1、二里头遗址出土陶容器内残余物的科学分析Analysis of carbon isotope pottery container remnants unearthed in Erlitou siteZhao Chun, Yan Zhaohaitao, Chen Guoliang, Xu Hong(Beijing, 27 Wangfujing Avenue, Institute of archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 100710)Abstract: the archaeological analysis and identifica
2、tion of ceramic container residues is of special significance for the study of ancient human diet, living conditions and the surrounding environment and other issues. On the basis of carbon isotope residue analysis can distinguish the types of food, and carbon isotope analysis is one of the most imp
3、ortant methods. Carbon isotope analysis results of the 11 cases of Tao the vessel unearthed in Erlitou site in the residue. The results showed that the residents food in Erlitou site with both C3 and C4 plants, and C4 plants is millet proportion may be higher.Keywords: erlitousite, residue, carbon i
4、sotopeAnalysis and identification of archaeological pottery container residue is of special significance for the study of ancient human diet, living conditions and the surrounding environment and other issues. After learning how to make pottery, life style has undergone a qualitative change. The use
5、 of cooking methods, such as cooking, has improved the lives of ancient humans, making humans more useful to animals and plants, to absorb more nutrients, and to make their bodies healthier. Therefore, to understand the history of ancient human cooking and development is to understand the history of
6、 human civilization. Generally speaking, the research object to understand the ancient human diet structure and living conditions involved can be divided into two aspects: one is the research subject of mankind itself, including the study of human bones and teeth remains; two is the object of human
7、consumption, including plant research found the remains of archaeological sites. But the analysis of the remains found in unearthed artifacts can help archaeologists obtain more invisible information about animals and plants.There are many methods for residue analysis. According to the state of resi
8、due, there are different methods, among which carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis is one of the most important methods. Based on the carbon isotope analysis of the residue, the species of food can be distinguished. The principle is not complicated: plants convert carbon dioxide from the air into pl
9、ant tissue by photosynthesis. So far, three main pathways of photosynthesis have been found. One is the Calvin approach. Because it is the initial product of 3- phosphate acid (3-PGA), which is a compound containing three carbon atoms, so it is also known as the C3 pathway, followed by the C3 pathwa
10、y of photosynthesis of a plant known as C3 plants. Most of the plants grown in mild humid environments belong to C3 plants, such as trees, shrubs, and most of the grasses. The two is the Kazakhstan Weiss approach. This way is the first product containing four carbon atoms - oxaloacetate, so a kind o
11、f plant, follow the ha - photosynthetic pathway called C4 plants. C4 plants include certain grasses grown in warm, open environments such as maize, millet, and sugar cane. The three is one of the few succulent plants such as pineapple, sugar beet, followed by the called CAM 1 2, photosynthetic pathw
12、ay.Natural plants differ in their ways of photosynthesis leading to differences in initial products. The difference in carbon isotopic composition between plants of different initial products can be expressed quantitatively by delta 13C values. Through the study of hundreds of different families, ge
13、nera and species in nature, C3 plants such as rice, wheat, beans and so on, their range of delta 13C is -23 per thousand to -30 per thousand, and the average value is -26 per thousand. C4 plants such as maize, millet, sorghum, sugarcane and so on, the range of delta 13C is -8 to -14 per thousand, an
14、d the average value is -11 per thousand. CAM plants such as pineapple, beet and so on, the range of delta 13C is -12 per thousand to -23 per thousand, and the average value is -17 per thousand. Legumes can direct nitrogen fixation from air, and their Delta 15N values are about 01 per thousand; non l
15、eguminous plants utilize nitrogen in soil, and their Delta 15N values are on average 34 per thousand. These findings provide direct comparative criteria for later studies. As far as excavated remains are concerned,Due to the change of the carbonized plant debris will be soil microbial effects, is ge
16、nerally believed that the carbon and nitrogen isotope fractionation does not occur, so do not interfere with the determination. Therefore, the carbon and nitrogen isotope patterns of animals and plants can be used to identify the sources of carbon sources.The carbon and nitrogen isotope application
17、of residue analysis reported in the literature to distinguish the types of food, and then discuss the examples of ancient human food composition has been shown. It is often seen. residues on the archaeological site of Mexico for example researchers, 200- BC 1000, residents of the main food is non le
18、guminous plants C3, 1000-1200 A.D. during the year 1200-1400 while eating corn, stop eating corn. This change reflects changes in the amount of crops planted. (3)On the north and south of the lake and the north shore of Ontario in 600 AD and different sites in the pottery in carbonized materials of
19、carbon and nitrogen isotopes, results showed that the carbonized materials mainly from C3 plants, herbivores meat and freshwater fishes; planting into the area in the year 600 after the source of carbon in the corn, start with the C4 class a few plants (maize). In addition, carbon rich elements of 1
20、3C in the carbonized residue, most of which may be derived from corn fed animals (such as dogs or bears), rather than boiled corn (4). Craig and others analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotopes in pottery containers found in several European coastal and island sites during the period 6000 BC - 4000 bc.
21、Test results show that some containers may be used for seafood processing (5).At present, the domestic research on the analysis of unearthed remnants of carbon and nitrogen isotopes have been reported, therefore, we use the carbon isotope analysis of pottery unearthed in the ruins for the first time
22、 in residue analysis to distinguish the types of food and then explore the ancient human food composition.The site is located in the village of Yanshi city of Henan Province, the total area of about 3 million square meters. According to the archaeological excavation and research, the main cultural r
23、elics of the site belong to Erlitou culture, is the Erlitou culture period at a large settlement site, absolute age is about 1800- BC 1500. The site has known city road system, Chinese as early as the earliest Miyagi, the earliest palace buildings, the earliest bronze and bronze smelting workshop, i
24、s by far China can confirm the earliest capital of the kingdom of the site (6). Unearthed relics include bronze ware and a large number of pottery, jade and so on. The crop remains obtained by flotation method mainly include millet, millet, rice, soybean and other varieties. The unearthed carbonized
25、 millet not only in terms of absolute quantity is obviously higher than that of other crops, but also in the unearthed probability is the most prominent; second is rice, accounting for about 1/3 of the total number of unearthed crops, which indicates that the staple diet of many ancestors of Erlitou
26、 site types. Nevertheless, in different periods of Erlitou culture in the ruins of the residents in the proportion of rice millet is the staple food structure is important, whether there is a certain degree of change is still unsolved mysteries. In view of this, we collected pieces of pottery uneart
27、hed remains of Erlitou site of Erlitou culture in different periods of thirteen carbon isotope, diet structure and change in order to be able to explore the ancestors of the Erlitou site to provide information.1 materials and methods1.1 sample collectionThe residue samples were collected from 11 pie
28、ces of pottery fragments belong to Erlitou culture from two to four. The inner wall of the fragments attached carbonide particles of varying thickness, provides a good material for us to study the structure of food when humans and the use of edible plants, the processing, the background, the excavat
29、ed sites are listed in table 1.1.2 sample testThe residual samples thirteen carbon isotope analysis is conducted in the Institute of ecological and environmental Stable Isotope Laboratory, host model DELTAplus XP and Falsh EA1112 element analyzer, precision: 13C0.1% 15N0.2%. Test results are shown i
30、n table 1.Table 1 the Erlitou site unearthed remnants of background information and test resultsSample numberExcavated unitby stagesDelta 13C (per 1000)One2002, V, T12, ATwo-12.741Two2002 V H163Two-14.313Three2002, V, T24, BThree-16Four2000, III, T3Four-24.667Five2000, III, H8Four-25.455Six2000, III
31、, H22Four-17.937Seven2002 V G5Four-14.18Eight2000 T1 and IIIFour-13.798Nine2003, V, T35, AFour-12.392Ten2004 V H267Four-16.07Eleven2006 V H447Four-18.2182, results and discussionThe food structure of the 2.1 residue analysis of Erlitou site residentsAccording to the test results, the 13C value of 5
32、samples in the 11 residue samples was about -12 per thousand to -14 per thousand, and in the range of 13C C4 of the plant species, it was inferred that it might be a species of Foxtail millet. There are 8 13C values of 5 samples of about -16% to -18%, between C3 and C4 plants plants, the original co
33、stumes can be a mixture of beans and rice, millet, wheat, or CAM plants such as sugar beet; 13C 2 sample value at about -24% otherwise in 8 13C -26%, C3 plant value range, the original judgment may be for rice, wheat, beans and other plants. The delta 13C values for all samples are shown in figure 1
34、. In Figure 1 the vertical axis represents the 13C values of the size of the abscissa of Erlitou culture in different stage. From Figure 1 it is clear that the residents of Erlitou site in food with both C3 and C4 plants, and C4 plants is millet proportion may be higher. In addition, Delta 13C in di
35、fferent period unearthed remnants of the values are different, which reflects the change of food structure of the residents of Erlitou culture in different periods of Erlitou site.Delta 13C, Delta 13C8 13C Figure 1 unearthed remnants of Erlitou site in different periods of valueMillet is one of the
36、oldest crops in china. It has a short growth period, drought resistance, barren, grain storage and other characteristics, suitable for growing in the arid area of North China in. Rice belongs to moist crops and is suitable for growing in humid and wet southern china. The south rice and North millet
37、are the traditional agricultural layout of China, which reflects the important status of rice and millet in the ancient food structure, and also reflects the difference of the growth environment of these two crops. So, why are two kinds of different crop growth environment also appears in the Erlito
38、u diet of residents? Because the Erlitou site has a unique ecological environment.The northwestern margin of the Erlitou site located in Yiluo River Basin belongs to the plains of Huang Huai, and the Huang Huai area as a transition zone between the north and the south of China, the agricultural acti
39、vity has always been influenced by climate change. Since entering the historical period, the overall trend of climate is dry and cool. The dry farming, represented by millet, has become the main economy in this area. However, research results show that restoration of ancient environment in the Centr
40、al Plains Erlitou to warm and humid climate conditions, the ratio of fertile soil, adequate lighting, suitable for a variety of crop growth. Archaeological research shows that in the late Neolithic, the Central Plains region will exist at the same time millet two crops in 7, rice millet blended zone
41、. The study of plant remains of Erlitou site also confirmed that, including millet, millet, rice, soybean and other crop varieties of the relics unearthed from the site, but also unearthed carbonized millet not only in absolute numbers was significantly higher than that of other crops, but also in t
42、he unearthed probability is the most prominent; second is rice, accounting for the total number of unearthed crops 1/3, there are millet and soybean also accounted for a certain proportion of 8. Its in good agreement with our measurements. Of the 11 residue samples we analyzed, 5 were probably from
43、C4 plants such as millet, and only 2 samples were probably C3 plants such as rice. It can be seen that the residents rely mainly on millet grain.In addition,According to the carbon isotope bone unearthed in Erlitou site analysis results, 22 cases of human bone samples except for 2, the remaining 20
44、cases the determination results of samples showed that the average lifetime of the C4 food structure in plants amounted to 88% of the remaining C3 plants 9. As we all know, rice is a typical kind of C3, while millet is a typical C4. Thus, when the residents in Erlitou site millet millet is the stapl
45、e food of the possibility of a larger plant.In summary, analysis of carbon isotope pottery container remnants unearthed in Erlitou site shows that the residents food in Erlitou site in both C3 and C4 plants, is the staple food of many varieties. Moreover, the proportion of C4 plants, i.e. millet, ma
46、y be higher. This result is consistent with the archaeological findings of plant remains, and the results are consistent with the study of the food structure of unearthed human bones.2.2 changes in food structure at different times as indicated by residue analysisIn the 11 residue samples we analyze
47、d, belong to Erlitou culture of two samples in 2 cases, 13C values range from -12 to -14%, possibly from C4 plants, such as corn, millet, sorghum, and sugarcane. The samples belong to Erlitou culture of three only in 1 cases, 13C values for -16%, between C3 plants and C4 plants, which may be a mixtu
48、re of beans and rice, millet, wheat, or CAM plants such as sugar beet etc Belong to Erlitou culture of four samples of 8 cases, including 3 cases of 13C values range from -12 to -14%, C4 may come from plants, such as millet, sorghum, and sugarcane; there are 3 samples 13C values range is approximate
49、ly -16% to -18%, between C3 and C4 plants plants either is, rice, wheat, beans and millet mixture, may also be CAM plants such as sugar beet; another 2 cases of sample 13C values range is approximately -24% to -25%, C3 may come from plants such as rice, wheat, beans and so on, that the Erlitou residents food rich content.Because the number from the Erlitou culture of two or three residue sample is not much, we can not infer the specific dietary structure of two or three of the way, but because of random sampling we analyzed samples from field archaeology, the present data and r
