植物考古学及其新进展

Archaeobotany and Its Recent Advances.

浮选法的发展为考古学研究提供了丰富的植物遗存,在此基础之上一些重要的考古学问题的研究因此而得以深入,包括稻作经济的形成过程、粟和黍的栽培以及中国北方旱作农业经济的形成过程、农业的发展与文明起源的关系等。

Archaeobotanical study began in China from a relatively late time owing to the lack of effective means for getting floral remains. This difficult led to spreading floatation with great energy in recent years. So far, we have analyzed more than 30 archaeological sites through floatation of above 5,000 soil samples, which resulted in the obtainment of carbonized floral remains in a surprisingly large number. Based on this work we have made a series of discussion on important archaeological problems, such as the formation course of rice-farming economy, the cultivation of foxtail and broomcorn millets, the formation of dry farming in North China, the development of agriculture, and the origin of civilization.