The identification of dyes in ancient textiles is crucial for provenance research and scientific conservation. However, the extremely significant value of these cultural relics necessitates the use of non-destructive analytical techniques. To establish a non-destructive, in-situ, accurate, and rapid method for identifying natural dyes in ancient silk fabric samples, we employed desorption electrospray ionization high-resolution mass-spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI). By optimizing key instrumental parameters-including sample pretreatment method, DESI spray solvent composition, and DESI heated transfer line (HTL) temperature-we determined the optimal mass-spectrometry imaging conditions. The optimal conditions for achieving the highest mass-spectrometry ion peak signal intensity and the best imaging quality were as follows: employing sample pretreatment using double-sided adhesive tape; a spray solvent composed of methanol (100%, v/v) with 0.1% formic acid and 0.1 mu g/mL of leucine enkephalin; and an HTL temperature of 400 degrees C. The characteristic compound in the G42 silk fabric sample was successfully separated. Based on the characteristic mass-to-charge ratio of the major component, the compound was preliminarily identified as berberine. This result was further verified by tandem mass-spectrometry imaging and tandem mass spectra and finally confirmed by comparison with the mass spectrum of a reference standard. Consequently, the source of the dye in the sample was determined to be amur cork tree. The experiments confirmed the applicability and accuracy of the DESI-MSI method for the non-destructive analysis of precious textiles. This work underscores the urgent need to use such non-destructive techniques to provide technical support for the identification of high-value, inaccessible, or fragile silk artifacts and guide the historical tracing and preservation of these cultural relics.

Jade had been the symbol of ritual and literati culture for millennia in China. China's prehistory witnessed a rapidly increasing consumption of jade, illustrating a rich diversity of quality, shapes and purposes. Jade mining typically occurred in environmentally marginal zones, demanded intensive labor, and left only ephemeral archaeological traces. How prehistoric communities organized and sustained such resource procurement under these constraints has therefore remained unclear. This issue is addressed in the current study through the first systematically excavated jade mining site in China (Mazongshan, 420-160 BC), revealing a distinct economic life that closely adapted to local geographic and social conditions. Multiple animal species (working cattle, domestic horses, donkeys and Bactrian camels) were coordinated to facilitate tedious jade-mining and related activities. Particularly significant is the identification of the earliest radiocarbon-dated donkey and camel remains thus far recovered from the Hexi Corridor. Beyond their subsistence value, these pack animals likely also facilitated local jade extraction and overland transport, linking the Hexi Corridor with major jade consumption centers in the Yellow and Yangtze River basins.

Sophisticated millet-pig agriculture significantly influenced cultural expansion and early social complexity in the Yellow River Valley during the Neolithic period. However, tempo and role of millet-pig agriculture in shaping early social complexity on the Chinese Loess Plateau remain poorly constrained, largely due to the absence of an effective system for identifying and quantifying domestic pigs. Here we develop a comprehensive system for identifying domestic pigs that combines K-means clustering of pig collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope data, with the optimal number of clusters determined using Within-cluster Sum of Squares (WSS), newly obtained radiocarbon dates, systematic zooarchaeological evidence, and archaeological contextual information from four sites in the western Loess Plateau. By cross-checking the results of our improved identification method with multiple sources of evidence, we reconstruct a three-step intensification of the millet-pig agricultural system in the Neolithic western Loess Plateau, identified through changes in crop structure, pig management, and isotopic evidence. A synthesis of Neolithic sites across the Chinese Loess Plateau suggests that asynchronous cultural expansion and socially complex processes in the western and eastern Loess Plateau were likely influenced by differences in the timing at which sophisticated millet-pig agricultural system emerged, under contrasting regional natural and social conditions. This study elucidates the trajectory of the millet-pig agricultural system in the Chinese Loess Plateau and demonstrates its pivotal role as part of the cultural expansion witnessed during the Neolithic period.

Abstract The tomb of Murong Zhi ( 慕容智 ), a member of the Tuhuyun royal family and a nephew of the Tang Emperor Taizong, was discovered in Tianzhu county, Wuwei (Gansu) in 2019. It is the best-preserved Tuyuhun tomb found to date. A large number of excavated artifacts with distinctive ethnic characteristics and cultural implications were unearthed from the tomb. This study focuses on two exceptional silk textiles found in Murong Zhi’s tomb: one woven with an elephant pattern, the other woven with a bird-and-ribbon pattern. Modern analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and an ultra-depth-of-field microscope, the materials, dye composition, and weave structure of these textiles were used to systematically examine the two textiles. The results indicate that both fabrics are made of mulberry silk, dyed with berberine and indigo. Both are twill weft-faced compound weaves, featuring non-twisted pattern wefts and warps with a strong Z-twist characteristic of Central Asia. The decorative motifs, including elephants, the tree of life, birds with ribbons and pearl roundels, all reflect Central and Western Asian influence.

Beginning approximately 4,000 years ago, southwest-Asian-originating domesticated crops and livestock began appearing in Gansu, a key crossroads in northwestern China, yet the population dynamics and social practices underlying these historically transformative events in the region have not been fully explored. Despite the adoption of western domesticates, genome sequences of 149 individuals from the large Mogou cemetery and ten other sites in Gansu, dating between 4,700 and 3,000 years ago, revealed migrations within East Asian regions but no detectable evidence of genetic influence from western or central Eurasia, suggesting that early agricultural dispersals may have followed a model distinct from that documented in Europe and Central Asia. The Mogou cemetery represents a continuous community that interacted with surrounding regions but does not exhibit clear matrilocal or patrilocal residential patterns. We found no strong evidence that co-buried individuals represented biological relatives. Non-local ancestry appears to be linked to lower-status burial practices.

The Xihetan Site is a Neolithic site located in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, where a large number of white bead ornaments have been unearthed. Through various scientific analysis techniques, including ultra-depth microscopic observation, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), these bead ornaments were identified as having an inner core composed of dolomite or vanadate minerals and an outer layer with a calcite structure, indicating they are seawater pearls. The pearls unearthed at Xihetan date back approximately 4,086 to 3,820 years, making them the earliest and largest in quantity discovered to date in the Hexi Corridor region. Based on the global context of Neolithic pearl discoveries and considering the co-occurrence of these pearls with artifacts bearing Western cultural characteristics, such as bronze objects, Maceheads, and seashells, it is speculated that these pearls likely originated from the Persian Gulf region and were transmitted to the Hexi Corridor via Central Asia. This study provides new material evidence for exploring cultural exchanges between the East and the West during the late Neolithic period.

Archaeological timber preserved in arid burial environments undergoes degradation processes distinct from those of waterlogged wood, with deterioration primarily driven by abiotic factors. This study investigates depth-dependent degradation in Larix potaninii components from a Tang Dynasty tomb using layer-by-layer sampling combined with multi-indicator analysis, including physical, chemical and microstructural measurements. Results reveal pronounced surface deterioration characterised by reduced density, increased moisture uptake, decreased cellulose crystallinity and disrupted cell wall structures, while inner regions are comparatively better preserved. Consistent trends across multiple indicators enable differentiation of degradation states within structural components. These findings provide quantitative insight into degradation gradients in arid archaeological wood and provide a preliminary basis for evaluating consolidant penetration and developing targeted conservation strategies.

The domestication of the genus Equus has driven long-distance exchanges along the pre- and historical Silk Roads, but their dispersal history in China, particularly the use of hybrids between horses and donkeys, remains cloudy. Here we analyzed ancient DNA (aDNA) of ten Equus specimens from Mazongshan jade mining site (400-160 BCE, Northwestern China), using the published Zonkey pipeline and our developed method on sequencing coverage/depth. The identified assemblage of three horses, three donkeys, and four hinnies represents the earliest direct archaeological evidence for the presence of donkeys and their hybrids with horses in China to date. We argue that multiple Equus livestock were already integrated into the trans-regional trades between Central Plains and the Western Regions prior to the opening of the Silk Roads. Additionally, the absence of mule was quite different from ancient Roman contexts, highlighting the adaptation of livestock management strategies to environmental constraints and socioeconomic demands.

The circum-Longshan Mountain region, situated between the Central Plains and the Gan-Qing cultural zones, became one of the most developed areas within the Yellow River Valley during the late Yangshao period. In order to investigate the subsistence strategies underlying the early social complexity in this region and explore their economic foundations, radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses were conducted in this study, on the faunal and human remains from the central settlement of Nanzuo in Qingyang and the ordinary settlement of Lijiaping in Tongwei, located on the eastern and western sides of the Longshan Mountains. The radiocarbon dating results show that the ages of the Lijiaping and Nanzuo sites fall between 4960−4644 and 4840−4580 cal BP, respectively, consistent with previous archaeological studies. Stable isotope analyses reveal that the mean δ13C values of wild herbivores at both sites are below −19.0‰, indicating their diets are dominated by C3 plants, reflective of the surrounding C3 vegetation. In contrast, the mean δ13C values of omnivorous domesticates and humans are above −8.0‰, reflecting predominantly C4 millets in diets and highlighting the central role of millet agriculture in the subsistence economy. Some wild animals, including felids and phasianids, yielded δ13C values above −14.0‰, suggesting significant intake of C4 foods. Notably, domestic pigs at Lijiaping and Nanzuo exhibit distinct isotopic patterns: while pigs at Lijiaping show tightly clustered δ13C and δ15N values (variation <2‰), the δ13C and δ15N values of pigs at Nanzuo show broader variation (3.6‰ and 2.5‰, respectively) and can be grouped into multiple clusters. In view of the settlement hierarchy, the variability in isotopic data of pigs to some extent correlates with the complexity of early societies. Furthermore, the diachronic analysis of δ13C values from faunal and human remains across various Yangshao sites in the circum-Longshan Mountain region shows the increasing contribution of C4 millets to local diets, which demonstrates the continuous development of agricultural societies from the early to late Yangshao period in this region. Therefore, the sustained expansion of millet agriculture laid the economic foundation for the emergence of social complexity in the circum-Longshan Mountain region during the late Yangshao period.

The Yellow and Yangtze river basins in China are among the world's oldest independent agricultural centers, known for the domestication of millet and rice, respectively, yet their genetic history is poorly understood. Here, we present genome-wide data from 74 Middle Neolithic genetic samples from these regions, showing marked genetic differentiation but bidirectional gene flow, supporting a demic diffusion model of mixed farming. Yellow River populations exhibit distinct genetic substructures resulting from interactions with surrounding groups during the mid-Neolithic expansion of millet agriculture. Upper Yellow River populations are genetically linked to Tibetan Plateau populations and possess the earliest adaptive EPAS1 haplotype (∼5,800 BP) among modern humans. Meanwhile, Yangtze River rice farmers show genetic affinity with Neolithic to present-day southeast coastal China and Austronesian populations, tracing the origins of proto-Austronesians farther north to the Yangtze River. These findings offer new insights into the impact of mid-Neolithic agricultural expansion on human genetic history.

This paper presents a study of 45 iron objects unearthed from the ancient Jingbao’er jade mining site in the western Hexi Corridor, dating from the Warring States period to the early West Han dynasty (about fourth–first centuries BCE). Metallographic and slag inclusion analyses were conducted to investigate the material features and their potential correlation with intended applications. Of the analysed items, 38 were made of cast iron, some of which had been decarburized or graphitized through annealing treatment to enhance their properties. Seven artefacts were identified as bloomery iron, indicating a distinct iron production tradition, likely localized and small in scale. It is conveyed that by the late first millennium BCE, the supply of iron artefacts at the Jingbao’er site was predominantly derived from the cast‐iron system, with evidence of regional bloomery smelting highlighting the complexity of iron production during this period. These observations offer new insights into the adoption of iron in the Hexi Corridor and the dynamics of regional technological exchange.

A new tectonic-geochemical approach using LA-ICP-MS reveals that carbonate nephrites from different East Asian tectonic domains exhibit distinct Li, Be and Ce anomaly signatures, offering a practical tool for archaeological provenance tracing.

The intensification of millet agriculture facilitated the development of ancient civilization in northern China. In Inner Mongolia and the Central Plains, the intensification of millet farming was relatively continuous. However, prior evidence from the western Loess Plateau (WLP) has suggested an indistinct sequence of millet cultivation and a time lag between the initial intensification of millet agriculture and subsequent expansion of millet farming. We report on new stable isotopic data and radiocarbon dates from the Gedachuan site which challenge that interpretation. Our results indicate a gradual intensification and expansion of millet agriculture across the whole WLP. They attest to intensive broomcorn millet-based farming underpinning the emergence and development of the agrarian society in the WLP during the early-middle Yangshao period (∼6300–5500 BP), and to an intensification of the higher-yielding foxtail millet–based farming leading to the rapid growth of population in the WLP and expansion of millet cultivation after 5300 BP.

Cultural exchanges in the Gansu-Qinghai region, especially the Hexi Corridor, surged during the early-to-mid-2nd millennium BCE. Previous studies have often focused on metalwork and the transformation of subsistence economies, whereas stone bead ornaments were seldom discussed. Based on the observations and scanning electron microscopy analysis of tens of carnelian/agate beads from the cemeteries of Huoshaogou and Ganguya in the western Hexi Corridor, we argue that some were imported in the form of finished products and some were locally made. In light of this, we reviewed recent publications and examined carnelian/agate beads and bead making evidence in the Gobi area dated from the 2nd millennium BCE. The preference for beads in the Gansu-Qinghai region began at the turn of the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE. During the 2nd millennium BCE, benefiting from the growth of long-distance exchange networks, some people in the Hexi Corridor were among the first to use ornaments of carnelian/agate, turquoise, fired steatite beads, and seashells. These ornaments later spread to the eastern Gansu-Qinghai region, neighboring the Zhou people. However, the use of carnelian/agate beads remained limited until the Zhou elite incorporated them into their funerary rites. Judging from the similar shapes and crafting features, the carnelian/agate beads in the Gan-Qing region may have had close connections with those circulating in contemporary Mongolia. This study on carnelian/agate beads provides new insights into craft production and society in the Northwest China and north-south exchanges in East Asia.

As the first domestic species, dogs likely dispersed with different cultural groups during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed 73 ancient dog genomes, including 17 newly sequenced individuals sampled from East Asia to the West Eurasian Steppe spanning nearly 10,000 years. Our results indicate correlations between the ancestry of dogs and specific ancient human populations from eastern Europe to Eastern Siberia, including Ancient Paleo-Siberians, Eastern hunter-gatherers, East Asians, and Steppe pastoralists. We also identify multiple shifts in the ancestry of dogs that coincide with specific dispersals of hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists. Combined, our results reveal the long-term and integral role that dogs played in a multitude of human societies.

Silk fabrics hold immense historical value as precious legacies left by our ancestors, yet they face significant damage during archaeological excavations, necessitating urgent protective measures. However, The current protective materials can’t effectively prevent the degradation of silk fabrics. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising avenue for the consolidation and preservation of silk fabrics, offering novel concepts and materials. In this study, we propose an innovative and cost-effective method that uses the MOF-818 with a radical scavenging ability to enhance the protection of silk fabrics. The resulting demonstrates that the MOF-818 was the large surface area and porous properties, which exhibited excellent superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity at 10 ug/mL. The silk fabrics treated by MOF-818 displays small color difference, reduced the oxidation of functional group and prevents the degradation of silk fabrics. The successful development of this nanocomposite marks a significant advancement in silk protection, opening new horizons for the preservation of silk cultural relics.

This paper analyzes and identifies the binders used in the jewel settings of the Baodian and Diexie belts excavated from the tomb of Murongzhi in Wuwei, Gansu, China. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the presence of protein in the binder samples. The result of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) shows that samples from both contained hydroxyproline, a characteristic amino acid for animal glue. Principal component analysis was performed on one of the samples, and it was concluded that the binder was a mixture of hide glue and egg glue. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and laser Raman spectroscopy (Raman) found that a red particulate matter visually identified in the binder was cinnabar, which was apparently added to binder in order to modify the color of the jewels. This study provides a basis for the conservation and restoration of future finds of elite jewelry. It also shows how imperial jewelry was made during the Tang Dynasty. Finally, the analysis of these heraldic belts provides a key insight the life and role of an exiled prince in the Tang court.

Located in Qingyang, Gansu province, China, the Nanzuo site on the Loess Plateau is a large-scale, high-ranking central settlement of the late Yangshao period with capital city characteristics. We used a thermal dilatometer, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrometer to analyse the firing temperature, composition, microstructure and phase composition of the white potteries in the Nanzuo site. The results indicate that kaolin, china stone and local fusible white clay are the raw materials of the body. The surface coatings of white potteries are formed from shells. The main constituents that make up the internal surface coating are aragonite and calcite, which are derived from the prismatic and nacreous layers of shells. The external surface coating is composed of CaCO3 nanoparticles that arrange themselves as aragonite tablets within the nacreous layer. This exceptional pottery-making technique is exclusive to Nanzuo and has not been reported at any other site in the world. This technique is significant for researchers to deepen our understanding of pottery-making technology history in China.

The natural environment of the Gansu-Qinghai region in northwest China exhibits spatial variation, resulting in distinct adaptive strategies among populations in different geographical areas. In this study, we analyzed the diachronic trend and regional variations in caries prevalence among 10 different middle and late-Holocene groups by examining dental caries data to explore the correlation between different adaptation strategies and caries frequency. Frequency data was used to compare dental caries between populations, and the Chi-square test was employed to detect statistical differences. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to investigate the relationship between these changes and the adaptive strategies adopted by the populations in this region. The result shows that there was a gradual increase in caries prevalence over time in eastern Gansu, which corresponded with development of millet farming and social hierarchy. In the Hexi Corridor, caries prevalence exhibited fluctuations attributable to climate variability, human migration, and regime change. The research proposes that changes in adaptive strategies due to various social and environmental factors are reflected in human teeth, while also presenting a novel endeavor of aggregating a large, multisite bioarchaeological dataset in order to investigate the interactions between Holocene populations and palaeoenvironments in northwest China.