The Gaomiao Culture (7800-6600 BP) of the middle Yangtze River region represents a pivotal yet enigmatic case of socioeconomic transition in China. It is characterised by sophisticated ritual architecture, China's earliest white pottery, and complex ceremonial practices that coexisted with hunter-gatherer subsistence and limited rice agriculture. This paradoxical combination of symbolic complexity and economic simplicity offers a unique chance for investigating incipient animal domestication in non-agricultural society contexts, however, the region lacks of isotope analysis for animal remains. Consequently, understanding whether southern China domestication followed pathways distinct from northern China millet-based models remains critically incomplete. The relationship between ritual intensification and animal management in pre-agricultural societies constitutes a pressing theoretical question for understanding the diverse driving mechanisms of initial domestication worldwide. This study presents the first integrated morphometric and stable isotope analysis of faunal remains from Qianjiaping (5800-4800 BCE), the typical site of the Gaomiao Culture in southern Hunan Province. Analysis of 25 specimens (including 12 pigs, 3 dogs, and wild cervids), employing dental metrology, Grant's tooth wear aging methods, and bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis reveals a distinctive 'cultural domestication' pattern for pigs. Morphometric data indicate that 75% of the pig third molars fall below domestic thresholds adjusted for the smaller dentition of the South China wild boar subspecies (Sus scrofa moupinensis). Furthermore, mortality profiles demonstrate that 92% of pigs were slaughtered at 18-24 months, the optimal age for balancing meat yield and feed conversion efficiency. These findings suggest intensive human management strategies involving breeding control, mobility restriction, and systematic age-selective culling. However, carbon and nitrogen isotopic values (delta C-13: -22.9 parts per thousand-21.7 parts per thousand; delta N-15: 4.9 parts per thousand-6.9 parts per thousand) reveal a striking disconnection between morphological and dietary domestication. The domestic pigs cluster is indistinguishable from wild cervids in isotopic values, consuming C-3 vegetation identical to wild herbivores and lacking the elevated delta N-15 signatures (3 parts per thousand-5 parts per thousand enrichment) characteristic of kitchen waste feeding observed in northern China Neolithic Sites. This 'morphology-managed, diet-wild' disjunction reflects the 'cultural domestication' stage, where humans achieved low-cost meat production through intervention in reproductive structures without reconstructing the animals' trophic niche through provisioning or intensive foddering. Notably, dogs exhibited delta N-15 values enriched by similar to 5 parts per thousand above herbivores, indicating high-trophic-level consumption consistent with fish or human food refuse. This demonstrates functionally differentiated management strategies between companion animals and meat-producing stock. The comparative analysis underscores the pronounced regional heterogeneity in domestication pathways across Neolithic south China. Unlike Luotuodun (Lower Yangtze River Valley), where pig populations retained wild morphologies and aging profiles despite sedentary settlements, or Qugou (Huai River basin), which showed transitional mixed signals with emerging C-4 inputs, Qianjiaping exhibits intensive reproductive management that is completely decoupled from agricultural productivity. This 'culture first, domestication lagging, dietary change last' trajectory diverges fundamentally from northern models where pig domestication synchronised with millet agriculture at sites such as Cishan and Houli, producing distinct isotopic signatures through heavy C-4 crop provisioning and reflected in significantly elevated delta C-13 values compared to their wild counterparts. This research addresses a critical isotopic gap in the Middle Yangtze region, challenging conventional narratives that link animal domestication with agricultural intensification. The Qianjiaping model suggests that ritual consumption or social prestige may have driven initial pig control independently of farming economies. This offers new theoretical perspectives on the diverse social motivations underlying early animal domestication experiments in prehistoric East Asia and highlights the region's unique contribution to understanding alternative pathways to animal management and domestication.

The study of hammerscale is a key for identifying ancient forging sites and restoring iron and steel forging processes, while the systematic research on hammerscale from Han-Jin periods sites in southwest China is still insufficient, and a unified identification standard for archaeological hammerscale has not been formed in China. In this paper, 21 ancient hammerscale samples excavated from Chengba site (Sichuan) and Guantian site (Hunan) were taken as the research objects, with 4 modern traditional forging hammerscale samples as the control group. Metallographic microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis were used to carry out systematic scientific analysis on the microstructure and chemical composition of the samples. The results show that the core identification indicators of archaeological hammerscale are the microstructure has a layered iron oxide structure formed by high-temperature forging oxidation, or chain silicate inclusions distributed along the forging direction; the main component is iron oxide (often > 90

The Guantian site located in Sangzhi County in northwest Hunan Province, China. It is a low-level settlement and possibly an iron casting and processing site that existed during the Han and Jin periods (202 BCE-AD 420) in the Wuling Mountains region. Analysis of the excavated iron objects from the site reveals that they were mainly made from pig iron, malleable cast iron, and low -carbon steel. The metallurgical ceramic fragments may reflect the existence of melting process. Both casting and forging, with evidence of quenching technique were used in the producing process. Decarburization of cast iron in solid state was the main method of obtaining steel. Since during the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25-220), the aboriginal in the Wuling Mountains region gradually became stronger, the use of iron -casting and processing technology played an important role in promoting regional social development of the Wuling Man (minorities in the Wuling Mountains region).

Southern Hunan is known to be one of the few iron manufacturing regions in the Han period. The study of iron implements from this region should yield important evidence concerning the regional iron-making techniques used and the local iron industry. We provide a detailed account of the technological aspects of iron implements yielded from Chenzhou, a major node on the traffic routes entering the broader southern frontiers. Our analysis focuses on the metallographic features and chemical compositions of inclusions in the examined objects. The results reveal that cast iron and related annealing or decarburization techniques were commonly used. Most implements were made using solid-state decarburization of cast iron, along with malleable cast iron and fined iron. This technological profile is similar to other case studies in the literature, but also highlights regional characteristics such as the relatively sparse presence of fined iron. Based on this observation, we discuss various factors that could have contributed to this situation. In a broader context, the analysis of this collection can contribute to the further investigation of the regional characteristics of the Han period iron industry.

DEAR EDITOR,The Laosicheng site in Yongshun County, Hunan Province,China, plays an important role in elucidating the animal population composition of the region prior to the middle Qing Dynasty （approximately 300 years ago）. This site has yielded a substantial number of animal bones, 11?960 of which have been identified to the species level, serving as direct evidence of ancient animal populations （Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, 2018）.

As one of the most important domestic animals in ancient China, the origin, diffusion and matrilineal inheritance of goats have been important issues of archaeological research. In this study, we successfully extracted mitochondrial whole genome sequences from 77 samples of goat remains excavated from 16 sites in China, which date back from the Late Neolithic (4300-3800 BP) to the Ming Dynasty (600-400 BP). The results of ancient DNA analysis indicated that the Chinese goat matrilineages began to expand 7000-6000 years ago. The discovery of sub-lineages A2 and B2 suggests that they may have evolved or derived in China. The expansion of lineage A and the decline in the number of lineage B provide important evidence for the eastward migration of humans from the western part of the Eurasian continent. Furthermore, this study confirms that ancient Chinese goats had contributed genetically to the modern goats of China, and that the Chinese goats are genetically related to goats in South and Southeast Asia. Mitochondrial genome analysis of ancient Chinese goats not only provides an important resource for future analyses and research, but also offers new perspectives for the origin and diffusion of domestic goats.

Brass, which appears golden in color, used to be a valuable alloy in ancient times. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Chinese used special furnaces to smelt zinc for minting and exporting to overseas in large quantities. Archeological findings have revealed the overall structure of the zinc smelting furnaces at the Tongmuling site during the Qing Dynasty. In this study, computational fluid dynamics software was employed to simulate airflow fields within a furnace. Consequently, we observed that airflows were concentrated at the center of the lower chamber, after which they dispersed into the upper chamber through ceramic pads and finally were evenly distributed between the retorts. Increasing furnace height and improving thermal convection in the lower chamber helped increase the furnace temperature. The ceramic pads adjusted the airflow to ensure that temperature distribution in the upper chamber was uniform, and they supported burning in the upper chamber by preventing collapse. Compared with the heap smelting process recorded in Heavenly Creations and the large crucible furnaces used in modern times, zinc smelting furnaces at the Tongmuling site possess a unique structure. They serve as a link between preceding and subsequent technologies, offering important evidence for exploring the development of ancient Chinese zinc smelting technologies.

The smelting of zinc is considered as one of the most challenging technologies in ancient civilization. Compared with non-sulfide zinc ores, the smelting of zinc sulfide ores is more complicated since they have to be roasted before smelting. The technological smelting process of the ancient zinc metallurgy technology has been studied and partly reconstructed. However, the roasting technology, including the roasting conditions and involved metallurgical processes, is still unclear. The discovery of the zinc smelting site of Doulingxia dates back to the Qing dynasty (CE 1636–1912), and for the first time provides us with critical archeological evidence to gain an insight into the roasting technology in ancient zinc metallurgy technology. In this paper, the microstructure and mineralogical features of the zinc calcine relics found at the Doulingxia site were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). To reconstruct the metallurgical process, the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine was estimated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), combined with reheating experiments and phase composition analysis as well as microstructural analysis. The simulation experiments were conducted to reconstruct the roasting process. The results indicated that the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine should be in a range of 650–850 °C, most probably near 750 °C. As long as the retention time is long enough, all sphalerite can be oxidized when the roasting temperature is above 650 °C. The final roasting products mainly include tiny porous particles of ZnFe2O4, Fe2O3, PbSO4, and ZnO. These findings are helpful to reconstruct the ancient zinc metallurgy technology of zinc sulfide ores.

2015年官田遗址发掘出土的植物遗存为了解湘西地区汉晋时期农业经济和生业模式等问题提供了重要的证据.遗址出土农作物有粟、黍、稻、大豆、绿豆、大麦和小麦,非农作物以禾本科为主.量化分析结果显示,粟是遗址中最主要的农作物,水稻同时占有重要地位,聚落农业呈现出以粟为主、稻次之、并同时种植多种作物的特点.以山地丘陵为主的地貌类型和偏干冷的气候等自然因素决定了遗址以种植旱地作物为主,北方人口南迁,可能是旱地作物得以发展的主要人文因素.

绿紫坳矿厂是清代湖南桂阳州最大的铜矿厂,也是清代湖南最大的铸钱铜料产地,持续开采约一个世纪.2018年4月,多家单位对绿紫坳铜矿采冶遗址进行调查,发现了矿洞、崖刻以及大量的炉渣堆积.梳理文献资料和考古材料,对绿紫坳矿厂开发历史、采矿、炼铜、产品和管理等进行了初步研究,绿紫坳矿厂采用矿井开采法开矿,炼铜采用复杂的"硫化矿—冰铜—铜"技术.乾隆十七年(1752)开始,绿紫坳矿厂由委员管理,形成高效的开采和冶炼一体化的矿厂,为长沙宝南局提供了绝大部分的铸钱铜料.

清 同治十一年(1872)版《桑植县志》记载:"汉高祖五年置充县,东汉因之."《同治直隶澧州志》记载:"充县在(慈利)县西二百四十里,即今……桑植县治."据《中国历史地图集》(第二册)考证,汉代充县县治位于今桑植县境内.这些记载表明桑植县的建制可以上溯至西汉建立伊始,距今已有两千余年的历史了.

湖南省桂阳县是中国古代炼锌的重要地区之一.自2015年以来,湖南省文物考古研究所等单位共调查发现了 19处炼锌遗址和1处炼锌冶炼罐生产遗址.考古调查与文献记载显示,桂阳炼锌应在明代就已开始,并延续至清代晚期,规模逐步扩大.在这些遗址上采集到数量不等的冶炼罐,冶炼罐的形态反映出从矮胖形向瘦长形转变的演化规律.此次系统的调查对于从整体上认识桂阳炼锌遗址分布、规模、保存状况,以及炼锌技术的发展提供了重要材料,对于研究中国古代炼锌的起源、发展和传播具有重要意义.

郴桂矿厂是清代湖南最重要的铜、铅、锌等币材原料产地.该矿厂使用一种先炼铅、再炼铜的铅铜共生矿冶炼技术,史料中称其为"铅渣炼铜".2016年,桂阳桐木岭遗址发现了多金属冶炼遗迹、遗物,为复原郴桂矿厂铅渣炼铜技术提供了重要的实物证据.文章通过对铅渣炼铜的史料记载、桐木岭炼铅遗存以及炼铅炉渣的研究,判断郴桂矿厂采用的技术是:先用铁还原法在竖炉中炼铅,将冶炼得到的冰铜和铅分离开,最后用冰铜炼铜.该技术不同于其他铜铅共生矿冶炼技术,是铁还原法炼铅、冰铜炼铜两种技术的结合,为清代郴桂矿厂特有,在冶金史上系首次发现.这种技术产生的原因,是郴桂矿厂铜矿资源少,但又要尽可能满足宝南局铸钱对铜料的需求.

It is difficult to distill metal zinc partly due to the reduction temperature of zinc oxide ores close to the boiling point of metallic zinc. The treatment of zinc sulfide ores is more complicated since they have to be roasted before smelting. Previous archaeometallurgical studies on zinc smelting technology in China mainly focus on the distillation of zinc oxide ores. This paper, for the first time, presents analytical results of archaeological evidence about the distillation of zinc sulfide ores in Guiyang in southern China dated back to the Qing Dynasty (CE 1636-1912). The smelting remains including ores, distillation retorts and slags, especially the roasting hearths and zinc calcine firstly discovered and confirmed in zinc smelting sites were characterized comprehensively by p-XRF, OM, SEM-EDS and XRD. It was revealed that the zinc smelting technology in the Tongmuling site and the Doulingxia site was mainly based on the distillation of zinc sulfide ores, which should be oxidized by a lengthy roasting processing at the lower temperature before the distilling. In order to enhance the condensation efficiency, the height of the condensers in the distillation retorts has been significantly increased. Most of the zinc products were ordered by the Minting sub-Bureau of Baonan in Changsha.

In 2016, the Tongmuling metallurgical site was excavated, by which the multi-metal smelting remains centered by zinc-smelting ones were recovered, including zinc-smelting furnaces, calcining platforms, house foundations, storage cellars, mud-kneading pits, refining stoves, etc., and associated house foundations, from which smelting implements such as retorts, condensers, condensing bags, condensing bag lids, refining pots, cushions and iron rods, as well as utensils for daily use were unearthed. This site is the best-preserved zinc-smelting site found to date in China having the clearest structure and functions and yielding the richest artifacts, which is very meaningful for the researches on the arrangements, functions and smelting techniques of the zinc-production sites of ancient China.

桂阳州是清代湖南金属锌的主要产地,炼锌业主要是为了铸钱.近年来,桂阳发现了一批清代炼锌遗址,为研究清代桂阳州炼锌业提供了实物资料.本文综合考古和史料证据分析研究清代桂阳州炼锌业,揭开清代桂阳州炼锌业的整体面貌.研究发现清代桂阳州的炼锌业从采矿、冶炼到产品流向,政府在其中都起到了重要作用,最后形成桂阳州特有的炼锌业管理模式.

本文以铜、铁、锌三种金属为代表,考察了当前湖南境内矿冶考古发现以及金属遗物的考古学研究、铸造工艺与科技检测分析的成果.认为在商周、楚汉、唐宋以及明清等时期湖南境内发现的金属器多有精品,且具有显著的本地特色,表明了湖南是中国重要的金属冶炼与制造中心之一.这固然与湖南境内丰富的矿产资源有关,但同时也因为湖南能够较快地将中原先进技术本地化,并加以创新,有的方面甚至达到了当时最先进的水平,从而创造出了独特的冶金文明,并成为了中华冶金文明中重要的组成部分.

本文通过对蒸馏罐和炉渣的显微组织和化学成分的分析,结合考古发现和文献记载,详细复原桐木岭清代炼锌遗址的炼锌技术.分析发现,桐木岭蒸馏罐各个部位设计合理,冶炼罐可以重复使用;该遗址主要使用含铅的硫化锌矿,焙烧不彻底,也使用可以直接冶炼的氧化锌矿;蒸馏罐在炼锌炉中摆放规范,冶炼和冷凝温度控制较好,技术效率较高.该研究对更好地认识中国古代炼锌技术具有重要的意义.

有学者指出,长江中下游地区“鱼米之乡”的文化景观,是从新石器时期就开始出现的.本文是以考古遗址出土的鱼类骨骼为研究视角,通过对这一区域28处遗址出土鱼类骨骼数量、种属、骨骼部位、最小个体数、可鉴定标本数等相关数据的统计,分析考古遗址出土鱼类骨骼的特点和长江流域史前先民捕获鱼种的利用情况,探讨了长江中下游流域新石器时代捕鱼经济的区域性特征和不同时段捕鱼经济发展的历时性特点.

通过对老司城遗址明代早期至雍正五年出土的猪、野猪、牛、马、山羊、苏门羚、梅花鹿、小麂、赤麂、水鹿等10种动物共20件牙齿表面植物微遗存的分析与研究,结果发现了包括来自于水稻(Oryza sativa L)、薏苡属(Coix Linn.)、葫芦科(Cucurbitaceae)、棕榈科(Palmae)等植物淀粉粒,以及水稻、竹亚科(Bambusoideae)、棕榈科、芦苇属(Phragmites Adans.)、早熟禾亚科(Pooideae)、画眉草亚科(Eragrostidoideae)、黍亚科(Panicoideae)等植物的植硅体.淀粉粒、植硅体种类统计结果表明当时老司城遗址家养与野生动物的植物性食物资源具有多样化的特征,且两者食物结构之间具有相似性.这种相似性说明该时期老司城遗址部分家养动物可能存在半圈养或放养的现象,而某些野生动物在被捕获之后可能经过一定时间的圈养.此外,水稻、棕榈科、竹亚科植物以及硅藻等的发现,一定程度上反映了老司城遗址及其周边地区当时的气候应该属于温暖湿润的气候环境.该研究结果对于了解明清时期西南少数民族地区家养与野生动物的植物性食物结构及饲养方式等问题具有重要的学术意义,同时为促进老司城遗址动植物考古学等方面的深入研究提供新的资料和证据.