Abstract: Investigation of children breastfeeding/weaning practices and feeding practices in the past have become one of hotspot in the international bioarchaeological fields. However,there has been no similar research undertaken in China. Here we investigated the breastfeeding and weaning patterns as well as children feeding practices at the Western Zhou Dynasty site of Boyangcheng located in Chuzhou, Anhui Province, China. In addition, we utilize the differences in bone collagen turnover rates between rib and long bones from the same individual to examine past life histories, such as changes in diet or residence. Bone collagen from both the rib and long bones (either femurs or humeri) of 42 individuals was measured for stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). The human δ13C values range from -20.7‰ to -12.0‰ with a mean value of –18.8‰±1.6‰. The human δ15N values range from 9.1‰ to 13.4‰ with a mean value of 10.9‰±1.0‰. The δ13C and δ15N results reflect that solid foods were introduced to the infant’s diet before the age of 2 years, and that the elevated children δ15N results returned to adult levels by approximately 3-4 years of age, indicating that the weaning process was completed during this period. Individuals between 2-10 years old, with lower δ13C and δ15N results than the adult mean, possibly consumed more plant-based diets, and this is consistent with Chinese medical teachings ~1500 years later during the Tang Dynasty (618~907 AD). The isotopic offsets between the ribs and long bones revealed that five adults experienced dramatic dietary shifts in their later lives, switching from predominately C4/C3 to C3 diets. This research provides the first isotopic information about ancient Chinese breastfeeding and weaning practices and a good example for future studies to examine diachronic trends of feeding practices of ancient children in China.

Key words: Boyangcheng site; Children; Weaning patterns; Feeding practices; C and N stable isotope