Thirty‐Four Years of Stable Isotopic Analyses of Ancient Skeletons in China: an Overview, Progress and Prospects. (29th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Y.
• Is Part Of: Archaeometry. Volume 60:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2018-01-29
• Subjects: stable isotope analysis -- skeleton -- China -- archaeology -- dietary reconstruction; Archaeometry -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Expertising -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-813X

Abstract

Abstract: Stable isotope analysis of ancient skeletons has become a routine method and widely used to answer diverse archaeological questions related to the human (animal) diets since the initial study in 1977. However, this study in china is underestimated and much less unknown to international circles considering the infrequent publications in English journals. In this review paper, the research history in China was overviewed shortly and then, the research progresses concerning different research themes, such as the chronological trajectory of human diets, the development and spread of agriculture, the mechanism of animal domestication, human social hierarchy, and so on, were introduced in detail, trying to draw a rough framework of human dietary evolution given the unique Chinese geography and cultures. At last, the potential research directions were also suggested for the future studies.