Abstract: |
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were conducted on Neolithic Yuan-Shan faunal bone collagen to reconstruct a site-specific dietary isotope baseline, and to evaluate the contribution of potential food resources to the diet of Yuan-Shan people. The mean δ13C and δ15N values of terrestrial mammals were − 17.7 ± 3.6 and 5.4 ± 1.3, respectively. The mean δ13C and δ15N values of freshwater fish were − 20.8 ± 2.2 and 7.7 ± 2.0
while the marine fish had the highest mean δ13C (− 11.8 ± 1.2) and δ15N values (12.1 ± 1.7). Combined with archeological evidence and previous isotopic data derived from Yuan-Shan human bone collagen, we suggest that the subsistence strategies of Yuan-Shan people were broad. They relied on rice cultivation, hunting, fishing and gathering food resources from the wild
in addition, they probably raise pigs, as early as 4200 yr BP. Although the Yuan-Shan people relied on broad-spectrum food resources, the foods they mainly consumed were terrestrial herbivores and freshwater fish based on the result of multi-source mixing model. Besides, marine fish, shellfish, and C3 plants also contributed substantially to their diet. By comparison, the contribution of C4 plants was minor.
|