We present here a pilot study to examine trophic level effects and migration patterns at the middle Shang Dynasty site of Xiaoshuangqiao in Henan Province using δD results combined with δ^13C and δ^15N values. A to...We present here a pilot study to examine trophic level effects and migration patterns at the middle Shang Dynasty site of Xiaoshuangqiao in Henan Province using δD results combined with δ^13C and δ^15N values. A total of 33 specimens（17 humans, 7 cattle, 5 pigs, 3 sheep, 1 dog） of bone collagen were isotopically analyzed for δ^13C, δ^15N, and dD values. A strong positive correlation（R^2 = 0.94）between mean δ^15N and δD values of herbivores（cattle and sheep）, omnivores（pig）, carnivores（dog）and humans was observed. The δD results were found to increase by -10‰ to 20‰ from herbivores to omnivores to carnivorous, evidence that collagen δD results are a useful indicator for the study of trophic levels and dietary patterns at archaeological sites. The δD results were also used to examine the origins of two different groups of individuals buried at Xiaoshuangqiao. Individuals buried in sacrificial pits of district V had mean δD values（-47.0 ± 2.9‰, n = 11） that were significantly（p =0.049） elevated compared to the people buried in the stratigraphy of district IX（-51.3 ± 3.3‰, n = 3）,indicating that they were ingesting water from different locations. In addition, the D values of the people buried in the stratigraphy were similar to the pigs（-54.5 ± 4.2‰, n = 5） at Xiaoshuangqiao,suggesting that they were most probably of the local population, and that the individuals buried in the sacrificial pits were most possibly from the coast and prisoners of the Dongyi（“东夷”）people. Thus,δD results have the potential to examine human origins and migration patterns and should be increasingly used in conjunction with δ^13C and δ^15N values at archaeological sites.展开更多
The Greenland ice core from NorthGRIP （NGRIP） contains a proxy climate record across the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary of unprecedented clarity and resolution. Analysis of an array of physical and chemical parameter...The Greenland ice core from NorthGRIP （NGRIP） contains a proxy climate record across the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary of unprecedented clarity and resolution. Analysis of an array of physical and chemical parameters within the ice enables the base of the Holocene, as reflected in the first signs of climatic warming at the end of the Younger Dryas/Greenland Stadial 1 cold phase, to be located with a high degree of precision.展开更多
Background:Investigations of running gait among barefoot and populations have revealed a diversity of foot strike behaviors,with some preferentially employing a rearfoot strike(RFS) as the foot touches down while othe...Background:Investigations of running gait among barefoot and populations have revealed a diversity of foot strike behaviors,with some preferentially employing a rearfoot strike(RFS) as the foot touches down while others employ a midfoot strike(MFS) or forefoot strike(FFS).Here,we report foot strike behavior and joint angles among traditional Hadza hunter-gatherers living in Northern Tanzania.Methods:Hadza adults(n = 26) and juveniles(n = 14) ran at a range of speeds(adults:mean 3.4 ± 0.7 m/s,juveniles:mean 3.2 ± 0.5 m/s) over an outdoor trackway while being recorded via high-speed digital video.Foot strike type(RFS.MFS.or FFS) and hind limb segment angles at foot strike were recorded.Results:Hadza men preferentially employed MFS(86.7%of men),while Hadza women and juveniles preferentially employed RFS(90.9%and85.7%of women and juveniles,respectively).No FFS was recorded.Speed,the presence of footwear(sandals vs.barefoot),and trial duration had no effect on foot strike type.Conclusion:Unlike other habitually barefoot populations which prefer FFS while running.Hadza men preferred MFS.and Hadza women and juveniles preferred RFS.Sex and age differences in foot strike behavior among Hadza adults may reflect differences in running experience,with men learning to prefer MFS as they accumulate more running experience.展开更多
Pollen, as an important index of the paleoenvironment and ancient human agricultural activities, is also one of the significant indicators for research on buckwheat agriculture. In order to test buckwheat pollen dispe...Pollen, as an important index of the paleoenvironment and ancient human agricultural activities, is also one of the significant indicators for research on buckwheat agriculture. In order to test buckwheat pollen dispersal during each crop processing stage, we applied traditional processing simulation experiments of buckwheat crops in a modern village, to collect aerial pollen and perform statistical analysis. The result has shown that the distribution of buckwheat pollen in residential areas is closely related to human processing behaviour. Among all the processing procedures, pollen release rate is highest in the threshing and the sieving stages. The redistribution and burial of pollen during crop processing is an important reason for the prominent increase of crop pollen concentration in the cultural layer. Not only can it indicate the cultivation and processing behaviour of humans but also provide a basis for identifying the crop processing remains in archaeological sites and assessing the intensity of agricultural activities.展开更多
At Quesang on the Tibetan Plateau we report a series of hand and foot impressions that appear to have been intentionally placed on the surface of a unit of soft travertine.The travertine was deposited by water from a ...At Quesang on the Tibetan Plateau we report a series of hand and foot impressions that appear to have been intentionally placed on the surface of a unit of soft travertine.The travertine was deposited by water from a hot spring which is now inactive and as the travertine lithified it preserved the traces.On the basis of the sizes of the hand and foot traces,we suggest that two track-makers were involved and were likely children.We interpret this event as a deliberate artistic act that created a work of parietal art.The travertine unit on which the traces were imprinted dates to between~169 and 226 ka BP.This would make the site the earliest currently known example of parietal art in the world and would also provide the earliest evidence discovered to date for hominins on the High Tibetan Plateau(above 4000 m a.s.l.).This remarkable discovery adds to the body of research that identifies children as some of the earliest artists within the genus Homo.展开更多
Central-south Inner Mongolia, China, is highly sensitive to the cultural interactions between sedentary agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists during the Eastern Zhou Period(770–256 BC). The previous pattern of mu...Central-south Inner Mongolia, China, is highly sensitive to the cultural interactions between sedentary agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists during the Eastern Zhou Period(770–256 BC). The previous pattern of multiple cultures and diverse ethnic groups has been transformed to the increasingly dominated cultural system of Central Plain since the middle and late Warring States Period, when the states of Zhao and Qin have conquered the most parts of central-south Inner Mongolia.However, the variation of subsistence strategies during this historical process has never been evaluated. Particularly, as the typical representative of Central Plain cultures, the effect of intensive millet agriculture is still unknown in the process of population integration and culture interaction. Thus, to explore the shift of subsistence pattern, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen from Dabaoshan site(410–180 BC) have been performed. The isotopic result indicates a large amount of C_4-based animal protein consumed by Dabaoshan humans. According to the archaeological backgrounds, we propose the Dabaoshan persons intensively relied on the millet agriculture and developed the agro-pastoral economy, which hinted the comprehensive influences from Central plain civilizations in late Warring States Period. Further compared with other published isotopic data in the same region during different periods, we suggest the millet agriculture has played the positive role in the process of population integration and culture fusion in central-south Inner Mongolia during the Eastern Zhou Period.展开更多
As the crossroads of prehistoric cultures,the Beijing region is an important area for studying the exchange of prehistoric culture and the spread of millet agriculture.Although millet remains have been found in the Do...As the crossroads of prehistoric cultures,the Beijing region is an important area for studying the exchange of prehistoric culture and the spread of millet agriculture.Although millet remains have been found in the Donghulin site during the Early Neolithic Age,there is little millet remains during the Middle and Late Neolithic Age,so there is a gap of approximately2,000 years since the time of the Donghulin site.The Shangzhai site is located in the Pinggu Basin in eastern Beijing,and it has a large time span with sequential strata;however,there are few large animals and plant remains found at this site,thus the subsistence strategy of ancient people remains unclear.In this study,the absorbed lipids of pottery sherds unearthed in the Neolithic cultural layer of the Shangzhai site were extracted and analysed.The results show that these potteries were used to process millet,the meat of terrestrial non-ruminants and wild ruminants,and dairy of wild ruminants,providing new insights for the subsistence strategy and the development of millet agriculture in the Middle and Late Neolithic Age of Beijing.In addition,the food processing in pottery may be an internal heating method,such as stone boiling.展开更多
The discovery of Hamipterus tianshanensis had important scientific significance because three-dimensional preserved fossils can provide unique information about the reproduction,development,and evolution of pterosaurs...The discovery of Hamipterus tianshanensis had important scientific significance because three-dimensional preserved fossils can provide unique information about the reproduction,development,and evolution of pterosaurs.However,the pterosaur fossils exhibited violent weathering,including noticeable cracking and spalling,since the preservation environment changed dramatically after excavation,which severely influenced the preservation of these fossils and the scientific research conducted on them.To determine the weathering mechanism of these fossil bones,the samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence(XRF),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry(SEM-EDS).The results indicate that calcite is the main mineral in the hollow bones,but it is mixed with a small amount of other minerals,such as quartz,feldspar,and other debris particles.Moreover,the main component of the pterosaur bones is hydroxyapatite,and carbonate has substituted for some of the phosphate(B-type carbonated apatite)in the fossil bones.A small amount of calcite and manganese oxides has precipitated in the vascular canals.The phosphate crystallinity index(PCI)is 4.17.These results indicate that the fossils have undergone severe diagenesis.Apart from these alterations,the fossil bones have high contents of anions and cations such as Cl^(-),NO_(3)^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),Na^(+),and Ca^(2+),and the total content of soluble salts is 35584.41μg g^(-1).Based on these results,it is inferred that the weathering mechanism of the fossil bones is as follows.First,the fragile hollow bones cracked easily because of the enormous thermal stress caused by the dramatic temperature changes in the Gobi Desert and the differences in the thermal expansion coefficients(TEC)of the surrounding rocks,the fossil bones,and the different fillers.Second,a large amount of stress is generated by salt crystallization when the temperature and humidity change,and the pterosaur fossils will be damaged when the crystallization pressure exceeds the tensile strength of the fossils.These results suggest that the preservation of pterosaur fossils requires suitable desalination and consolidation conditions.Moreover,they should be preserved in a constant temperature and humidity environment.展开更多
Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific variation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski’s gazelle collected from its current remnant ...Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific variation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski’s gazelle collected from its current remnant ranges around the Qinghai Lake in combination with those collected prior to the 20th century were measured and analyzed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis in order to clarify the question. Unexpectedly, P. p. diversicornis, extirpated from its historic range, has spread to the Qinghai Lake region where it has replaced nominotypical P. p. przewalskii and is now restricted to a few small isolated populations around the lake. We discuss the causes of this unexpected replacement. In this study, we discuss the possibility of a new form, possibly a new subspecies, in the Guide Basin, adjacent to Qinghai Lake; it is unclear whether the new form has long existed and was only discovered in recent years, or whether it evolved in recent times due to the geographical isolation and anthropogenic landscape features. The study sheds light on the processes of microevolution and subspeciation in Procapra przewalskii, and based on the findings, we propose measures for conservation strategies for Przewalski’s gazelle.展开更多
According to archaeological investigation and preliminary excavation, the Yangjia Site, located in the northern Taihu Lake region, at Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, is a Neolithic archaeological site dominated by cultur...According to archaeological investigation and preliminary excavation, the Yangjia Site, located in the northern Taihu Lake region, at Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, is a Neolithic archaeological site dominated by cultural remains attributed to the late Majiabang Culture(6270–5920 cal. a BP). Here a systematic archaeobotanical study was conducted to investigate vegetation landscape, environmental characteristics and rice agriculture in the prehistoric northern Taihu Lake area. The abundance, frequency and standard density of charred rice were the highest of all of the remains of the seed plants unearthed. In addition, a variety of wetland weeds, such as Haloragaceae, Cyperaceae, Carex sp., and Oxalis corniculata, were found. Pollen and phytoliths recorded that the evergreen-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest(represented by Quercus and Castanopsis) tends to decrease, while Poaceae was the most significant of the terrestrial herbs, water area expanded and water activities strengthened, indicating generally warm and humid conditions at the Yangjia Site during the late Majiabang Culture. All indicators of pollen, phytolith and macro-plant remains suggest that wild rice should be once distributed at or around the site before human occupation, after which rice agriculture progressed rapidly during the late Majiabang Culture.展开更多
Foxtail millet is one of the earliest domesticated cereal crops in the world.Its domestication has been traced back to the early Holocene(10,000–8000 cal a BP),first appearing in the basins of the Yellow River and We...Foxtail millet is one of the earliest domesticated cereal crops in the world.Its domestication has been traced back to the early Holocene(10,000–8000 cal a BP),first appearing in the basins of the Yellow River and Western Liao River[1].Dryland farming dominated by foxtail millet was ultimately established in the Central Plains during the middle Holocene(6000–5500 cal a BP)[2].This agricultural system served as the vital subsistence basis for demographic growth,a rise in urbanization,and the formation and continuous development of Chinese civilization.This cereal had traditionally been a major and valuable staple-food crop in northern China.In the late Holocene,along with human migration and innovative agricultural technology communication,foxtail millet cultivation expanded outward on a large scale and to a wide range of new habitats far away from its original center of domestication[3].展开更多
There is a long and rich tradition in the social sciences of using models of collective behavior in animals as jump- ing-off points for the study of human behavior, including collective human behavior. Here, we come a...There is a long and rich tradition in the social sciences of using models of collective behavior in animals as jump- ing-off points for the study of human behavior, including collective human behavior. Here, we come at the problem in a slightly different fashion. We ask whether models of collective human behavior have anything to offer those who study animal behavior. Our brief example of tipping points, a model first developed in the physical sciences and later used in the social sciences, suggests that the analysis of human collective behavior does indeed have considerable to offer展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41603009)MOE(Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences(No.16YJCZH100)+1 种基金Origin of Chinese Civilisation and Mount Songshan Civilisation Zhengzhou Research Association(No.Q2015-1)Humanities and Social Science Research Foundation of Jiangsu Normal University(No.15XWR025)
文摘We present here a pilot study to examine trophic level effects and migration patterns at the middle Shang Dynasty site of Xiaoshuangqiao in Henan Province using δD results combined with δ^13C and δ^15N values. A total of 33 specimens（17 humans, 7 cattle, 5 pigs, 3 sheep, 1 dog） of bone collagen were isotopically analyzed for δ^13C, δ^15N, and dD values. A strong positive correlation（R^2 = 0.94）between mean δ^15N and δD values of herbivores（cattle and sheep）, omnivores（pig）, carnivores（dog）and humans was observed. The δD results were found to increase by -10‰ to 20‰ from herbivores to omnivores to carnivorous, evidence that collagen δD results are a useful indicator for the study of trophic levels and dietary patterns at archaeological sites. The δD results were also used to examine the origins of two different groups of individuals buried at Xiaoshuangqiao. Individuals buried in sacrificial pits of district V had mean δD values（-47.0 ± 2.9‰, n = 11） that were significantly（p =0.049） elevated compared to the people buried in the stratigraphy of district IX（-51.3 ± 3.3‰, n = 3）,indicating that they were ingesting water from different locations. In addition, the D values of the people buried in the stratigraphy were similar to the pigs（-54.5 ± 4.2‰, n = 5） at Xiaoshuangqiao,suggesting that they were most probably of the local population, and that the individuals buried in the sacrificial pits were most possibly from the coast and prisoners of the Dongyi（“东夷”）people. Thus,δD results have the potential to examine human origins and migration patterns and should be increasingly used in conjunction with δ^13C and δ^15N values at archaeological sites.
文摘The Greenland ice core from NorthGRIP （NGRIP） contains a proxy climate record across the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary of unprecedented clarity and resolution. Analysis of an array of physical and chemical parameters within the ice enables the base of the Holocene, as reflected in the first signs of climatic warming at the end of the Younger Dryas/Greenland Stadial 1 cold phase, to be located with a high degree of precision.
基金the National Science Foundation(BCS-0850815)Hunter College
文摘Background:Investigations of running gait among barefoot and populations have revealed a diversity of foot strike behaviors,with some preferentially employing a rearfoot strike(RFS) as the foot touches down while others employ a midfoot strike(MFS) or forefoot strike(FFS).Here,we report foot strike behavior and joint angles among traditional Hadza hunter-gatherers living in Northern Tanzania.Methods:Hadza adults(n = 26) and juveniles(n = 14) ran at a range of speeds(adults:mean 3.4 ± 0.7 m/s,juveniles:mean 3.2 ± 0.5 m/s) over an outdoor trackway while being recorded via high-speed digital video.Foot strike type(RFS.MFS.or FFS) and hind limb segment angles at foot strike were recorded.Results:Hadza men preferentially employed MFS(86.7%of men),while Hadza women and juveniles preferentially employed RFS(90.9%and85.7%of women and juveniles,respectively).No FFS was recorded.Speed,the presence of footwear(sandals vs.barefoot),and trial duration had no effect on foot strike type.Conclusion:Unlike other habitually barefoot populations which prefer FFS while running.Hadza men preferred MFS.and Hadza women and juveniles preferred RFS.Sex and age differences in foot strike behavior among Hadza adults may reflect differences in running experience,with men learning to prefer MFS as they accumulate more running experience.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41471167 & 41730319)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2015CB953803)
文摘Pollen, as an important index of the paleoenvironment and ancient human agricultural activities, is also one of the significant indicators for research on buckwheat agriculture. In order to test buckwheat pollen dispersal during each crop processing stage, we applied traditional processing simulation experiments of buckwheat crops in a modern village, to collect aerial pollen and perform statistical analysis. The result has shown that the distribution of buckwheat pollen in residential areas is closely related to human processing behaviour. Among all the processing procedures, pollen release rate is highest in the threshing and the sieving stages. The redistribution and burial of pollen during crop processing is an important reason for the prominent increase of crop pollen concentration in the cultural layer. Not only can it indicate the cultivation and processing behaviour of humans but also provide a basis for identifying the crop processing remains in archaeological sites and assessing the intensity of agricultural activities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971110 and 41888101)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0601)the Early Career Scheme of Research Grants Council of Hong Kong(28300717)。
文摘At Quesang on the Tibetan Plateau we report a series of hand and foot impressions that appear to have been intentionally placed on the surface of a unit of soft travertine.The travertine was deposited by water from a hot spring which is now inactive and as the travertine lithified it preserved the traces.On the basis of the sizes of the hand and foot traces,we suggest that two track-makers were involved and were likely children.We interpret this event as a deliberate artistic act that created a work of parietal art.The travertine unit on which the traces were imprinted dates to between~169 and 226 ka BP.This would make the site the earliest currently known example of parietal art in the world and would also provide the earliest evidence discovered to date for hominins on the High Tibetan Plateau(above 4000 m a.s.l.).This remarkable discovery adds to the body of research that identifies children as some of the earliest artists within the genus Homo.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41373018)National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10CKG001)
文摘Central-south Inner Mongolia, China, is highly sensitive to the cultural interactions between sedentary agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists during the Eastern Zhou Period(770–256 BC). The previous pattern of multiple cultures and diverse ethnic groups has been transformed to the increasingly dominated cultural system of Central Plain since the middle and late Warring States Period, when the states of Zhao and Qin have conquered the most parts of central-south Inner Mongolia.However, the variation of subsistence strategies during this historical process has never been evaluated. Particularly, as the typical representative of Central Plain cultures, the effect of intensive millet agriculture is still unknown in the process of population integration and culture interaction. Thus, to explore the shift of subsistence pattern, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen from Dabaoshan site(410–180 BC) have been performed. The isotopic result indicates a large amount of C_4-based animal protein consumed by Dabaoshan humans. According to the archaeological backgrounds, we propose the Dabaoshan persons intensively relied on the millet agriculture and developed the agro-pastoral economy, which hinted the comprehensive influences from Central plain civilizations in late Warring States Period. Further compared with other published isotopic data in the same region during different periods, we suggest the millet agriculture has played the positive role in the process of population integration and culture fusion in central-south Inner Mongolia during the Eastern Zhou Period.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42072217)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘As the crossroads of prehistoric cultures,the Beijing region is an important area for studying the exchange of prehistoric culture and the spread of millet agriculture.Although millet remains have been found in the Donghulin site during the Early Neolithic Age,there is little millet remains during the Middle and Late Neolithic Age,so there is a gap of approximately2,000 years since the time of the Donghulin site.The Shangzhai site is located in the Pinggu Basin in eastern Beijing,and it has a large time span with sequential strata;however,there are few large animals and plant remains found at this site,thus the subsistence strategy of ancient people remains unclear.In this study,the absorbed lipids of pottery sherds unearthed in the Neolithic cultural layer of the Shangzhai site were extracted and analysed.The results show that these potteries were used to process millet,the meat of terrestrial non-ruminants and wild ruminants,and dairy of wild ruminants,providing new insights for the subsistence strategy and the development of millet agriculture in the Middle and Late Neolithic Age of Beijing.In addition,the food processing in pottery may be an internal heating method,such as stone boiling.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41572020&41688103)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(Grant No.2019075)the Foundation of Excavation and Protection from the Hami Government。
文摘The discovery of Hamipterus tianshanensis had important scientific significance because three-dimensional preserved fossils can provide unique information about the reproduction,development,and evolution of pterosaurs.However,the pterosaur fossils exhibited violent weathering,including noticeable cracking and spalling,since the preservation environment changed dramatically after excavation,which severely influenced the preservation of these fossils and the scientific research conducted on them.To determine the weathering mechanism of these fossil bones,the samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence(XRF),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry(SEM-EDS).The results indicate that calcite is the main mineral in the hollow bones,but it is mixed with a small amount of other minerals,such as quartz,feldspar,and other debris particles.Moreover,the main component of the pterosaur bones is hydroxyapatite,and carbonate has substituted for some of the phosphate(B-type carbonated apatite)in the fossil bones.A small amount of calcite and manganese oxides has precipitated in the vascular canals.The phosphate crystallinity index(PCI)is 4.17.These results indicate that the fossils have undergone severe diagenesis.Apart from these alterations,the fossil bones have high contents of anions and cations such as Cl^(-),NO_(3)^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),Na^(+),and Ca^(2+),and the total content of soluble salts is 35584.41μg g^(-1).Based on these results,it is inferred that the weathering mechanism of the fossil bones is as follows.First,the fragile hollow bones cracked easily because of the enormous thermal stress caused by the dramatic temperature changes in the Gobi Desert and the differences in the thermal expansion coefficients(TEC)of the surrounding rocks,the fossil bones,and the different fillers.Second,a large amount of stress is generated by salt crystallization when the temperature and humidity change,and the pterosaur fossils will be damaged when the crystallization pressure exceeds the tensile strength of the fossils.These results suggest that the preservation of pterosaur fossils requires suitable desalination and consolidation conditions.Moreover,they should be preserved in a constant temperature and humidity environment.
基金supported by the Key Program of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-Z-4)Sir Peter Scott Fund of SSC/IUCN and National Natural Science Foundation of China (30670267, 30430120)
文摘Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific variation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski’s gazelle collected from its current remnant ranges around the Qinghai Lake in combination with those collected prior to the 20th century were measured and analyzed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis in order to clarify the question. Unexpectedly, P. p. diversicornis, extirpated from its historic range, has spread to the Qinghai Lake region where it has replaced nominotypical P. p. przewalskii and is now restricted to a few small isolated populations around the lake. We discuss the causes of this unexpected replacement. In this study, we discuss the possibility of a new form, possibly a new subspecies, in the Guide Basin, adjacent to Qinghai Lake; it is unclear whether the new form has long existed and was only discovered in recent years, or whether it evolved in recent times due to the geographical isolation and anthropogenic landscape features. The study sheds light on the processes of microevolution and subspeciation in Procapra przewalskii, and based on the findings, we propose measures for conservation strategies for Przewalski’s gazelle.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05130501)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41471167, 41102114)
文摘According to archaeological investigation and preliminary excavation, the Yangjia Site, located in the northern Taihu Lake region, at Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, is a Neolithic archaeological site dominated by cultural remains attributed to the late Majiabang Culture(6270–5920 cal. a BP). Here a systematic archaeobotanical study was conducted to investigate vegetation landscape, environmental characteristics and rice agriculture in the prehistoric northern Taihu Lake area. The abundance, frequency and standard density of charred rice were the highest of all of the remains of the seed plants unearthed. In addition, a variety of wetland weeds, such as Haloragaceae, Cyperaceae, Carex sp., and Oxalis corniculata, were found. Pollen and phytoliths recorded that the evergreen-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest(represented by Quercus and Castanopsis) tends to decrease, while Poaceae was the most significant of the terrestrial herbs, water area expanded and water activities strengthened, indicating generally warm and humid conditions at the Yangjia Site during the late Majiabang Culture. All indicators of pollen, phytolith and macro-plant remains suggest that wild rice should be once distributed at or around the site before human occupation, after which rice agriculture progressed rapidly during the late Majiabang Culture.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41907369 and 41672171)Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(YSBR-019)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(E0E48931X2)Chongqing Normal University Fund(21XWB031)。
文摘Foxtail millet is one of the earliest domesticated cereal crops in the world.Its domestication has been traced back to the early Holocene(10,000–8000 cal a BP),first appearing in the basins of the Yellow River and Western Liao River[1].Dryland farming dominated by foxtail millet was ultimately established in the Central Plains during the middle Holocene(6000–5500 cal a BP)[2].This agricultural system served as the vital subsistence basis for demographic growth,a rise in urbanization,and the formation and continuous development of Chinese civilization.This cereal had traditionally been a major and valuable staple-food crop in northern China.In the late Holocene,along with human migration and innovative agricultural technology communication,foxtail millet cultivation expanded outward on a large scale and to a wide range of new habitats far away from its original center of domestication[3].
文摘There is a long and rich tradition in the social sciences of using models of collective behavior in animals as jump- ing-off points for the study of human behavior, including collective human behavior. Here, we come at the problem in a slightly different fashion. We ask whether models of collective human behavior have anything to offer those who study animal behavior. Our brief example of tipping points, a model first developed in the physical sciences and later used in the social sciences, suggests that the analysis of human collective behavior does indeed have considerable to offer
