New radiocarbon dates and modeling reveal the prehistoric chronology and multiple interments in the Wulasitai Valley, Middle Tian Shan Region in Hejing County (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China)

Abstract This research presents AMS radiocarbon dating results obtained from recently excavated burials and dwellings at three sites—Xiaxinguang, Wulasitai, and Daxigougoukou—located in the Wulasitai Valley of the Middle Tian Shan Mountains and attributed to the Chawuhu culture. The Bayesian modeling of these data yields a high-resolution chronological framework for Early Iron Age activity in the valley. The results identify a tripartite sequence comprising an Early Stage (cal 900–750 BC), a Middle Stage (cal 750–400 BC), and a Late Stage (cal 400–100 BC), with potential continuity into the turn of the Common Era. The δ 13 C and δ 15 N values suggest C 3 plant–based diets with moderate animal protein intake, though some individuals show nearly pure plant consumption. Furthermore, through the integration of radi ocarbon data and contextual analysis, the research underscores that the Early Stage of the Chawuhu culture was contemporaneous with the Early Iron Age occupations of eastern Kazakhstan and the Altai region. Particular attention is drawn to the significance of residential graves at Xiaxinguang and Daxigougoukou, where child burials were intentionally integrated into domestic architecture, reflecting complex social and ritual practices. Additionally, radiocarbon evidence indicates that the transition from single to multiple interments occurred between the Early and Middle Stages. These discoveries offer important insights into settlement organization, mortuary practices, and cultural dynamics in the region during the Early Iron Age.