New archaeobotanical evidence for Tolai hare (Lepus tolai) millets-consumption on the Loess Plateau of China

•Explores microbotanical remains preserved on ancient Tolai hare (Lepus Tolai) teeth from archaeological sites in late Neolithic China for the first time.•Finds new archaeological evidence for Tolai hare dietary patterns in the context of the expansion of millet agricultural system on northern Loess Plateau at about 5000B.P.•First discussion of the long-term interactions between humans and hare on the north Loess Plateau based on the multidisciplinary lines of evidence.