先商文化一直是学术界探索的重点,商代文明的诸多特征在先商文化时期已萌芽或得到加强。然而,对这一时期的经济与生业模式,相关研究尚有欠缺。本文对河南安阳鄣邓遗址先商文化时期的大植物遗存进行了分析,结果表明,粟是该时期先民最重要的作物,黍其次;小麦、大豆已被利用,但只是处于辅助地位。这些是先商文化时期农业的最直接证据,与文献记载及考古研究得出的先商农业发展状况基本一致。发轫于河北中部地区的商族最初的生计方式为渔猎畜牧,在南下的过程中逐渐学习并采纳了中原地区的生计方式,这对商族的发展壮大起到了积极的推动作用。

The Pre-Shang culture of ancient northern China(4000-3600 BP) is not well known, though it is root of the famous early Chinese dynasty- the Shang dynasty (3600-3046 BP cal) and agriculture, walled cities as well as other significant aspects of the Shang culture appeared or were significantly intensified during this period. In particular, little is known about the economy and subsistence practices during this period. The Pre-Shang deposits are dominant in the Zhangdeng site of Henan Province, northern China. Moreover, these deposits have been classified as the Zhanghe variant, which is considered the mainbody of the Pre-Shang culture. We present here archaeobotanical data from the Pre-Shang Zhangdeng site (3750-3600 BP cal). Our results indicate a strong reliance on foxtail millet (Setaria italica (Linn.) P. Beauv.) with minor components of common millet (Panicum miliaceum Linn.). Other domesticated species (wheat and soybean) were also consumed. The material recovered from the Zhangdeng site provides the first evidence confirming the expected patterns for the use of early domesticates in the Pre-Shang culture. Originating from central Hebei Province, the Pre-Shang people have undergone a transition of the subsistence strategy from living basically a nomadic life to adopting agriculture of the central plains in the southward migration, which probably has facilitated the development of the Shang tribe greatly.