Agriculturalization of the Nomad‐Dominated Empires of the Northern Wei Dynasty in Pingcheng city (398–494 ad): A stable isotopic study on animal and human bones from the Jinmaoyuan cemetery, China. (10th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Guowen; Hou, Xiaogang; Li, Shuyun; Zhou, Yawei; Richards, Michael P.
• Is Part Of: International journal of osteoarchaeology. Volume 31:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2020-11-10
• Subjects: agriculturalization -- animal husbandry -- millet agriculture -- Northern Wei Dynasty -- Pingcheng -- stable isotope analysis -- Tuoba Xianbei; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Human remains (Archaeology) -- Periodicals; Paleopathology -- Periodicals; Paléontologie -- Périodiques; Paléopathologie -- Périodiques; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 930.10282
• DOI: 10.1002/oa.2923
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-482X

Abstract

Abstract: To investigate the agriculturalization of the Nomad‐Dominated Empires of the Northern Wei Dynasty, we analysed the δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of animal and human bone/dentine collagen from the Jingmaoyuan cemetery, Datong city, China. The majority of the Jingmaoyuan humans predominately relied on a diet of C4 plants, likely millets and/or domestic animals fed on by‐products of millet. Other individuals had a C3 /C4 mixed diet, indicating diets with more protein from domestic animals and/or freshwater fish. The economy of millet‐based agriculture and diversified animal husbandry together with the integration between the nomadic Tuoba Xianbei and Han Chinese in Pingcheng city probably were driving forces behind the agriculturalization and development of the Northern Wei Pingcheng period (398–494 ad ).