Anthropology in the Dawn of Chinese Civilization: Preface
Preface to the special issue on Anthropology in the Dawn of Chinese Civilization
2024 Volume 132 Issue 2 Pages 63-64
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2024 Volume 132 Issue 2 Pages 63-64
In late Neolithic China (the latter half of the 3rd millennium BCE), objects that transcended archaeological cultural boundaries began to appear across a wide area. These objects included jade, turquoise, cowries, crocodile skin drums, ivory, lacquerware, and cinnabar. Archaeological cultures that exchanged these prestige goods include the Longshan, Taosi, Shimao, Qijia, and late Shijiahe cultures. This phenomenon of shared symbols of elite authority—prestige goods—across different archaeological cultures characterizes the cultural situation at the dawn of the formation of Chinese civilization (Nakamura, 2021).
Traditionally, the emergence of civilizations has been discussed mainly in terms of the identification of cities, as indicated by the presence of huge enclosure walls, palatine areas, workshops, and elite tombs. However, recent isotope analysis of human remains from the late Neolithic sites has revealed the presence of distant outsiders, introducing a novel marker of a city (Nakamura, 2022). Researchers have investigated whether there were regional cities in late Neolithic China that attracted outsiders beyond the archaeological cultural zones, and whether there were exchange networks of elites and/or non-elites.
To achieve these goals, researchers have utilized isotope analysis of human remains, pottery, and ivory objects in conjunction with paleopathology of infectious diseases. For instance, the place of origin is inferred from the oxygen and strontium isotope ratios of tooth enamel, especially in scattered human remains and those recovered from unique circumstances such as human sacrifice in burial and skull accumulations (Sun et al., 2018). These scattered human remains have not attracted much attention in previous studies because they do not provide information on sex, age, or social background reflected in their burial.
Interestingly, the Bronze Age civilization, which emerged several hundred years later, arose in present-day Henan Province, an area that had been a cultural void during the Late Neolithic period. This can be described as a process whereby the periphery transforms into the center. It is believed that the fusion of people, objects, and information—acquiring hybridity—played a significant role in this process. Considering that wheat, horses, cattle, sheep, bronze, and chariots appeared in China during this period or slightly later in the early Bronze Age, it is expected that cultural hybridity was not confined to within China.
Our research area focuses on investigating the role of cultural hybridity in the formation of Chinese civilization. This includes reconstructing the movement of people behind the movement of objects at both group and individual levels, and clarifying the foreign elements in early Chinese civilization and the reality of the proto-Silk Road. To achieve these goals, it is necessary for archaeology, which reconstructs history from visible objects, and archaeological science, which extracts invisible information from those objects, to collaborate on an equal footing. By utilizing cutting-edge analytical methods in geochemistry and life sciences, we will extract maximum information from sites and artefacts, making it possible to reconstruct history at the individual level, which was previously considered impossible in archaeology. The ‘New Archaeology Initiative’ aims to transform archaeological research into a qualitatively different, higher-dimensional comprehensive historical science.
Through these efforts, we aim to challenge and refresh traditional theories of Chinese culture and civilization, propose the effectiveness of the resilient Chinese civilization—often referred to as having a history of 4000 years—in considering the future of human civilization, and create new academic fields by integrating archaeology with related sciences across the humanities and sciences.
In this special issue, Nakagome and Cooke (2024) investigate the role of male-driven admixture in the transition to agriculture in northern China. Using ancient genomic data, they explore the sex biases in genetic admixture from different time periods based on autosomal and sex-specific X chromosomal variation. Their findings reveal a higher influx of males from the Yellow River basin to the West Liao River basin during the Late Neolithic period, which is associated with an increase in millet farming in the region. This study highlights the regional distinctions in farming transitions and the genetic impact of these shifts.
Okazaki et al. (2024) compare the paleo-health of Neolithic wet-rice farmers in the Yangtze River Delta with early millet farmers in northern China. By examining stress markers such as linear enamel hypoplasia, porotic hyperostosis, and cribra orbitalia, they provide insights into the health impacts of different agricultural practices. Their study reveals that wet-rice farmers maintained or even improved their health compared to millet farmers, challenging the traditional view that health deteriorated with the shift to farming.
Shen et al. (2024) focus on the isotopic analysis of human remains from various Neolithic sites in China to reconstruct dietary habits and migration patterns. By analyzing carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotope ratios, they provide evidence of dietary variations and mobility among ancient populations. Their findings indicate significant reliance on marine products in certain regions and suggest patterns of migration and exchange that shaped early Chinese societies.
Gakuhari (in preparation) extends the analysis of isotopic data to the Guangfulin site, conducting strontium isotope analysis on human remains. This research aims to further elucidate the patterns of human migration during the Neolithic period. Preliminary results suggest diverse origins of individuals buried at the site, indicating extensive movement and interaction between different cultural groups. This study enhances our understanding of how cultural hybridity and mobility contributed to the development of early Chinese civilization.
As can be seen from the papers in this special issue, the study of early Chinese civilization has now entered a new research stage. The integration of advanced scientific techniques such as ancient DNA analysis, isotopic studies, and paleopathology with traditional archaeological methods provides deeper insights into the complex social structures and interactions of early Chinese societies. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of early civilizations but also sets the stage for future research that can further unravel the intricate tapestry of human history in China and beyond.
