Millets, Dogs, Pigs, and Permanent Settlement in Neolithic Northern China
Author Information
Author(s): Chris J. Stevens, Yijie Zhuang, Dorian Q. Fuller
Primary Institution: UCL Institute of Archaeology, University College London
Hypothesis
How did millet farming productivity influence the transition to sedentary agricultural societies in northern China?
Conclusion
The study concludes that the transition to millet agriculture significantly increased population growth and facilitated the spread of agricultural practices in northern China.
Supporting Evidence
- The domestication of millets led to increased agricultural productivity.
- Population growth was linked to the spread of millet agriculture.
- Changes in animal husbandry practices were observed alongside millet cultivation.
- Millet farming allowed for the establishment of proto-urban centers.
Takeaway
This study shows that growing millets helped people settle down and form larger communities in northern China a long time ago.
Methodology
The study combines archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological, and bioarchaeological data to explore the relationship between millet farming and the transition to sedentism.
Limitations
The evidence for domestication processes is limited and reconstructing a timeline for domestication is challenging due to sparse data.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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