This study uses AMS radiocarbon dating (AMS 14C), wood anatomical analysis, and pyrolysis/ gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py/GC-MS) to examine tree remains unearthed at the Shi'ao site in Yuyao, Zhejiang. The results identify the remains as Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.), making them the earliest and most securely dated M. rubra remains found in China. Combined with previous archaeobotanical research in the region, this finding suggests that inhabitants of the Ningshao Plain during the Liangzhu period practiced a mixed subsistence strategy that integrated both rice cultivation and foraging, characterized by diverse plant resource use.
This study examines the distinctive features of Chinese civilization through an archaeological lens, exploring its evolution across extensive time periods and diverse regions. It distinguishes China's unique civilizational traits from those of other ancient cultures. A key focus is the scholarly discourse surrounding the project tracing the origins of Chinese civilization, highlighting China's deep-rooted heritage in propriety and ritual. The study emphasizes the foundational systems established during the Qin and Han dynasties, including administrative divisions, the standardization of script, axle widths, and social norms. From the Wei and Jin periods to the Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese civilization underwent a profound process of unification, characterized by expanding territories, centralized governance, multiethnic integration, and cultural flourishing. The study concludes that the distinctive features of Chinese civilization include political unity, cultural integration, religious inclusivity, economic interdependence, and enrichment through exchange and mutual learning with foreign cultures. It further examines how these elements interconnect to shape the enduring legacy of Chinese civilization.
Zoomorphic jade objects, the most iconic type of the late Shang jades, are distinguished by their abundance and diversity of forms. Analytical data on the artifacts' burial contexts and the proportional representation of animal forms reveal two distinct diffusion patterns: a maintained consistency in diffusion and an uneven and selective geographic distribution. The distribution of zoomorphic jade objects aligns with the political landscape of the late Shang dynasty, indicating military strongholds or key sites for strategic resources. In regions outside of Yinxu, most tomb owners interred with zoomorphic jade objects were of high social status, often with clear military backgrounds. Thus, these zoomorphic jade objects were not merely ornaments or ritual items but were also indicators of wealth and status in the late Shang dynasty.
The origins and dispersal of the Austronesians constitute one of the most significant research topics in prehistoric archaeology across Island Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. This subject demands multidisciplinary collaboration-particularly among linguistics, archaeology, physical anthropology, and genetics-with archaeology playing an indispensable role. In recent years, new discoveries in regions such as Taiwan (China), the Philippines, and Micronesia have significantly advanced archaeological understanding of Austronesian migrations. Both domestic and international scholars have made notable progress, bringing renewed attention to the northern coast of the South China Sea as a key area for research on Austronesian origins and dispersal.
Terminal Pleistocene microblade technology plays a crucial role in understanding the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition in North China. This study synthesizes diverse data on microblade technology, raw material procurement, tool assemblages, subsistence strategies, and settlement patterns from multiple sites in North China, spanning from Marine Isotope Stage 2 onward. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of population-wide behavioral changes and cultural development processes in the region during 28-9 ka cal BP. By integrating chronological, paleoenvironmental, and ancient DNA evidence, this analysis demonstrates that the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition in North China was driven by multiple factors, including climatic fluctuations that influenced adaptive strategies, as well as interregional population migration and cultural exchange.
