四川大邑县高山古城遗址宝墩文化先民牙本质序列的碳氮稳定同位素分析

通过对成都平原新石器时代晚期(约4500BP)高山古城遗址出土人骨和牙齿进行稳定同位素分析,重建个体层面上先民的生活史,以及断奶行为、生活方式等重要信息。人骨同位素数据(δ¹³C:-19.6‰～-18.0‰)表明,该人群主要以C₃类食物为食,这应当与当时较为发达的稻作农业相关。然而,该群体的个体牙本质序列的同位素数据(δ¹³C:-19.6‰～-15.0‰)较骨骼更高,显然这是因为C₄类食物(粟黍作物)在其先民断奶过程和童年早期起到了重要作用。此外,个体牙本质序列氮稳定同位素比值的变化趋势,显示总体上先民的断奶行为在2.5～4岁之间完成。这一研究成果,为探讨稻粟混作区的粟作农业在先民生活方式中的重要地位以及其向南方传播和扩散的进程提供了新的研究视角。

Stable isotope analysis of bone and incremental dentine collagen at the Late Neolithic (4500BP) Gaoshan site in southwestern China

Here we present results of a pilot project that measuredδ13C andδ15N values in bone collagen(ribs and femora)as well as dentin serial sections to examine individual dietary life histories Gaoshan Ancient City site(高山古城)located on the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan Province,China.The isotopic data of the bones indicate that humans consumed C3-based foods,which corresponds to the dominance of rice agriculture in this region.However,the isotopic data of the dentin serial sections of five individuals display much more positiveδ13C values than those of the bones,strongly suggesting that millets(a C4 crop)contributed substantially to human diets during the weaning process and early childhood.Furthermore,the isotopic profiles of dentin sections of the first molars and canines demonstrate that the cessation of weaning was individually variable and completed between 2.5 to 4 years of age.While limited in scope,this pilot study offers new evidence of millet consumption during human growth and development even though individuals relied on rice exclusively as adults.Moreover,our study provides another perspective with which to rethink the role that millets played during the development and spread of millet agriculture to the south of China in terms of cultural exchange and migration.