarmingintheWetTropics:ACaseStudyfromSoutheastAsia

Bio Alisonisanarchaeobotanist,currentlythephytolithspecialistonthethirdphaseoftheEarlyRiceProjectattheInstituteofArchaeology,UniversityCollegeLondon.'The

impactofintensificationanddeintensificationofAsianriceproduction:transitionsbetweenwetanddryecologies',exploringtheorigins,developmentandspreadofriceagricultureacrossAsia.ShehasworkedinEast,SoutheastandSouthAsiaonthisproject,andalsointhePacific,theEurasiansteppes,Belize,MaltaandtheUK.Hermaininterestsarehumanplantuseinprehistory,foodpathways,ethnobotanyandeconomicbotanyandtherelationshipsbetweenplantuse,tradingpatternsandsocialdevelopment.

Abstract

Distinguishingearlyfarmingfromforagingisachallenge,especiallyinthewettropics.Muchoftheplantdietisbasedontubers,leavesandfruit,whicharedifficulttofindarchaeologically.Whilegraincrops,suchasriceandmillets,arerobustandcanpreserveascharredremains,ingeneralpreservationoforganicmaterialsisoftenpoorduetosoilconditionsinmesicenvironments.Thisiswheremicroremains,suchasphytolithsandstarches,cometothefore.Ethnobotanycanalsoprovideinsightsonhowplantmaterialwasusedanddisposedof.Severalmethodshavebeendevelopedfordistinguishingcultivationsystemsusingethnography,modernanaloguesandasensitiveversusfixedphytolithmorphotypeanalysis.Howthesemethodsworkinmoretemperateenvironmentscomparedtothewettropicswillbediscussed,followedbyacasestudydiscussingresultsfromSoutheastAsiansites.

Jiajing Wang Stanford University

Presentation Title

FromFieldtoFeast:Food,Drinks,andRitualsintheShangshanCulture

Bio JiajingWangisaPh.D.studentintheDepartmentofEastAsianLanguagesandCulturesatStanfordUniversity.Herresearchinterestsincludetheoriginsofagriculture,ancientfoodprocessing,andalcoholproduction.Sheappliesstarch,phytoliths,andusewearanlaysisforherresearch.

Abstract TheLowerYangtzevalleyofChinaisrenownedastheoriginofriceagriculture.Previousresearchbasedonarchaeobotanicalanalysisandgeneticdataindicatesthattheevolutionfromwildricetodomesticricewasacontinuousprocessthatoccurredbetween11,000-6,000BP.TheShangshanculture(11,400BP–86,00)hasrevealedtheearliestevidenceofricecultivationintheregion.However,westillhavelimitedunderstandingabouthowricecultivationemerged.Thispresentationappliesasocioapproachtounderstandtheinitialplantcultivation.BasedonarecentresidueanalysisonShangshanpottery,thispresentationexploreswhat“meals”and“drinks”weremadeandtheirassociatedsocialactivities.Byintegratingplantsintothesocialorganizationofthehumanlife,thisstudyaimstodevelopanexplanatorymodeltobetterunderstandthetransitiontoagricultureintheLowerYangtze.

Xiaoyan Yang Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of

Sciences Presentation Title

HowandwhydidHunter-gatherersselectmilletstodomesticateinNorthChina?

Bio

XiaoyanYangisaProfessoratInstituteofGeographicalSciencesandNaturalResourcesResearch,ChineseAcademyofSciences.ShereceivedherPh.D.degreeinQuaternaryGeologyfromPekingUniversityin2003,focusingonenvironmentalarchaeology.Herresearchinterests

includehuman-environmentalrelationship,theoriginsanddispersalsofdryfarminginnorthChina,ricedomestication,andtheroleofsagopalmsinsouthsubtropicalChina.

Abstract

RecentmicroarchaeobotanicalevidenceindicatedthattribesofbothTriticeae(includingbarleysandwheat)andPaniceae(includingfoxtailandbroomcornmillets)wereexploitedtogetherasearlyasLateglacialperiod(LGP)inNorthChina.However,howandwhythewildprogenitorsofmilletswereselectedtodomesticatewhileTriticeaewasabandonedislessclear.Here,wedocumentthedevelopmentprocessofmillet-basedagriculturebasedonancientstarchdataderivedfromninearchaeologicalsitesdatingfrom25,000to5,500aBPinNorthChina.PuttingsuchprocessinthecontextofdramaticclimatechangefromLGPtoHoloceneOptimumindicatedthatchangesofpatternbetweentemperatureandprecipitation,andCO2concentration,coincidedwiththegrowingseasonforthePaniceaegrassesbutwereunfavorableforgrowthoftheTriticeaegrasses.Favorableclimateincreasedtheyieldstability,abundance,andavailabilityofwildprogenitorsofmillets,whichfurtherinfluencedthehunter-gatherers'selectionofPaniceaeratherthanTriticeaetodomesticate.Thisstudyshedslightontheoriginsofmillet-baseddry-landagricultureinthisregion.

Jianping Zhang Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Presentation Title

PhytolithsAnalysisfortheDiscriminationofMilletsandRelatedWildGrasses

Bio

Dr.JianpingZhangisanassociateprofessorinInstituteofGeologyandGeophysics,ChineseAcademyofSciences.Hisresearchinterestshavemainlyinvolvedinphytolithmorphologyandarchaeobotany.Herecentlyusedphytolithtodistinguishbetween

foxtailmilletsanditswildancestor,revealedtheearliestfinereedytextileinChina,andidentifieddecayedtearemainsbycalciumoxalatecrystals.HehasbeencarryingoutonarchaeobotanicalandpalaeoecologicalresearchincentralandnorthwesternChina,whichincludetheoriginanddispersalofcropsinNeolithicChina.

Abstract

Phytolithanalysisprovidesaviablemethodinidentificationofmillets,especiallywhenthesegrainsdecayedinthearchaeobotanicalcontext.Althoughthediagnosticcriteriausedtodistinguishcommonmillet(Panicummiliaceum),foxtailmillet(Setariaitalica)andgreenfoxtail(Setariaviridis)hasquicklygainedterrain,however,todate,theidentificationofmilletsandrelativewildweedshasstillbeenquestionable.ThisstudysurveystheissuesconcerninginflorescencephytolithsfromSetariaspeciesinChinaanddiscusstheproblemsrelatedtophytolithdiagnosticcriteriausedtodistinguishmillets,commonSetariagrassesandspeciesfromTrib.Paniceae.Wefoundthataccordingtothemorphologyoftheundulatedpatterns,thepresenceofpapillae,andthewidthofendingsinterdigitation,Trib.Paniceaecanbedistinguishedingenusorspecieslevel.Particularly,ΩIIIepidermallongcellsintheupperlemmaandpaleadifferentiateS.viridisfromotherSetariaspecieswith85%accuracy.ConsideringthattypicalΩIIItypeisuniquetoS.italicaandS.viridis,wecandifferentiateS.viridisfromS.italicaandothercommonSetariaspecies.ThefivediagnosticcriteriaproposedbyLuetal.(2009)inPLoSONEcanbesafelyusedtodistinguishS.italicafromP.miliaceum.

Zhijun Zhao Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Presentation Title

Barnyard-milletFarmingZoneinNortheastAsia--ArchaeobotanicalevidencefromNortheasternChina

Bio

ZhijunZhaoisaprofessorattheInstituteofArchaeology,ChineseAcademyofSocialSciences.HereceivedhisPh.D.degreeinanthropologyin1996fromtheUniversityofMissouri-ColumbiaatUSA,withadvancedworkemphasizingarchaeology,principallyinarchaeobotany.HisresearchinterestisfocusedontheoriginofChineseagricultureandeconomicbackgroundoftheformationofChinesecivilization.Thisinvolvesarangeofapproachesfromfieldworktolaboratoryexperiments.Inthepastyears,hehasparticipatedinarchaeologicalfieldworkstocarryoutflotationthatinvolvedhundredsofarchaeologicalsitesdistributedalloverChina.Zhaohaspublishedabout90publicationsincludingarticlesandarchaeologicalreports.Hisbookentitled“Paleoethnobotany–Theories,MethodsandPractice”waspublishedbyScientificPressinBeijing.

Abstract

NortheasternChinaisdescribedbyAncientChineseliteraturesasawildland,characterizedbysubsistenceofhunting/gathering.However,farmingappearedinthisregionasearlyasintheprehistorictimebasedonarchaeologicaldata.Inrecentyears,flotationworkshavebeencarriedoutinarchaeologicalsiteslocatedinthisregion.ThesitesaredatedfromNeolithictohistoricalperiods,whilemostofthembelongtothetimeofLiao/JinDynastiesinChinesehistory(AD907~1234).Alargenumberofsoilsampleswereprocessed,andatremendousamountofplantremainswererecovered.Themajorityoftheplantremainsarecrops,includingfoxtailmillet(Setariaitalica),broomcornmillet(Panicummiliaceum),barnyardmillet(Echinochloaesculenta),soybean(Glycinemax),adzukibean(Vignaangularis),buckwheat(Fagopyrumesculentum),wheat(Triticumaestivum),barley(Hordeumvulgare),hempseed(Cannabissativa),oat(Avenasativa),perilla(Perillafrutescens),andsorghum(Sorghumvulgare).Thebarnyardmilletisthemostsignificantfinding,duetonotonlytheabundancebutalsothefirstfoundinChina.ConsideringthearchaeobotanicaldatafromnorthernJapanandFarEastofRussia,IproposethatanidenticalagriculturalzoneonceexistedinNortheastAsiaaround1000yearsago,withbarnyardmilletasamarkofuniquecrop.

Stanford International Symposium Transitions from Foraging to Farming in Ancient China and Beyond:

An Archaeobotanical Perspective

April 21-23, 2017

Sponsored by: Stanford Archaeology Center

Confucius Institute, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies

Date/time Activities Participants PresentationTopics

April 21: Conference Day 1

9:00-9:30amMorningReception

9:30-9:40 Welcomespeech

LiLiu(StanfordArch.Center)

Session 1: Origins of Agriculture in China: New Approaches and Discoveries

Chair: Ofer Bar-Yosef

9:40-10:20 Presentations OferBar-Yosef

(HarvardUniversity)

TheOriginsofAgricultureinChina–aViewfromWesternAsia

10:20-10:50

ZhijunZhao

(InstituteofArchaeology,ChineseAcademyofSocialSciences)

Barnyard-MilletFarmingZoneinNortheastAsia–ArchaeobotanicalEvidencefromNortheasternChina

10:50-11:05Coffeebreak

11:05-11:35

Presentations XiaoyanYang(InstituteofGeographicalSciencesandNaturalResourcesResearch,ChineseAcademyofSciences)

HowandWhyDidHunter-GatherersSelectMilletstoDomesticateinNorthChina?

11:35-12:05

LiLiu(StanfordUniversity)

HarvestingandProcessingWildMilletintheUpperPaleolithicYellowRiverValley,China:APathwaytoDomestication

12:05-12:30Discussion

12:30-1:45Lunch

Session 2: Origins of Agriculture in China: New Approaches and Discoveries

Chair: Gary Crawford

1:45-2:15 Presentations GaryCrawford(UniversityofTorontoMississauga)

EarlyNeolithicPalaeoethnobotanyinShandongProvince,China:LessonsfromtheYuezhuangSite

2:15-2:45 HouyuanLu(InstituteofGeologyandGeophysics,ChineseAcademyofSciences)

TimingofShangshanCultureandtheProcessofRiceDomestication

2:45-3:15 JiajingWang(StanfordUniversity) FromFieldtoFeast:Food,Drinks,andRitualsintheShangshanCulture

3:15-3:40Coffeebreak

3:40-4:10 Presentations WeiGe(XiamenUniversity) UpdatedCluesfortheSpreadingofAgricultureinSEChina:Multi-DisciplinaryEvidences

4:10-4:40 AlisonWeisskopf(UniversityCollegeLondon)) ForagingtoFarmingintheWetTropics:ACaseStudyfromSoutheastAsia

4:40-5:05Discussion

April 22: Conference Day 2

9:00-9:30amMorningReception

Session 3: Ancient Landscapes and Ecology

Chair: Arlene Rosen

9:30-10:00 Presentations ArleneRosen(UniversityofTexasatAustin)

RefashioningChina'sNature:MicrobotanicalEvidencefortheSpreadofEarlyNeolithicAgriculturetotheLoessPlateauandItsImpactonMiddleHoloceneLandscapes

10:00-10:30

Jaded’AlpoimGuedes(WashingtonStateUniversity)

MovingAgricultureontotheRoofoftheWorld:WhatComputationalModelingTellsUsAboutForager/FarmerInteractionsontheTibetanPlateau.

10:30-11:00

MaureeceLevin(StanfordUniversity) Agroforestry,Migrations,andHumanNicheConstructioninCentral-EasternMicronesia

11:00-11:25Coffeebreak

11:25-11:55

XinyiLiu(WashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis) BetweenFertileCrescents:Trans-EurasianExchangeofCerealCrops

11:55-12:25

LisaKealhofer(SantaClaraUniversity) AgricultureandPoliticalEconomy:GordionintheLongueDurée

12:25-12:40Discussion

12:40-1:45Lunch

Session 5: Methods and Interpretation

Chair: Amanda Henry

1:45-2:15 Presentations AmandaHenry(LeidenUniversity)

InterpretationsofStarchGrainRecordsforDietaryTransitionsMustAccountforTaphonomy,Contamination,MethodsVariabilityandReferenceMaterials

2:15-2:45 JianpingZhang(InstituteofGeologyandGeophysics,ChineseAcademyofSciences)

PhytolithsAnalysisfortheDiscriminationofMilletsandRelatedWildGrasses

2:45-3:15 Gyoung-AhLee(UniversityofOregon) ReconstructingPrehistoricPlantResourceintheKoreanPeninsulaintheHoloceneEnvironment:ComparingMacroscopicandMicroscopicPlantRemains

3:15-3:40Coffeebreak

3:40-4:15 Presentations LindaPerry ChiliPeppersintheAmericas:TracingDomestication

4:15-4:145 RichardFullagar(UniversityofWollongong) StoneToolFunction,PlantExploitationandForagingHistoriesinAsiaandAustralia

5:10-5:40DiscussionandClosingRemarks