Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (01): 127-134.doi: 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2018.0026

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Ethnic fusion in North China from Han Dynasty to Northern Dynasties: Stable isotope analysis of human bones from the Xitun cemetery, Beijing

ZHU Simei1,2, ZHOU Yawei3, ZHU Hong4, DING Lina5, HU Yaowu6,7,1,2   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    2.Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
    3.Historical and Cultural Heritage Conservation Research Center, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001
    4.Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology of Jilin University, Changchun 130012
    5.Institute of Cultural Relics in Beijing, Beijing, 100009
    6.Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433
    7.Institute of Archaeological Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433
  • Received:2018-02-01 Online:2020-02-15 Published:2020-07-17

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Abstract:

The study of genetic admixture of nomads and farmers is significant in understanding the beginnings of the Chinese nation. Anthropology and historic research on North China give us a variety of information about human admixture and ethnic mixing in this area, and yet during this period, the impact of subsistence strategy shifts on human health is unclear. Stable isotope analysis (C & N) of human bones were undertaken from the Xitun cemetery (~200BC-580AD) located in Yanqing, Beijing, in combination with evidence from morphological study on human skeletons and historical records in order to discuss possible influences of the health of the ancient population when subsistence shifts appeared. Results show that people mostly consumed C4-based foods during both periods, which means millet agriculture played an important role. Compared with people living during in Han Dynasty, residents in the Northern Dynasties had a higher δ 13C value, which could be closely related to agricultural measures implemented by governments during the ethnic mixing process. Increasing females height and changing death statistics in the Northern Dynasties indicate that development of agriculture may have had unexpected effects on people’s health. In our research, stable isotope analysis and physical anthropological methods provide a new aspect in understanding the fusion of mixing of ancient ethnic groups and thus reflect the beginnings of the Chinese nation.

Key words: Ethnicity, Isotopes, Nutrition, Physical anthropology, Cemetery

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