A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhar...A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. The tracks occur in a clastic fluvial sequence in the Fuxian Formation in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province, which is in the same general region as the discovery site of Sinoichnites, the first dinosaur track reported from China. Based on size and morphology, it is likely that Sinoichnites, which is now lost, also represents an ornithischian. The Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum trackways show two modes of preservation： the first representing deeper tracks, with sediment rims, results in Deltapodus-like tracks, with indistinct pes digit traces and sub-circular manus traces, the second produces Moyenosauripus-like tracks, with clear tridactyl and pentadactyl digit traces in the pes and manus respectively. Thus the Shenmu trackways play a key role in resolving globally significant ichnotaxonomic problems surrounding the nomenclature of Sinoichnites, Moyenosauripus, Deltapodus and other named （Ravatichnus） and unnamed trackways from Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition they shed important light on the paleogeographical and paleoecological distribution of quadrupedal ornithischians in the Early Mesozoic. The track site has been the focus of a major excavation to transfer the trackways from their original remote location to the new Shenmu Museum, in Shenmu City. Other tracksites in the area which reveal Anomoepus, Grallator and the Deltapodus morphotype, together with Shenmuichnus and plant fossil evidence, suggest an Early Jurassic age for the tracksite.展开更多
Recently found materials indicate that the steppe mammoth, Mammuthus trogontherii, survived in northern China into the late Pleistocene. East Asia is the key area of mammoth evolution after the initial radiation of ea...Recently found materials indicate that the steppe mammoth, Mammuthus trogontherii, survived in northern China into the late Pleistocene. East Asia is the key area of mammoth evolution after the initial radiation of early forms out of Africa and into Eurasia at the beginning of the late Pliocene (c. 3.5–3.0 Ma). M. rumanus, M. meridionalis, M. trogontherii, and M. primige- nius probably formed a continuous and transitional evolutionary lineage within the pan-Eurasian mammoth radiation in East Asia. Each speciation event of the Eurasian mammoths was followed by a rapid and large-scale dispersal event: out of East Asia. Allopatric speciation is the main speciation pattern of Mammuthus. The climatic vacillation was severe and frequent in East Asia from the early part of early Pleistocene (c. 2.6 Ma) onward, which probably brought about successive speciation in East Asia and the subsequent dispersal of the mammoths.展开更多
In order to explore subsistence patterns in northern Shaanxi Province around 4,000 yr BP,28 human and 24 animal bones from the Shengedaliang site were sampled for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis.The ...In order to explore subsistence patterns in northern Shaanxi Province around 4,000 yr BP,28 human and 24 animal bones from the Shengedaliang site were sampled for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis.The results show that most people primarily subsisted on C_4 resources,e.g.millet and millet-related animal products,despite the fact that there was some intake of C_3 plants by some individuals.Stable nitrogen isotope values indicate that there were differences in meat consumption between individuals at the site.Pigs were mainly foddered with millet and millet byproducts,as well as some cattle,according to their highδ^(13)C values.However,most cattle and the sheep/goats consumed wild C_3 plants at Shengedaliang.Our above findings indicates that subsistence patterns in northern Shaanxi around 4,000 yr BP were characterized by millet farming,while the grassland animal husbandry,e.g.cattle and sheep/goats raising,displayed very little contribution to local economy.The intensive millet farming in northern Shaanxi provided enough food for population growth,ensured the accumulation of wealth,and consequently accelerated social differentiation and complexity.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.40872005)
文摘A large track site with multiple, well-preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus-like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. The tracks occur in a clastic fluvial sequence in the Fuxian Formation in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province, which is in the same general region as the discovery site of Sinoichnites, the first dinosaur track reported from China. Based on size and morphology, it is likely that Sinoichnites, which is now lost, also represents an ornithischian. The Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum trackways show two modes of preservation： the first representing deeper tracks, with sediment rims, results in Deltapodus-like tracks, with indistinct pes digit traces and sub-circular manus traces, the second produces Moyenosauripus-like tracks, with clear tridactyl and pentadactyl digit traces in the pes and manus respectively. Thus the Shenmu trackways play a key role in resolving globally significant ichnotaxonomic problems surrounding the nomenclature of Sinoichnites, Moyenosauripus, Deltapodus and other named （Ravatichnus） and unnamed trackways from Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition they shed important light on the paleogeographical and paleoecological distribution of quadrupedal ornithischians in the Early Mesozoic. The track site has been the focus of a major excavation to transfer the trackways from their original remote location to the new Shenmu Museum, in Shenmu City. Other tracksites in the area which reveal Anomoepus, Grallator and the Deltapodus morphotype, together with Shenmuichnus and plant fossil evidence, suggest an Early Jurassic age for the tracksite.
基金supported by Key Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sci-ences (Grant No. KJCX2-YW-106)National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806400)
文摘Recently found materials indicate that the steppe mammoth, Mammuthus trogontherii, survived in northern China into the late Pleistocene. East Asia is the key area of mammoth evolution after the initial radiation of early forms out of Africa and into Eurasia at the beginning of the late Pliocene (c. 3.5–3.0 Ma). M. rumanus, M. meridionalis, M. trogontherii, and M. primige- nius probably formed a continuous and transitional evolutionary lineage within the pan-Eurasian mammoth radiation in East Asia. Each speciation event of the Eurasian mammoths was followed by a rapid and large-scale dispersal event: out of East Asia. Allopatric speciation is the main speciation pattern of Mammuthus. The climatic vacillation was severe and frequent in East Asia from the early part of early Pleistocene (c. 2.6 Ma) onward, which probably brought about successive speciation in East Asia and the subsequent dispersal of the mammoths.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Fund of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciencesthe National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41373018&41471167)
文摘In order to explore subsistence patterns in northern Shaanxi Province around 4,000 yr BP,28 human and 24 animal bones from the Shengedaliang site were sampled for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis.The results show that most people primarily subsisted on C_4 resources,e.g.millet and millet-related animal products,despite the fact that there was some intake of C_3 plants by some individuals.Stable nitrogen isotope values indicate that there were differences in meat consumption between individuals at the site.Pigs were mainly foddered with millet and millet byproducts,as well as some cattle,according to their highδ^(13)C values.However,most cattle and the sheep/goats consumed wild C_3 plants at Shengedaliang.Our above findings indicates that subsistence patterns in northern Shaanxi around 4,000 yr BP were characterized by millet farming,while the grassland animal husbandry,e.g.cattle and sheep/goats raising,displayed very little contribution to local economy.The intensive millet farming in northern Shaanxi provided enough food for population growth,ensured the accumulation of wealth,and consequently accelerated social differentiation and complexity.
