西城驿遗址浮选植物遗存分析

Analysis of Carbonized Botanic Remains in Xichengyi Site

西城驿遗址2012年和2014年发掘采集的179份样品中共浮选出可鉴定种子和果实29611粒,农作物种子有粟、黍、小麦、大麦和大麻,非农作物种子以藜、狗尾草等农田杂草为主。植物遗存的分析显示,西城驿遗址的农业始终以粟、黍旱作农业为主,四坝文化时期小麦和大麦普遍种植,农业呈现出多样化的特点。甘青地区不同遗址浮选结果的对比分析表明,这一地区新石器时代至青铜时代的农业状况因时间、空间差异而有所不同,并可能经历了从粟、黍农业到多种作物种植,并逐渐多元化的过程。遗址中小麦和大麦的出土也为研究早期中西农业交流提供了新的材料。

Through the flotation of 179 soil samples collected from Xichengyi site during excavations in 2012 and 2014,29611 plant seeds were recovered.Among them,The crop remains from the site belong to foxtail millet,broomcorn millet,wheat,barley and marijuana.The combination of crops and weeds found in the site reflects a typical rainfed agriculture dominated by foxtail millet and broomcorn millet.Wheat and barley were commonly cultivated during Siba period.Compared to flotation results of other sites in Gansu-Qinghai region,agriculture of this region during Neolithic Age and Bronze Age shows difference in terms of time and geography.Conclusively,agriculture of Gansu-Qinghai region possibly transformed from millet-dominated agriculture to multi-crops,and gradually to further diverse cultivation.Carbonized seeds of wheat and barley together with rachises from Xichengyi site shed new light on early communication between local and western cultures.