From necessity to choice: dietary revolutions in west China in the second millennium BC

摘要: AbstractThis article explores the context of long-distance translocation crops in prehistory. We draw upon contrasts isotopic signatures Southwest Asian crops, including wheat and barley – C3 plants, compared to millets C4 investigate a key region trans-Eurasian exchange, Chinese province Gansu. The results demonstrate that Gansu prior 2000 cal. bc, staples were millets. Between 1800 there was significant shift staple foods towards crops. In broader regional context, however, it would seem these novel not consumed large quantities many parts China during second millennium bc. This suggests that, while adopted became food source they disregarded as elsewhere same millennium.