Core Insights - The research at the Xinglong site reveals the transition of early humans from a nomadic lifestyle to a semi-sedentary existence, ultimately leading to low-intensity agricultural production, providing a valuable case study for understanding human adaptation to environmental changes in East Asia [2][6][8] Environmental Evolution - The climate environment in the region has undergone three main phases since the Holocene: 1. A warming and humidification period from approximately 11,700 to 10,000 years ago, where vegetation transitioned from cold grasslands to forest grasslands, creating an ecological foundation for human activities [5] 2. A warm and humid period from 10,000 to 5,000 years ago, particularly between 10,000 and 7,100 years ago, where human exploitation of forest resources inhibited natural expansion [5] 3. A cooling and arid period since 5,000 years ago, leading to vegetation degradation and significant water body shrinkage [5] Agricultural Development - Evidence shows that as early as 8,000 years ago, charred millet and foxtail millet seeds were found at the Xinglong site, indicating that agriculture was not the primary means of survival but rather an experimental or supplementary activity [6][7] - The transition to agriculture was influenced by a warm and humid climate that allowed for the cultivation of certain plants, while human activities actively modified the environment to support these crops [6][8] Societal Changes - The period from 8,150 to 7,100 years ago marked a flourishing of Neolithic culture, with archaeological findings indicating a more stable population and complex social structures, alongside an increase in the number of cultivated crops [7] - The interaction between stable population growth and environmental resource utilization led to deeper impacts on the ecosystem, highlighting the relationship between climate, population stability, and societal evolution [7][8] Historical Significance - The research underscores the importance of the Xinglong site in understanding the independent origins of agriculture in China, pushing back the timeline for the cultivation of millet and foxtail millet, and reinforcing the region's status as a center for agricultural origins [7][8] - The findings provide insights into human adaptability and resilience in the face of climate fluctuations, offering lessons for contemporary agricultural transformations and ecological policies [8]

Core Insights - The recent analysis of plant remains from the Nanyao site in Jingyang County, Shaanxi Province, reveals significant findings regarding agricultural practices during the late Yangshao period and the Eastern Zhou period, highlighting the structure of crops and the expansion of wheat in the Yellow River basin during the Eastern Zhou period [1][2][3] Group 1: Agricultural Findings - The Nanyao site primarily features remains from the late Yangshao period, with a total of 6,036 charred plant remains identified, including five types of crops and 16 species of non-crop plants [1] - During the late Yangshao period, the dominant crops were millet (90.1% of the total crop remains) and foxtail millet, with soybeans being marginal [2] - In the Eastern Zhou period, while millet continued to be cultivated, its proportion decreased, and wheat emerged as a significant crop, accounting for nearly 40% of the agricultural structure [2] Group 2: Historical Context and Implications - The research suggests that the military actions of the Qin people during the Eastern Zhou period facilitated the eastward spread of wheat, which had been traditionally cultivated in Gansu since the early Bronze Age [3] - The interactions between the Qin and neighboring tribes, whether peaceful or conflictual, contributed to the integration of wheat into the Qin agricultural system, leading to its prominence in the region [3] - The findings indicate that the Qin's military expansion played a crucial role in establishing the "south rice, north wheat" agricultural pattern that would develop in later periods [3]

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of carbonized small beans at the Xiaogao site in Shandong, dating back approximately 9,000 years, provides significant evidence of early agricultural practices in East Asia, particularly the integration of legumes into the crop system alongside grains, which predates previous findings in China by 4,000 years [2][3][5]. Group 1: Archaeological Findings - An international team, including researchers from Shandong University and Washington University in St. Louis, published findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlighting the importance of the Xiaogao site in understanding the origins of agriculture in northern China [2][3]. - The excavation at Xiaogao involved systematic sampling of 891 flotation samples, leading to the identification of 45 carbonized small beans among 32,000 carbonized plant remains, confirming the presence of a diverse agricultural system [3][4]. - Radiocarbon dating of two small beans revealed ages of 8,985–8,645 cal.BP and 8,032–7,939 cal.BP, marking a significant advancement in the timeline of legume domestication in the region [3][4]. Group 2: Agricultural Practices and Implications - The findings indicate that 9,000 years ago, the lower Yellow River region had already developed an early "grain + legume" agricultural system, showcasing the nutritional and ecological benefits of combining these crops [3][4]. - The presence of small beans alongside other crops like millet and soybeans suggests an early understanding of sustainable agricultural practices, which improved soil fertility and provided essential protein [3][4]. - The research emphasizes the need to reassess the role of food diversity in human civilization and the importance of legumes in sustainable agricultural development [4][6]. Group 3: Collaborative Research Efforts - The success of this research is attributed to international collaboration among scholars from China, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, who shared archaeological data from over 40 sites and utilized multidisciplinary techniques [6]. - The study of small bean domestication reflects a broader global issue, highlighting the necessity of cross-regional and interdisciplinary cooperation to understand the dynamics of agricultural evolution [6].

Core Insights - The archaeological discovery at the Xiaogao site in Shandong, China, revealed charred small beans (adzuki beans) dating back 9,000 years, which is 4,000 years earlier than previous similar findings in China [1][3] - This finding indicates that a dry farming system based on "cereal + legume" was established in the lower Yellow River region 9,000 years ago, providing groundbreaking evidence for the study of agricultural origins in East Asia [1][3] Group 1 - The Xiaogao site, a typical post-Li culture site, has revealed rich remains including house sites, ash pits, pottery, and stone grinding plates, dating from 9,000 to 7,500 years ago [3] - A systematic analysis of 891 flotation samples identified 30,000 charred plant grains, including millet, foxtail millet, rice, soybeans, and small beans, with 45 charred small beans being particularly significant as the earliest evidence of small beans in the Yellow River basin [3] - The discovery highlights that the agricultural system in the lower Yellow River was more complex than previously understood, showcasing the region's pioneering role in the development of East Asian agricultural civilization [3] Group 2 - Professor Lang Jianfeng from Shandong University noted that the domestication of small beans in East Asia is a long-term, multi-centered complex process [5] - The research team compared small bean remains from over 140 sites in East Asia and found distinct evolutionary trajectories in the Yellow River basin, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula [5] - The small beans from the Xiaogao site measured only 5.8 cubic millimeters, significantly smaller than modern wild varieties, indicating an early "primitive form" of domestication, with significant size increase occurring 4,000 years later [5]

Core Insights - The Guojia Zaoyuan site in Jishan, Shanxi Province, has been identified as a typical example of northern China's dry farming tradition during the Eastern Zhou period [1][3] Group 1: Archaeological Findings - The Guojia Zaoyuan site covers an area of nearly 1 million square meters and was discovered in 2009, with significant cultural deposits from the late Yangshao culture, the second phase of the Miaodigou culture, and the Eastern Zhou period [1] - A total of 19 soil samples were collected from 17 archaeological units during the 2009 excavation, specifically targeting important relics [2] Group 2: Plant Remains Analysis - The analysis revealed charred plant seeds and fruits from the Eastern Zhou period, including millet, broomcorn, wheat, and soybean, with millet being the dominant crop [3] - The absence of rice remains and the limited presence of wheat and soybean may relate to the site's environmental conditions and the limitations of archaeological findings [3] - Wheat dating indicates its significance during the Spring and Autumn period, highlighting its increasing importance in Shanxi agriculture during the Eastern Zhou to Qin-Han periods [3]