Diet along the eastern Silk Roads: an isotopic case study of ancient humans and livestock from the Han-Jin Dynasties in the Lop Nur region, northwest China

• Published in: Archaeological and anthropological sciences Vol. 16; no. 10; p. 163
• Main Authors: Wang, Xueye, Li, Kangkang, Wei, Dong, Zhang, Guiying, Hu, Xingjun, Feng, Jing, Jiao, Yingxin, Xu, Bing, Qin, Xiaoguang, Oelze, Vicky M., Tang, Zihua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal manures; Animal products; Animals; Anthropology; Archaeology; Bronze Age; Carbon; Case studies; Cemeteries; Chemistry/Food Science; Climatic conditions; Collagen; Consumption; Cultural heritage; Dental enamel; Diet; Dynasties; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Food; Food consumption; Geography; Geology; Geophysics; Herbivores; Human remains; Isotopes; Life Sciences; Livestock; Millet; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Nitrogen; Prehistoric humans; Regions; Rural areas; Social integration; Lop Nur; China; Paleodiets; Stable isotope analyses; Dentine collagen; Enamel carbonates; Ancient Silk Roads
• ISSN: 1866-9557; 1866-9565
• DOI: 10.1007/s12520-024-02068-4

As a crossroad of the ancient Silk Roads, the historic Lop Nur population of northwest China witnessed substantial cultural integration among the Han, Xiongnu, and Western Regions communities known as the ancient Loulan. However, the dietary practices of the Loulan population remains poorly understood due to the challenging, harsh environment for sampling. Here, we present human and faunal multi-isotope data from a simple-constructed cemetery dating to the Han-Jin Dynasties (130–320 AD). The results show that herbivores exhibited exceptionally high δ 15 N values, ranging from 10.2‰ to 15.5‰. Combined with regional climate conditions and direct evidence of extensive deposits of archeological animal manure found in Loulan sites, this phenomenon can be interpreted as indicative of extreme regional aridity and intensive fertilization. Humans had mixed C 3 /C 4 -based diets and relied on animal products. Our study indicates greater millet consumption among rural individuals compared to other more urban Loulan people. Additionally, our research reveals a much higher dietary diversity coupled with millet consumption of Loulan people in comparison to local Bronze Age communities.