Morphological and diet analysis of domesticated animals at the Qianjiaping Site of Gaomiao Culture

Key Points

• The research aims to reveal the level of pig domestication and management strategies during the prehistoric societal transition in southern China.
• Morphological identification of 25 animal skeletal remains from Qianjiaping Site
• Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis
• Measurement of dental size in pigs to identify age and management practices
• Cross-site comparison with other archaeological sites in the Yangtze River region
• Nine pig specimens show a trend of reduced tooth size, indicating age selection in management practices.
• Isotope analysis reveals little dietary difference between domesticated pigs and wild boars, both primarily consuming C3 plants.
• Two dog specimens exhibit enriched δ15N values, suggesting higher nutritional levels in their diets.
• Findings highlight cultural differences in domestication and dietary strategies between regions.