仰韶文化晚期大口尖底器的酿酒功能初探

Preliminary Study on the Brewing Function of dakou jiandi Vessels from the Late Yangshao Culture

仰韶文化流行一种大口尖底器,器形大小不一,有些器壁上有小孔;其中大型者往往用作瓮棺,因此考古界一般认为是专门制作的葬具。本文对河南偃师灰嘴出土的一件仰韶晚期大口缸内壁的残留物进行了微化石分析,发现大量淀粉粒、植硅体、红麴霉菌及酵母细胞。研究结果显示,该器为酿酒器。酿酒方法是麴酒,可能是利用红麴霉和大米制麴;酿酒原料包括大米、黍、薏苡、豆类、山药、百合及其他根块植物。仰韶文化遗址出土的大口尖底器所具有的典型形态特征——大口、有小孔和施附加堆纹——符合酿酒和储酒的需要;这些设计有助于快速发酵,有效封口以及方便过滤和转移酒液。用于瓮棺的大型器的原始首要功能为酿酒和储酒,用作瓮棺只是其第二功能。仰韶晚期处于地区性文化交流频繁的时期,一些形制相似的大口尖底瓶出现在相距1000多公里的遗址中,是这时期社会复杂化进程加剧的反映。需要将来对更多同类器进行残留物分析,以便验证本文的结论。

The Yangshao culture is known for a type of large-mouthed and conical-based vessel,dakou jiandiqi,which vary in size and often have small holes in their walls.The larger vessels were often used as urn coffins,leading archaeologists to generally believe they were specifically made as burial containers.This article presents a microfossil analysis of the residue found inside a large dakou jiandi vessel of the Late Yangshao period,unearthed in the Huizui site in Yanshi,Henan.The analysis revealed a significant presence of starch granules,phytoliths,Monascus mold,and yeast cells.The findings suggest that the vessel was used for brewing fermented beverages.The brewing method involved using the qu fermentation method,likely utilizing Monascus mold and rice to create the fermenting agent;the brewing ingredients included rice,broomcorn millet,Job's tears,beans,yams,lilies,and other root and tuber plants.The typical features of the dakou jiandi vessels found at Yangshao culture sites-such as their large mouths,small holes,and applied decorationmeet the requirements for brewing and storing alcohol beverages.These designs facilitated quick fermentation,effective sealing,and convenient filtering and transferring of the liquid.The primary function of these large vessels was for brewing and storing alcohol,with their use as urn coffins being a secondary function.The late Yangshao period was characterized by frequent regional cultural interactions,and some dakou jiandi vessels with very similar forms appeared at sites more than 1,000 km apart,reflecting the increasing complexity of society during this time.Future residue analyses of more vessels are needed to verify the conclusions of this study.