先秦时期中国南方地区粟的出现及其环境背景

The Emergence of Millet in Pre-Qin Southern China and its Environmental Backdrop

在传统上,先秦时期中国南方地区多经营稻作农业,但近年来该地区发现了数量可观的粟遗存。根据目前的资料,我们可以将这些遗存分为五大区,而粟遗存在各区的分布存在着时空变化。这些粟遗存的出现以及时空变化是有环境动因的。总的来看,古环境的变化导致粟遗存的分布区域扩大和缩小,而遗址所在地的特殊地形和气候则促使先民选用粟。

Traditionally, it was thought that agricultural production in pre-Qin southern China was predominantly rice-based. However, in recent years, a considerable amount of foxtail millet（Setaria italica） has been unearthed in these southern regions. According to current data, the distribution of millet can be divided into five main regions, with millet remains in each region varying over space and time. The appearance of and changes within these millet remains were driven by environmental changes.In general, changes in the ancient environment caused the expansion and contraction of millet distribution and the special features of the landscape and climate near archaeological sites caused these early peoples to choose millet.