Origin of the ash-pit burial people at the Duzhong site in Mianchi, Henan

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0012

Abstract

Abstract:

This study explores the provenance and social affiliations of individuals from the ash-pit burials in the late Yangshao period through multi-isotopic analysis. Systematic isotopic measurements (carbon, nitrogen, strontium, oxygen) were carried out on the skeletal remains of 15 individuals from four burial pits at the Duzhong site in Mianchi County, Henan Province. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of 15 bone samples and 10 dental samples(δ¹³C=-8.4‰±2.7‰, δ¹⁵N=9.0‰±1.0‰; n=25) reveal a predominantly millet-based diet, which is consistent with that of the contemporaneous Central Plains populations. Notably, a comparative analysis of intra-individual bone and dental isotope values shows significant dietary shifts from childhood to adulthood, potentially reflecting changes in lifestyle or living environment. The similarity of strontium and oxygen isotope values of bone samples (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.71210±0.00004, δ¹⁸O=-7.8‰±0.5‰; n=9) indicates that all the individuals spent their last few years at the same site. However, the significant variation in tooth values shows that most male individuals did not grow up locally and had spent their youth in different areas. They might have migrated to the current site from the plains in the east or some areas close to the sea, which is consistent with the direction of cultural factor origins reflected in cranial morphology and tooth-extraction customs. Individuals buried in the same pit include both locals and non-locals. Some non-locals in the same pit share similar dietary patterns and migration paths, indicating a close relationship among them and suggesting that they might belong to a certain form of social-organization unit. The traumatic injuries observed on the skulls of certain individuals suggest that these migration events may have involved elements of violence. In addition, the high frequency of human migration observed among the individuals from the late Yangshao ash-pit burials differentiates this mortuary practice from conventional rectangular-pit interments. Male individuals were more likely to be involved in migration events compared to females, which might be related to the marital customs. These findings provide important clues for further research on the nature of late Yangshao period ash-pit burials and cultural exchanges between the Central Plains and the eastern areas. Moreover, this study also demonstrates the value of multiple-isotopic analysis methods in prehistoric archaeological research.

Key words: Duzhong site, ash-pit burials, isotope analysis, human migration

CLC Number:

K878.05/O615.2

ZHOU Ligang, WU Zhijiang, SUN Lei, DU Yue, HAN Weiwei, WU Xiaotong. Origin of the ash-pit burial people at the Duzhong site in Mianchi, Henan[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2026, 45(01): 59-73.

Figures/Tables 9

References 49

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个体编号Number	性别Sex	年龄Age(y)	样品部位Sample	δ¹³C	δ¹⁵N	C	N	C:N	产出比例 Collagen yield
MDH23	男	20±	犬齿	-14.0‰	10.2‰	43.1%	15.4%	3.3	7.4%
MDH23	男	20±	肋骨	-16.0‰	9.8‰	45.2%	16.3%	3.2	14.4%
MDH69-1	男	<18	门齿	-6.6‰	9.8‰	43.2%	15.6%	3.2	8.7%
MDH69-1	男	<18	肋骨	-10.3‰	9.6‰	42.7%	15.5%	3.2	5.1%
MDH69-2	女	40~45	门齿	-7.2‰	8.9‰	43.4%	15.6%	3.2	5.1%
MDH69-2	女	40~45	肋骨	-7.4‰	8.0‰	43.0%	15.5%	3.2	6.1%
MDH69-3	女	40±	门齿	-7.7‰	8.6‰	42.7%	15.3%	3.2	8.0%
MDH69-3	女	40±	肋骨	-7.0‰	9.0‰	44.7%	16.1%	3.2	16.4%
MDH69-4	男	20±	门齿	-8.1‰	9.5‰	43.3%	15.6%	3.2	9.4%
MDH69-4	男	20±	肋骨	-7.1‰	10.1‰	42.8%	15.4%	3.3	5.2%
MDH69-5	男	40~45	门齿	-7.7‰	9.4‰	43.2%	15.6%	3.2	9.8%
MDH69-5	男	40~45	肋骨	-7.4‰	8.8‰	42.3%	15.3%	3.2	6.6%
MDH69-6	男	35~40	肋骨	-7.0‰	9.1‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	5.3%
MDH82-1	男	18±	臼齿	-7.4‰	9.6‰	42.9%	15.5%	3.2	6.8%
MDH82-1	男	18±	肋骨	-10.1‰	9.5‰	43.3%	15.6%	3.2	5.6%
MDH82-2	男	20±	门齿	-6.6‰	7.0‰	42.7%	15.4%	3.2	4.7%
MDH82-2	男	20±	肋骨	-8.4‰	7.3‰	43.4%	15.6%	3.2	4.8%
MDH82-3	男	20±	掌骨	-7.2‰	7.6‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	6.1%
MDH82-4	女	35±	肋骨	-7.9‰	8.3‰	42.5%	15.2%	3.2	7.7%
MDH87-1	男	35±	门齿	-6.5‰	11.1‰	42.4%	15.4%	3.2	10.2%
MDH87-1	男	35±	掌骨	-7.2‰	8.1‰	43.9%	15.8%	3.2	8.7%
MDH87-2	男	25±	门齿	-6.5‰	9.1‰	43.6%	15.7%	3.2	9.3%
MDH87-2	男	25±	肋骨	-7.0‰	8.3‰	41.5%	15.2%	3.2	4.6%
MDH87-3	男	25~30	肋骨	-15.5‰	10.3‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	4.5%
MDH87-4	男	18±	肋骨	-7.5‰	8.4‰	43.0%	15.6%	3.2	5.2%

个体编号Number	性别Sex	年龄Age(y)	样品部位Sample	δ¹³C	δ¹⁵N	C	N	C:N	产出比例 Collagen yield
MDH23	男	20±	犬齿	-14.0‰	10.2‰	43.1%	15.4%	3.3	7.4%
MDH23	男	20±	肋骨	-16.0‰	9.8‰	45.2%	16.3%	3.2	14.4%
MDH69-1	男	<18	门齿	-6.6‰	9.8‰	43.2%	15.6%	3.2	8.7%
MDH69-1	男	<18	肋骨	-10.3‰	9.6‰	42.7%	15.5%	3.2	5.1%
MDH69-2	女	40~45	门齿	-7.2‰	8.9‰	43.4%	15.6%	3.2	5.1%
MDH69-2	女	40~45	肋骨	-7.4‰	8.0‰	43.0%	15.5%	3.2	6.1%
MDH69-3	女	40±	门齿	-7.7‰	8.6‰	42.7%	15.3%	3.2	8.0%
MDH69-3	女	40±	肋骨	-7.0‰	9.0‰	44.7%	16.1%	3.2	16.4%
MDH69-4	男	20±	门齿	-8.1‰	9.5‰	43.3%	15.6%	3.2	9.4%
MDH69-4	男	20±	肋骨	-7.1‰	10.1‰	42.8%	15.4%	3.3	5.2%
MDH69-5	男	40~45	门齿	-7.7‰	9.4‰	43.2%	15.6%	3.2	9.8%
MDH69-5	男	40~45	肋骨	-7.4‰	8.8‰	42.3%	15.3%	3.2	6.6%
MDH69-6	男	35~40	肋骨	-7.0‰	9.1‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	5.3%
MDH82-1	男	18±	臼齿	-7.4‰	9.6‰	42.9%	15.5%	3.2	6.8%
MDH82-1	男	18±	肋骨	-10.1‰	9.5‰	43.3%	15.6%	3.2	5.6%
MDH82-2	男	20±	门齿	-6.6‰	7.0‰	42.7%	15.4%	3.2	4.7%
MDH82-2	男	20±	肋骨	-8.4‰	7.3‰	43.4%	15.6%	3.2	4.8%
MDH82-3	男	20±	掌骨	-7.2‰	7.6‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	6.1%
MDH82-4	女	35±	肋骨	-7.9‰	8.3‰	42.5%	15.2%	3.2	7.7%
MDH87-1	男	35±	门齿	-6.5‰	11.1‰	42.4%	15.4%	3.2	10.2%
MDH87-1	男	35±	掌骨	-7.2‰	8.1‰	43.9%	15.8%	3.2	8.7%
MDH87-2	男	25±	门齿	-6.5‰	9.1‰	43.6%	15.7%	3.2	9.3%
MDH87-2	男	25±	肋骨	-7.0‰	8.3‰	41.5%	15.2%	3.2	4.6%
MDH87-3	男	25~30	肋骨	-15.5‰	10.3‰	43.1%	15.5%	3.2	4.5%
MDH87-4	男	18±	肋骨	-7.5‰	8.4‰	43.0%	15.6%	3.2	5.2%

个体编号Number	样品种类Sample	⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr	SE	δ¹⁸O_VPDB
MDH23	犬齿	0.71208	0.000010	-3.1‰
MDH23	肋骨	0.71205	0.000010	-6.8‰
MDH69-1	齿冠	0.71308	0.000009	-8.3‰
MDH69-1	肋骨	0.71214	0.000009	-7.9‰
MDH69-3	门齿	0.71194	0.000010	-8.0‰
MDH69-3	肋骨	0.71208	0.000009	-8.4‰
MDH69-4	肋骨	0.71212	0.000010	-7.5‰
MDH69-4	门齿	0.71140	0.000009	-5.1‰
MDH69-5	门齿	0.71152	0.000010	-5.5‰
MDH69-5	肋骨	0.71203	0.000008	-7.7‰
MDH69-6	臼齿	0.71141	0.000010	-5.6‰
MDH69-6	肋骨	0.71211	0.000008	-8.2‰
MDH82-1	齿冠	0.71203	0.000009	-9.1‰
MDH82-2	肋骨	0.71213	0.000009	-7.6‰
MDH82-2	门齿	0.71148	0.000011	-5.0‰
MDH87-1	门齿	0.71172	0.000011	-8.4‰
MDH87-1	掌骨	0.71207	0.000008	-7.9‰
MDH87-2	门齿	0.71259	0.000010	-5.2‰
MDH87-2	肋骨	0.71215	0.000009	-8.6‰

个体编号Number	样品种类Sample	⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr	SE	δ¹⁸O_VPDB
MDH23	犬齿	0.71208	0.000010	-3.1‰
MDH23	肋骨	0.71205	0.000010	-6.8‰
MDH69-1	齿冠	0.71308	0.000009	-8.3‰
MDH69-1	肋骨	0.71214	0.000009	-7.9‰
MDH69-3	门齿	0.71194	0.000010	-8.0‰
MDH69-3	肋骨	0.71208	0.000009	-8.4‰
MDH69-4	肋骨	0.71212	0.000010	-7.5‰
MDH69-4	门齿	0.71140	0.000009	-5.1‰
MDH69-5	门齿	0.71152	0.000010	-5.5‰
MDH69-5	肋骨	0.71203	0.000008	-7.7‰
MDH69-6	臼齿	0.71141	0.000010	-5.6‰
MDH69-6	肋骨	0.71211	0.000008	-8.2‰
MDH82-1	齿冠	0.71203	0.000009	-9.1‰
MDH82-2	肋骨	0.71213	0.000009	-7.6‰
MDH82-2	门齿	0.71148	0.000011	-5.0‰
MDH87-1	门齿	0.71172	0.000011	-8.4‰
MDH87-1	掌骨	0.71207	0.000008	-7.9‰
MDH87-2	门齿	0.71259	0.000010	-5.2‰
MDH87-2	肋骨	0.71215	0.000009	-8.6‰

编号Number	性别Sex	年龄Age(y)	食谱变化Change of diet	迁徙Migrate	来源Source
H69-3	女female	40±	否No	否No	本地local
H87-1	男male	35±	是Yes	否No	本地local
H82-1	男male	18±	是Yes	否No	本地local
H23	男male	20±	是Yes	是Yes	东部近海地区east areas close to the sea
H69-1	男male	18	是Yes	是Yes	东部平原plains in the east
H82-2	男male	20±	是Yes	是Yes	东部近海地区east areas close to the sea
H87-2	男male	25±	否No	是Yes	遗址东部平原地区plains in the east
H69-4	男male	20±	否No	是Yes	东部近海地区east areas close to the sea
H69-5	男male	40-45	否No	是Yes	东部近海地区east areas close to the sea