稳定同位素古食谱分析在历史研究中的应用

The Theory and Approach of Stable Isotope Analysis for Past Diets and Its Application to Historical Research

稳定同位素古食谱分析是利用地球化学和生态学的研究方法,以考古出土的古代人、动物个体身体组织样本为研究对象开展同位素分析来重建先民及动物食物结构和生存方式的研究。在我国经过近40年的发展,稳定同位素古食谱分析已经基本理清我国史前人类的食物结构变化格局。近十年来,学者们对历史时期人和动物骨骼样品开展同位素分析,在探讨麦作、稻作农业与粟黍农业的兴衰历程、国家祭祀用牲的征集与管理,农牧人群的交融与互动、妇女和儿童的日常生活历史以及个体生活历史的重建五个方面取得了新的突破,值得关注。未来历史学、考古学与稳定同位素分析的深度融合,将从饮食生活方式的角度进一步解读人类的过去、现在与未来。

Stable isotope analysis of paleo-diets of humans and animals is a new archaeological tool that uses scientific methods derived from the fields of geochemistry and ecology to analyse human and animal remains from sites to reconstruct their dietary and subsistence practice in the past.After nearly 40 years of development in China,stable isotope analysis has largely clarified the changing dietary patterns of prehistoric populations in early China.In the last decade,scholars have carried out many isotopic analyses of human and animal bone samples from the historical period,and have made new breakthroughs in five areas that deserve attention:the rise and fall of wheat/rice agriculture and millet farming in northern China,the collection and management of empire ritual animals,the interaction and reorganization of agricultural and pastoral populations,the lifeways of women and children,and the reconstruction of individual daily life history.In the future,the deep integration of history,archaeology and stable isotope analysis will provide further insights into the past,present and future of humanity from the perspective of dietary lifestyles.