安徽濉溪石山子遗址古人类植物性食物资源利用情况的淀粉粒分析

利用淀粉粒分析方法,对安徽濉溪石山子遗址(约7000aB.P.,33°51'N、116°49'E)出土的5件石磨盘和5件石磨棒表面附着残留物进行了研究。结果表明,这批石器表面残留物中包含了种类丰富的植物淀粉粒,其可能的植物种属来源至少有8类,包括薏苡(Coix lacryma-jobi)、小麦族(Triticeae)、山药(Dioscorea opposita)、莲藕(Nelumbo nucifera)、莲子(Nelumbo nucifera)、豇豆属(Vigna)、燕麦属(Avena)和姜科(Zingiberaceae)等,此外还有一部分未知种属的疑似禾本科植物的淀粉粒。统计结果显示,来自薏苡、小麦族以及疑似禾本科植物的淀粉粒无论是绝对数量还是在器物表面的出现频次都远高于其他植物种属的淀粉粒,应为这批石器的主要加工对象,此外,来自山药、莲藕等块根块茎类植物的淀粉粒,其数量和出现频次也较高。石山子遗址出土石磨盘、石磨棒表面残留物中淀粉粒组成的多样性表明了这些石质工具加工食物种类的多样性和古人类植物性食物资源组成的多样性,同时,从观察到的淀粉粒植物种属来源来看,石山子遗址先民的生业模式似仍以采集经济为主,其农业经济的发展则相对滞后,这一特点的形成可能与该遗址所处的地理位置及自然环境有较大关系。研究结果为探索新石器时代中期淮河中游地区古人类对植物资源利用以及当时的农业发展状况等问题提供了新的科学依据。     

淀粉粒分析揭示的河南唐户遗址裴李岗文化古人类植物性食物资源利用

本文利用淀粉粒分析方法对河南唐户遗址(约7.8～7.0ka B.P.)出土的裴李岗文化时期6件石磨盘、2件石磨棒和8件陶炊器残片表面附着残留物进行了分析,共提取到6类不同形态的淀粉粒,鉴定结果显示有分别来自小麦族(Triticeae)、粟(Setaria italica)、水稻(Oryza sativa)、栎属(Quercus)、莲属(Nelumbo)以及未知种属的淀粉粒.石磨盘、石磨棒表面附着淀粉粒种类的多样性表明该类工具在当时被用于加工多种需要碾磨或脱壳的植物果实或块根块茎.粟、水稻、小麦族及栎属等淀粉粒的同时发现也表明,农业种植和采集是唐户先民获取植物性食物资源的主要途径.此外,根据粟的淀粉粒在实验选取样品表面普遍出现的情况,同时结合邻近的贾湖遗址植物考古和生产工具研究结果来看,以粟种植为主,水稻种植为辅的农业生产活动可能已成为唐户先民经济活动的主体.     

湖北荆门屈家岭遗址史前农业发展的植硅体证据

采用植硅体分析方法,对湖北荆门屈家岭遗址南部2015~2017年度主发掘区TN14W35探方内油子岭至石家河文化时期(5800~4200 a B.P.)的地层土样进行了系统取样分析,并重点对水稻扇型植硅体形态特征进行了研究.结果显示,遗址各文化时期土样中均含有丰富的水稻(Oryza sativa)特征型植硅体,表明稻作农业在屈家岭遗址各阶段先民植物资源的开发利用中始终占据着主导地位.同时,实验还在油子岭和屈家岭文化地层发现粟(Setaria italica)、黍(Panicum miliaceum)植硅体,但从发现数量看,粟类作物在屈家岭遗址先民农作物利用结构中只占据极小的比重.论文通过对水稻扇型植硅体形态参数测量和鱼鳞状纹饰统计发现,屈家岭遗址的水稻遗存主要属于粳稻类型,且驯化程度在油子岭文化早期时期就已经达到现代栽培稻水平.本文研究揭示了屈家岭遗址先民的农业结构、水稻类型及驯化水平,为了解江汉平原汉水东部地区新石器时代晚期人类生业形式与水稻驯化水平等提供了重要科学依据.     

China Modern Starch Grain Database

淀粉粒分析(starch grain analysis)是20世纪80年代开始广泛应用于植物考古中的一种新的植物微体遗存分析手段,并成为孢粉和植硅体分析的有益补充.该项研究手段的发展与推广,推进了植物驯化、栽培与利用等研究的深入[1,2].不同的植物由于遗传和环境的差异,形成不同性质和结构特征的淀粉粒,其形态差异对于鉴别其种属有着重要意义[3].相关实践研究亦表明淀粉残留物可以在地层和器物表面长时间的保存[4],所提取的淀粉粒仍然保持形态和消光等基本特性[5].因此,淀粉粒分析的基本原理可概括为通过现代植物淀粉粒形态的研究,建立现代图谱和归纳鉴定特征,并最终判断地层和器物中保存的淀粉粒残留物的来源.由此可见,建立现代植物特别是那些与人类生活密切相关的植物淀粉粒数据库,是合理应用淀粉粒分析这一新手段的基础.     

关中盆地6000～2100cal.aB.P. 期间黍、粟农业的植硅体证据

黍、粟是我国北方两种重要的旱作农作物,对中华文明起源和发展产生过重要的影响。长期以来由于受到考古样品保存及研究方法的限制,早期考古发掘报道的我国关中盆地新石器遗存的农作物多是以粟为主或粟、黍不分,统称粟类作物,缺少对该区新石器时期粟、黍农业状况的深入研究。本文利用植硅体方法,分别对现代黍、粟和水稻种子的植硅体产量以及关中盆地新石器考古样品中的植硅体进行分析。结果表明,等重量的黍、粟种子稃片的植硅体产量基本相等,其植硅体含量所反映的是黍、粟的相对产量(重量);水稻双峰型植硅体的百分含量比水稻实际含量相对偏低。关中盆地泉护、杨官寨、浒西庄、案板、王家嘴,水沟等6个考古遗址17个¹⁴C年龄和47个植硅体样品分析结果显示,约6000～2100cal.aB.P.期间,关中盆地黍子的植硅体含量一直占优势(3.4％～34.5％),粟次之(0～6.2％),即使在气候相对暖湿的阶段,黍的产量仍超过粟。泉护、杨官寨、浒西庄,案板等遗址的个别样品中保存水稻植硅体。这些结果为重新认识关中地区新石器时期农业生产与社会经济形态以及与气候环境条件的关系提供了新的参考资料。     

STONE KNIFE'S FUNCTION: SIMULATION EXPERIMENT VIA STARCH GRAIN ANALYSIS

淀粉粒分析在国内外环境考古学研究中得到了大量应用,但是目前国内还没有关于淀粉粒分析、石器功能与植物利用关系的现代过程研究.本研究针对石刀这一新石器时代重要的生产和生活工具开展现代过程的模拟实验,尝试利用淀粉粒分析方法验证石刀功能及其加工的植物类型.我们利用打制的简易石片模拟石刀,对未成熟和成熟的小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)进行了共两次割穗操作,提取并观察石片割穗后不同部位表面残留物中的淀粉粒形态及其组合.实验结果表明,石片表面残留物中的淀粉粒主要来源于小麦秸秆;小麦秸秆淀粉粒的A型和B型淀粉粒(未成熟和成熟小麦秸秆淀粉粒——A+B型淀粉粒,含量分别为90.91％和92.59％)分别与其成熟籽粒的A型和B型淀粉粒形态、大小相似,具备形态鉴定的特征;小麦秸秆中还发现了独特的多面体型淀粉粒(未成熟和成熟小麦秸秆多面体型淀粉粒含量分别为9.09％和7.41％),这是小麦种子中缺少的类型.根据本次现代实验模拟的结果,考古遗址出土石刀上提取到的淀粉粒很可能来自于植物收割(或切削)过程的残留物,结合淀粉粒分析、石刀形制和出土状况进行分析,可以获取出土石刀功能与古人类植物利用的信息.     

粟类作物稃片植硅体形态研究回顾与展望

中国是粟、黍的起源地,但受植物遗存保存状况及研究方法的限制,对粟类旱作农业起源与驯化的时间、地点、种类、过程等的认识仍然存在不同观点。植硅体分析为准确鉴定粟、黍及其野生祖本和亲缘物种提供了新的途径。本文总结了近几年来针对粟、黍种子稃片植硅体研究取得的新进展,获得以下认识:1)进一步明确了稃片表皮长细胞植硅体的形态特征、大小、数量是鉴定考古文化堆积中粟、黍及其野生祖本和亲缘野生物种的可靠指标;2)通过对比我国北方常见的狗尾草属稃片植硅体,发现了ΩⅢ型仅发育于粟和青狗尾草的稃片中部,且其大小与狗尾草属野生植物差异显著;3)分析和说明了稃片植硅体鉴定流程和方法、重点强调了稃片Ω/η类型的鉴定特征和应用范围,以及植硅体统计量等关键问题;4)讨论了粟类稃片植硅体产量与农作物产量的关系以及植硅体埋藏学问题,最后对深化粟类植硅体形态学研究提出了初步建议。希望通过本文的总结与讨论,能够使植硅体分析方法在粟类作物起源和传播的研究中得到更准确、更广泛的应用。     

青海卡约文化丰台遗址灰坑古代淀粉粒揭示的植物利用情况

青海丰台遗址是一处卡约文化遗址,约3200～2800aB.P.。通过对其灰坑中提取的淀粉粒分析了该区域当时先民们对植物利用情况。灰坑中包含了来自于小麦族（小麦属、大麦属）、粟、百合科及块根块茎类植物的淀粉粒,还包括可能来自于高粱（Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench）、豆科豇豆属,或豌豆属及鹰嘴豆属的淀粉粒,但是高粱在该遗址中以前还未发现过,是否含有高粱淀粉粒需要其他证据验证。从发现的淀粉粒种类来看当时先民们利用植物的多样性。另外,结合浮选结果发现,该遗址中小麦族植物包括大麦（Hordeum vulgare L.）和小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）,但以大麦为主,可能是先民们对气候环境变化适应的结果。     

浙江浦江上山遗址水稻扇形植硅体所反映的水稻驯化过程

对长江下游最早的新石器时代遗址——上山遗址出土的各类水稻遗存,其性质是野生、驯化或者是处于驯化过程中,一直争议颇多,这也导致了关于水稻驯化开始时间的争执。本文利用植硅体分析对浙江浦江上山遗址南区剖面距今10000年至历史时期的文化层堆积物进行了研究。通过对提取出的水稻扇形植硅体进行形态测量和鱼鳞状纹饰的计数,结果发现,扇形植硅体的形态测量参数——长、宽和b/a值(扇形植硅体扇柄长度/扇面长度),在过去一万年间的变化呈无序状态;具有大于等于9个鱼鳞状纹饰的扇形植硅体,占扇形植硅体总量的比例越来越大,从上山文化早期的34.98%上升到河姆渡文化时期的44.68%,进而达到春秋战国时期的59.18%和唐宋时期的78.72%,反映了水稻漫长的驯化过程。通过与野生稻田扇形植硅体的对比,我们认为,上山文化时期水稻驯化已经开始;通过与现代稻田扇形植硅体的对比,我们认为,唐宋时期水稻扇形植硅体特征已与现代种植水稻扇形植硅体相同。     

STARCH RESIDUES FROM SHELL TOOLS FROM SITES OF XIANRENDONG AND DIAOTONGHUAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PALEOCLIMATE

江西万年仙人洞和吊桶环遗址是中国长江中游鄱阳湖流域旧石器时期(20～ 12kaB.P.)的重要遗址,出土有大量的蚌器.本文对两处遗址旧石器晚期地层(大约20～19ka cal.B.P.)出土的两件蚌器表层残留物中的淀粉粒进行了提取和鉴定.在可鉴定的202颗古代淀粉粒中,几乎全部来自小麦族和黍族,很可能是小麦族冰草属(Agropyron)、山羊草属(Aegilops)、小麦属(Triticum)和大麦属(Hordeum)中的某些植物,以及黍族狗尾草属(Setaria)的某些植物.中国现有上述几个属的小麦族植物,除了小麦、大麦和黑麦等被人类种植的物种以外,主要分布在新疆、内蒙西北、甘青地区以及西藏等温干的地区.仙人洞和吊桶环出土蚌器上的古代淀粉粒组合暗示了末次冰盛期江西北部可能存在以禾草为主的草本植物群落.蚌器表面淀粉粒残留验证了蚌器具有收割植物的功能.蚌器表面淀粉粒保存几率的差异也证实了不同埋藏环境对淀粉粒残留物保存有着十分重要的影响,较为封闭的遗址环境中器物表面的淀粉粒可以得到更好的保存.     

Ovi-caprid dung as an indicator of paleovegetation and paleoclimate in northwestern China

Diverse palynomorphs and phytoliths recovered from coprolites of ovi-caprids (sheep, goat) collected from Yang-Hai Tomb at Xinjiang Province, China, have been used to elucidate the dietary pattern of ancient livestock and to reconstruct the paleovegetation and paleoclimate of this part of northwest China ca. 2500 ¹⁴C yr BP. Palynological and phytolith data suggest that a rich dry temperate vegetation prevailed in the area during the said period. Climatic conditions and grassland vegetation type of the area are explored using phytolith indices.     

植物微体化石分析揭示阿敦乔鲁遗址古人生存策略

新疆地区是史前游牧文化与农业文化交融的重要区域,而地处新疆西天山地区的阿敦乔鲁青铜时代遗址,是古代人类活动、文化发展与演化过程的重要时空节点。但是目前对该遗址古人生存策略,尤其是对于当时人们的饮食结构和遗址的季节性使用的认识,存在不同观点。本研究通过对阿敦乔鲁遗址中房址内堆积物、羊粪化石以及遗址周边现代羊粪、自然地层进行植硅体、孢粉分析,发现了农作物植硅体以黍(Panicum miliaceum)和麦类作物的稃片为主,遗址使用后期出现少量的粟(Setaria italica),揭示了该遗址农作物组成以黍、大/小麦(Hordeum spp./Triticum spp.)为主,兼有粟的混合结构。在秋季(9月份)采集的现代羊粪中,孢粉种类(24个科/属)和浓度(平均65533粒/g)显著高于羊粪化石的孢粉种类(9个科/属)和浓度(平均27189粒/g),且现代羊粪以蒿属(Artemisia)植物(7~10月开花结籽)花粉为主(平均54.95%),羊粪化石中蒿属植物花粉仅有19.20%。来自早熟禾亚科(Pooideae)种子稃片的植硅体,在现代羊粪中的含量(平均3.62%)显著低于在羊粪化石中的含量(平均13.84%),羊粪孢粉和植硅体分析结果,揭示了阿敦乔鲁遗址羊类放牧时间应该处于花期结束后,植物已结籽的秋-冬季节,为阿敦乔鲁遗址冬季牧场的性质提供了植物学证据。同时房址内火塘、活动面和储藏间的堆积中植硅体组合与羊粪化石植硅体组合接近,暗示了羊粪可能被大量收集储藏,作为主要的铺垫物和冬季燃料使用。研究结果对于深化青铜时代以来新疆西天山地区古人生存策略、食物结构等的认识具有重要的推动作用。     

Effect of fire on phytolith coloration

Dark‐colored phytoliths are often found preserved in paleosols and archaeological sediments. Some practitioners believe these darkened phytoliths provide evidence of fire histories, while others suggest alternative reasons for their occurrence. This study examines the effect of fire on phytolith appearance and discusses the extent to which color may be used as proxy evidence for fire. The results of this study demonstrate that under oxidative conditions of openair fire, the color of phytoliths can be altered, although dark‐colored phytoliths also occur naturally in some unburned plant species. Despite some overlap observed between burned and unburned color in phytoliths, clear differences are apparent in the way this color appears optically. In particular, transparent and opalescent qualities were found to occur in nature as opposed to a dull opaque appearance of charred phytoliths. Although fire‐induced color change is probably limited to a portion of the phytolith assemblage, phytolith color remains a tool that can be confidently used to indicate the presence of fire in various sedimentary contexts. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

植硅体化学组成研究进展

现代植物植硅体化学组成研究有利于揭示植硅体的化学组成与细胞形态、植物种类及植物生长环境之间的关系,认识植硅体形成机制、植物分类及生态意义。植硅体化学组成测试方法多种多样,主要涉及植硅体化学元素组成及Si、O和C元素同位素组成测定,研究表明植硅体主要含二氧化硅和水,封闭有少量的有机成分及多种矿质元素。在植硅体封闭有机成分存在形式,部分元素的形成、迁移等循环机理,稳定碳同位素组成、分布及其生态指示意义以及^14C测年研究等方面取得一定认识。植物种类、组织部位、细胞微环境以及植物生长的环境因子能够影响植硅体的化学组成。植硅体化学组成研究对植硅体形成机制及碳、硅等元素循环具有重要意义,植硅体部分化学元素、植硅体稳定同位素组成及^14C测年具有较好的古环境及考古研究潜力。现代植物植硅体化学组成及其与环境因子的关系,以及植硅体电子探针微区研究有待于进一步深入开展。     

Assessing modern arboreal phytolith sensitivity to vegetation variations in temperate forest regions

To assess the reliability of arboreal phytoliths for differentiating vegetation types in temperate forest regions, we systematically analysed arboreal leaf phytoliths from 72 arboreal plants and 49 modern soils from three forest types in northeast China. The arboreal leaf phytolith production and morphotypes were highly variable between species. The arboreal leaf phytolith assemblages could clearly distinguish between broadleaf and coniferous species, but they were much less successful in differentiating broadleaved trees into subtaxa. Coniferous leaf morphotypes were successfully used to differentiate coniferous trees into families and subtaxa, especially in the Pinaceae. Two diagnostic broadleaved and six coniferous phytolith morphotypes were recognized within the modern soil beneath forest ecosystems. These arboreal phytoliths comprised up to 10–15% of the total soil phytoliths, and were dominated by coniferous types. Arboreal phytolith concentrations and phytolith assemblages in the soils fluctuated substantially amongst the three forest types. Soil arboreal phytolith assemblages were successfully used to differentiate samples from Larix mixed forest, broadleaf forest and Pinus koraiensis mixed forest. In addition, the arboreal index quantitatively distinguished the three forest types, with B/BE values <0.4 for Larix mixed forest samples, values from 0.4 to 0.6 for broadleaf forest samples, and values from 0.6 to 0.9 for P. koraiensis mixed forest. Thus, our surface soil arboreal phytolith assemblages and arboreal index are a useful reference for differentiating forest ecotypes, and they also provide reliable analogues for arboreal phytoliths from palaeoecological contexts in temperate forest regions.     

长白山区湿地表土植硅体特征及其环境意义*

湿地在全球环境变化中扮演着十分重要的角色,湿地表土中的植硅体分析是恢复第四纪古环境的重要途径。文中选取长白山区的桦南到哈尼一线的6处湿地表土,并采用PCA和CA分析植硅体组合的环境指示意义,结果显示：温度因子是造成长白山不同湿地表土植硅体组合差异的第1环境因子,且植硅体的种类和含量与采样点上覆植被、湿度与海拔等环境条件都存在相关性。结合方差分析和植硅体大小变化趋势分析曲线可以看出,不同表土中符合方差分析条件的植硅体类型的大小随着温度的升高而增大。总体来看,长白山区6处湿地中,植硅体类型基本相同,但温暖指数和植硅体的大小差异较显著,说明植硅体大小及其组合对温度都有较敏感的响应。     

内蒙古苏尼特左旗古人类遗存点的发现及意义

内蒙古中北部是一个重要的古人类活动区，从１９９２年至１９９４年笔者在该区发现了１３处古人类遗存点，获得了大量的石器，包括３７７３件打制石器和１５８件磨制石器。这些材料具有十分重要的研究价值。本文对石器进行了分类，并对石器的时代及当时的环境特点进行了探讨。     

Simultaneous thin section and phytolith observations of finely stratified deposits from Neolithic Çatalhöyük,Turkey: implications for paleoeconomy and Early Holocene paleoenvironment

Simultaneous thin section and phytolith observations of finely stratified anthropogenic deposits from the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, dated between 7400 and 6000 BC provide evidence for both the depositional context and phytolith assemblage of these deposits. Although extracted phytoliths provide a general picture of vegetation that supports existing evidence of a local wet marshland environment, comparisons with observations of phytoliths in situ indicate a diverse range of microcontexts, as well as depositional and post‐depositional processes that influence phytolith size. This has implications for studies that use conjoined phytolith size as a proxy for water availability and early agricultural practices. Observations indicate a significant background noise of phytoliths and micro‐charcoal in the deposits, linked to the frequent use of fire, which has implications for interpreting assemblages where phytolith counts are low, such as from floors of buildings. This study confirms the usefulness of phytoliths in providing information on human plant use and environment where the taphonomy of the deposits is clear, and provides new evidence for wet farming of at least some of the wheat found at the site. It also suggests there needs to be greater consideration of phytolith taphonomy, which can be provided to an extent by combining phytolith analysis with thin section micromorphology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phytolith reference study for identifying vegetation changes in the forest−grassland region of northeast China

To provide a basis for tracing changes in vegetation and tree cover density, we studied the phytoliths of 129 common temperate plant species, and extracted the phytoliths from 75 surface soil samples from sites in grassland, forest−grassland ecotone and forest habitats in northeast China. From the analysis of shapes and morphological parameters of the plant samples, we developed a reference data set of herbaceous and woody phytoliths, and subsequently identified 21 herbaceous and 13 woody phytolith types in the surface soil samples. To test the reliability of soil phytolith analysis for distinguishing forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, we used principal components analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) to summarize the soil phytolith assemblage characteristics of the different ecosystems. The results show that the grassland and forest samples are characterized by abundant herbaceous and woody phytoliths, respectively; and that forest−grassland ecotone habitats are characterized by low abundances of blocky polyhedral, multifaceted epidermal and sclereid phytoliths. In general, the surface soil phytolith assemblages can reliably differentiate samples from forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, with up to 92% of the samples classified correctly. We also tested the reliability of phytolith indices (W/G (1), W/G (2), W/G (3)) for discriminating different vegetation types in our study area, and found that W/G (2) was the most reliable index and corresponded well with the species inventory data. The W/G values for grassland ranged from 0 to 0.3, from 0.3 to 0.6 for the forest−grassland ecotone, and exceeded 0.6 for forest. We conclude that our study provides reliable analogues for phytolith assemblages from palaeoecological contexts, which can be used to reconstruct shifts in forest−grassland ecotones and vegetation succession in temperate areas.     

Estimating phytolith influx in lake sediments

So far, no phytolith extraction protocols have been tested for accuracy and repeatability. Here we aim to display a phytolith extraction method combining the strengths of two widely used protocols, supplemented with silica microspheres as exogenous markers for quantifying phytolith concentrations. Phytolith concentrations were estimated for samples from two sedimentary sequences in which numerical age–depth models make it possible to calculate phytolith influxes (phytolith numbers per cm²per yr). Analysis of replicates confirmed the statistical robustness, the repeatability and the very few biases of our extraction technique for small phytoliths, since the relationship between grass silica short cells and microspheres was kept stable. Furthermore, we demonstrated that silica microspheres are robust exogenous markers for estimating phytolith concentrations. The minimum number of items (i.e., phytoliths plus silica microspheres) that must be counted to estimate phytolith concentrations and thus influxes depends on the ratio of phytoliths to microspheres (R) and is minimized when R = 1. Nevertheless, we recommend using ratios R ≤ 1 in order to avoid having the counting process become excessively time-consuming, because microspheres are easier to identify and count than phytoliths.