古代粪便分析技术的现状与展望

粪便是人和动物的大肠排遗,包含蛋白质、无机物、脂肪、未消化的食物纤维以及肠道脱落细胞和细菌等物质。古代粪便对研究古人类以及动物食谱、健康状况等问题具有重要价值。国内对考古出土的粪便相关研究较少,但国外对古代粪便已经开展大量研究,形成了较为完整的分析体系。现有的主要分析手段包括粪球晶分析、植物学分析、固醇以及胆汁酸类分析、同位素分析、古DNA分析、古寄生虫分析、微观形态分析、成分分析、红外分析、动物骨骼分析等,涉及粪便残留物判别、粪源种属鉴定、动物驯化与饲养、环境复原、季节迁徙、遗址的形成过程及空间结构布局等内容。本文主要通过归纳国外学者对古代粪便的研究案例,总结其研究技术。同时反思目前各类技术在研究中存在的问题,强调后续研究应关注的若干重要问题,如此可为国内粪便研究提供有价值的借鉴和视角。

Feces is solid waste material from the large intestine of humans and animals that contain proteins,inorganic matter,fat,undigested food fiber,and exfoliated cells and bacteria from the gut.Ancient feces is of great value to study the diet and health status of ancient humans and animals.A large number of studies on feces have been carried out abroad and a relatively complete analytical system has been formed.The main analytical methods currently available include fecal spherulite analysis,botanical analysis,sterol and bile acid analysis,isotope analysis,ancient DNA analysis,paleoparasite analysis,microscopic morphology analysis,composition analysis,infrared analysis,animal skeleton analysis,etc.It involves the identification of fecal origin species,domestication and breeding of animals,environmental restoration,seasonal migration,site formation and spatial structure layout.By summarizing the case study of ancient feces by foreign scholars,the research techniques are summarized.At the same time,the problems existing in the current research of various technologies are reflected,and some important problems that should be paid attention to in the follow-up research are emphasized,so as to provide valuable reference and perspective for domestic fecal research.