Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:36:54.077Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The emergence of agriculture in southern China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Zhang Chi
Affiliation:
1School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
Hsiao-chun Hung
Affiliation:
2School of Archaeology and Anthropology, A.D. Hope Building 14, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

Abstract

The authors give us a newly documented account of the dissemination of agriculture, and rice cultivation in particular, into southern China and beyond. From the central and eastern Yangtze it spread in two prongs – east to Guangdong, Taiwan and island Southeast Asia and south to Guangxi and Vietnam.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AMO, Hong Kong & IA, Henan 2004. Excava tions at zone C02 and DII02 i n Shaxia, Hong Kong. Huaxia Kaogu [Ancient Chinese Archaeology] 4: 347 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ. 2000. Excavations at Jiangkou in Hengxian, Guangxi. Kaogu 1: 1221 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ. 2004. Excavations at Nanshawan in Xiangzhou, 1999-2000, in ATGZ (ed.) Guangxi Kaogu Wenji [Essays on Guangxi archaeology] 1: 176191. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ & Cultural Relics Committee of Ziyuan. 2004. Excavations at Xiaojin in Ziyuan, Gangxi. Kaogu 3: 730 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ & Hengxian Museum. 2006. Excavations at Qiujiang in Hengxian, Guangxi, in ATGZ (ed.) Guangxi Kaogu Wenji [Essays on Guangxi archaeology] 2: 144187. Beijing: Science (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ & Napo Musuem. 2003. Excavations at Gantuoyan in Napo, Guangxi. Kaogu 10: 3556 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATGZ, Nanning Museum & Wuming Institute of Culture and Relics. 2006. Cave burials at Bawang & Nongshan in Wuming, Guangxi, in ATGZ (ed.) Guangxi Kaogu Wenji [Essays on Guangxi archaeology] 2: 206237. Beijing: Science (in Chinese).Google Scholar
ATTGZ. 1975. Neolithic shell middens in Nanning, Guangxi. Kaogu 5: 295301 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Bellwood, P. 2005. First farmers Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Bellwood, P. & Dizon, E.. 2008 Austronesian cultural origins, in Sanchez-Mazas, A., Blench, R., Ross, M.D., Peiros, I. & Lin, M. (ed.) Past human migrations in East Asia: 2339. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Bu, G. 1999. Chronologies and genealogies of the Late Neolithic at the mouth of the Pearl River. Wenwu 11: 4856 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Chang, K.C. 1969. Fengpitou, Tapenkeng and the prehistory of Taiwan. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Chao, C.Y. 1994. Excavations at Changguang in Taidon. Unpublished MA dissertation, National Taiwan University (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Chen, J. 2007. Boxi, Yingpanshan and Shawudu – the cultural development of Neolithic cultures in the Upper Min River. Kaogu Yu Wenwu [Archaeology and Cultural Relics] 5: 6570 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Chen, Y.Z. 2006. Dalongtan assemblages in southern Guangxi, in IA, CASS (ed.) Prehistoric archaeology of South China and Southeast Asia: 409420. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Chen, Z.S. 2006. Ten years of discoveries from prehistoric Fujian, 1996-2005. Journal of the Zhejiang Institute of Archaeology 8: 275283 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Committee of Relics in the Tibet Autonomous Region & Department of History, Sichuan University. 1985. Karuo in Changdu. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Crawford, G.W. & Chen, S.. 1998. The origins of rice agriculture: recent progress in East Asia. Antiquity 73: 858866.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diamond, J. & Bellwood, P.. 2003. Farmers and their languages: the first expansions. Science 300: 597603.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fuller, D., Harvey, E. & Qin, L.. 2007. Presumed domestication? Evidence for wild rice cultivation and domestication in the fifth millennium BC of the lower Yangtze region. Antiquity 81: 316331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuller, D., Qin, L., Zheng, Y., Zhao, Z., Chen, X., Hosoya, L.A. & Sun, G.P.. 2009. The domestication process and domestication rate in rice: spikelet bases from the Lower Yangtze. Science 323: 16071610.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glover, I. & Higham, C.. 1996. New evidence for early rice cultivation, in Harris, D. (ed.) The origins and spread of agriculture and pastoralism in Eurasia: 412441. London: UCL Press.Google Scholar
Guangxi Team, IA, CASS, ATGZ & Nanning Museum. 1998. Excavations at Dingsishan in Yongning, Guangxi. Kaogu 11: 1133 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Guangxi Team, IA, CASS & ATGZ. 2003. Excavations at Baozitou in Nanning, Guangxi. Kaogu 10: 2234 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
He, G. 1997. Cultural relations of the middle-late Neolithic between the northern and southern Nanling Mountains, in the Association of Chinese Archaeology (ed.) The Ninth Annual Conference of Chinese Archaeology Association: 175194. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
He, G. & Chen, L.W.. 2007. Gaomiao and its influence and dispersal to other regions. Nanfang Wenwu 2: 5160 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Higham, C. 1996. The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Higham, C. 2002. Language and farming dispersals: Austroasiatic language and rice cultivation, in Bellwood, P. & Renfrew, C. (ed.) Examining the farming/language dispersal hypothesis: 223232. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Higham, C. 2004. Mainland Southeast Asia from the Neolithic to the Iron Age, in Glover, I. & Bellwood, P. (ed.) Southeast Asia: from prehistory to history: 4167. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Higham, C. & Higham, T.. 2009. A new chronological framework for prehistoric Southeast Asia, based on a Bayesian model from Ban Non Wat. Antiquity 83: 125144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higham, C. & Lu, T.L.D.. 1998. The origin and dispersal of rice cultivation. Antiquity 72: 867877.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, S.C. 1984. Excavations at Zhishanyan. Taipei: Taipei Committee of Documents (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Hung, H.C. 2005. Neolithic interaction between Taiwan and northern Luzon. Journal of Austronesian Studies 1(1): 109133.Google Scholar
Hung, H.C. 2008. Migration and cultural interaction in southern coastal China, Taiwan and the northern Philippines, 3000 BC to AD 100: the early history of the Austronesian-speaking populations. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Australian National University.Google Scholar
IA of CASS (ed.). 1991. 14C dates from Chinese archaeology, 1965-1991. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
IA of CASS, ATGZ, Zengpiyan Museum in Guilin, Archaeological Team of Guilin. 2003. Zengpiyan. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
IA, Guangdong. 2000. A century of Gangdong archaeology. Kaogu 6: 110 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
IA, Guangdong & Fengkai Museum. 1998. Excavations at Leizhukao, Fengkai in Guangdong. Wenwu 7: 3841 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
IA, Guizhou, Department of History, Sichuan University & Institute of Relic Preservation and Management, Weining. 2006. Excavations at Jigongshan, Weining, Guizhou in 2004. Kaogu 8: 1127 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Jiang, L. & Liu, L.. 2006. New evidence for the origins of sedentism and rice domestication in the Lower Yangtzi River, China. Antiquity 80: 355361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, K.C. 1985. Archaeological investigations in Kenting National Park at the southern tip of Taiwan. Taipei: National Taiwan University (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Li, X.Q., Zhou, X.Y., Zhang, H.B., Zhou, J., Shang, X. & Dodson, J.. 2007. 5000 BP rice remains in northwest China. Chinese Science Bulletin 52(6): 673678 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Li, Z. & Yang, K.. 2006. Cave burials at Longshan and Bawang in Wuming, Guangxi and related problems, in IA of CASS (ed.) Prehistoric archaeology of south China and Southeast Asia: 421434. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Lin, G.W. 2005. The Neolithic in coastal Fujian. Fujian Wenbo 4: 4150 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Liu, Y.C. & Guo, S.Q.. 2005. The significance of Fukuodun in Jinmen, in Chen, J.C.Y. & Pan, J.G. (ed.) The archaeology of the southeast coastal islands of China conference: 135195. Mazu: County Government (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Londo, J.P., Chiang, Y.C., Hung, K.H., Chiang, T.Y. & Schaal, B.A.. 2006. Phylogeography of Asian wild rice, Oryza rufipogon, reveals multiple independent domestications of cultivated rice, Oryza sativa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 103: 95789583.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lu, L.D., Zhao, Z.J. & Zheng, Z.. 2005. The prehistoric and historic environments, vegetations and subsistence strategies at Sha Ha, Sai Kung, in AMO, Hong Kong (ed.) The ancient culture of Hong Kong: archaeological discoveries in Sha Ha, Sai Kung: 5764. Hong Kong: AMO of Hong Kong.Google Scholar
Meacham, W. 1978. Shenwan, Lamma Island. Journal of the Hong Kong Archaeological Society 3: 1293.Google Scholar
Nasu, H., Momohara, A. & Yasuda, Y.. 2007a. Habitats of rice cultivation from plant macrofossil assemblages at Chengtoushan, in He, J.J. & Yasuda, Y. (ed.) Chengtoushan in Lixian: 9097. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Nasu, H., Momohara, A., Yasuda, Y. & He, J.. 2007b. The occurrence and identification of Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) grains from the Chengtoushan site (ca. 5800 cal BP) in central China, with reference to the domestication centre in Asia. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 16(6): 481494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nishitani, M. 1997. The Neolithic in coastal southern China. Bulletin of the National Museum of Japanese History 70: 156 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
Nguyen, V.T. 2006. Da But in Vietnam, in IA of CASS(ed.) Prehistoric archaeology of South China and Southeast Asia: 341346. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Pei, A.P. 1999. Xiantouling assemblage in the Zhu estuary. Dongnan Kaogu Yanjiu [Study of Southeast Archaeology] 2: 117128 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Piper, P., Hung, H.C., Campos, F.Z., Bellwood, P. & Santiago, R.. 2009. A 4000 year-old introduction of domestic pigs into the Philippine archipelago: implications for understanding routes of human migration through Island Southeast Asia and Wallacea. Antiquity 83: 687695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Relics from the South. 2007. New discoveries from the south in 2006. Nanfang Wenwu 4: 29 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Rispoli, F. 2007. The incised and impressed pottery style of Mainland Southeast Asia: following the paths of Neolithization. East and West 57(1-4): 235304.Google Scholar
Snow, B.E., Shutler, R., Nelson, D.E., Vogel, J.S. & Southon, J.R. 1986. Evidence of early rice cultivation in the Philippines. Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society 14: 311.Google Scholar
Tong, E.Z. 2004. Nanfang Wenming [Southern civilization]. Chongqing: Chongqing (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Tsang, C.H. 1999. Archaeology of Taiwan. Taipei: Council for Cultural Affairs (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Tsang, C.H. 2007. Recent archaeological discoveries in Taiwan and northern Luzon, in Chiu, S. & Sand, C. (ed.) From Southeast Asia to the Pacific: 75103. Taipei: Academia Sinica.Google Scholar
Tsang, C.H., Li, K.T. & Chu, C.Y.. 2006. Xian Min Lu Ji [Footprints of our ancestors]. Tainan: County Government (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Wang, W.L. 2003. Banpo and the related problems, in Province Administration of Cultural Heritage in Shanxi, IA in Shanxi & Banpo Museum (ed.) Zhongguo Shiqian Kaoguxu Yanjiu [Archaeological Studies of Chinese Prehistory: Papers in Honour of Professor Shi Xing-bang]: 203. Xian: Sanqin (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Xiang, A.Q. 2005. Archaeological research on prehistoric rice farming in Guangdong. Agricultural Archaeology 2005(1): 149155 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Xiang, A.Q. & Yao, J.H.. 2006. Cultivated rice in Xinghuahe. Nongye Kaogu [Agricultural Archaeology] 1: 3345 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Xiao, M.H. 2001. A brief report on Yunnan archaeology. Kaogu 12: 315 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yan, W.M. 1989. Rethinking the origins of rice agriculture. Nongye Kaogu [Agricultural Archaeology] 2: 7283 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yang, S.T. 1978. Cultivated rice in Shixia. Wenwu 7: 2328 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yang, S.T. 1998. The Neolithic cultural relation between Guangdong and its surrounding regions, in Yang, S.T. (ed.) Lingnan Wenwu Kaogu Lunji [Lingnan Relic Archaeology Papers]: 271281. Guangzhou: Guangdong Ditu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Yuan, J., Flad, R. & Luo, Y.B.. 2008. Meat–acquisition patterns in the Neolithic Yangzi river valley, China. Antiquity 82: 351366.Google Scholar
Yunnan Museum. 1981. Baiyangcun in Binchuan, Yunnan. Kaogu Xuebao (Acta Archaeological Sinica) 3: 365366 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhang, C. & Hung, H.-C.. 2008a. The Neolithic of southern China – origin, development and dispersal. Asian Perspectives 47(2): 299329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, C. & Hung, H.-C.. 2008b. The hunter-gatherer groups in southern China and its adjacent regions during the Neolithic. Kaoguxue Yanjiu [Archaeology Studies] 7: 415434 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhang, W.X. & Wang, H.. 2000. Ancient rice in Qingyang, Gansu. Nongye Kaogu [Agricultural Archaeology] 3: 8085 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhang, W.X., Xiang, A.Q., Qiu, L.C. & Yang, S.T.. 2006. Ancient rice from Shixia ruins at Maba of Qujiang in Guangdong Province. Acta Agronomica Sinica 32(11): 16951698 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhao, H. 1999. Geometric impressed pottery in the Pearl River delta, in Xu, Z.Y. & Zhang, Z.P. (ed.) Rethinking cross-century archaeology in China 1: 221250. Hong Kong: The Commercial Press (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhao, Z.J. 1998. The Middle Yangtze region in China is one place where rice was domesticated: phytolith evidence from the Diaotonghuan Cave, Northern Jiangxi. Antiquity 72: 885897.Google Scholar
Zhao, Z.J. 2006. Rethinking the primary agriculture in southern China, in IA, CASS (ed.) Prehistoric archaeology of South China and Southeast Asia: 145156. Beijing: Wenwu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhao, Z.J., Lu, T.L.D. & Fu, X.G.. 2005. Phytoliths from Dingsishan, Yungning, Guangxi. Kaogu 11: 7684 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zheng, Z., Deng, Y., Zhang, H., Yu, R. & Chen, Z.. 2004. Holocene environmental changes in the tropical and subtropical areas of the southern China and the relation to human activities. Quaternary Sciences 24(4): 387393 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhu, F.S. 2001. The cultural relation between Shixia and the Zhu River delta, in IA, Guangdong (ed.) Essays of the Tenth Anniversary of the Institute of Archaeology, Guangdong: 2463. Guangzhou: Lingnan Meishu (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhuhai Museum, IA in Guangdong & Guangdong Museum. 1991. Excavation at Caotangwan in Sanzaodao, in Zhuhai Museum (ed.) Archaeological discovery and research in Zhuhai: 2233. Guangzhou: Guangdong Renmin (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zou, H.B., Gu, J.X., Li, M.C., Tang, L.H., Ding, J.L. & Yao, Q.D.. 2000. Findings in the paddies of Majiabang Culture at Caoxieshan, Jiangsu, in Yan, W.M. & Yasuda, Y. (ed.) The origins of rice agriculture, pottery and cities: 97114. Beijing: Wenwu Press (in Chinese).Google Scholar