Frontiers | Early Austronesians Cultivated Rice and Millet Together: Tracing Taiwan's First Neolithic Crops

This study presents the first directly dated physical evidence of crop remains from the Early Neolithic archaeological layers in Taiwan. Systematic sampling and analysis of macro-plant remains suggested that Neolithic farmers at the Zhiwuyuan (Botanical Garden) site in Taipei, northern Taiwan, had cultivated rice and foxtail millet together at least 4500 years ago. A more comprehensive review of all related radiocarbon dates suggests that agriculture emerged in Taiwan around 4800–4600 cal. BP, instead of the previous claim of 5000 cal. BP. According to the rice grain metrics from three study sites of Zhiwuyuan, Dalongdong, and Anhe, the rice cultivated in northern and western-central Taiwan was mainly a short-grained type, the japonica subspecies, similar to the discoveries from the southeast coast of mainland China and the middle Yangtze valley. These new findings support the hypothesis that the southeast coast of mainland China was the origin of proto-Austronesian people who brought their crops and other cultural traditions across the Taiwan Strait 4800 years ago and eventually farther into Island Southeast Asia.

Related Keywords

Taiwan , Danshui , Guangdong , China , Baitoushan , , Yangtze , China General , Taidong , Santiago , Regióetropolitana , Chile , Magapit , Cagayan , Philippines , Bedford , Borough Of Bedford , United Kingdom , Nanshan , Dalongdong , Hunan , Racimo , California , United States , Sanxia , Hsin Pei Shih , Kano , Nigeria , Youxianfang , Tainan Municipality , Long Bay , Tasmania , Australia , Karama , Sulawesi Barat , Indonesia , Chaolaiqiao , Taidong Xian , Ban Non Wat , Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand , Fengpitou , Kao Hsiung , Tokyo , Japan , Taihu , Jiangsu , Baiyangcun , Shaanxi , Laoyuan , Sichuan , Kokubu , Saga , Handarayan , Isabela , Pingfengshan , Haojiatai , Ningxia , Taipei , T Ai Pei , Fushan , Yuanshan , Luohe , Henan , Shijiahe , Hubei , London , City Of , Nagsabaran , Tarlac , Dadunzi , Yunnan , Singapore , Niucheng , Fujian , Peking , Beijing , Dongshancun , Shanxi , National Taiwan University , Xiaojin , Taipei City Government , Lapita , Bíbíci , Xueshan , Gaopo , Yashima , Akita , Magadu , Borno , Niuchouzi , River Valley , India , Xindian , Batanes , Malden , Kingston Upon Thames , Tanjialing , Jiangxi , Hoboken , Jilin , Hulushan , Zhejiang , University College , New South Wales , Batanes Islands , Elede , Oyo , Shisanhang , Vietnam , Republic Of , Shixia , Niumatou , T Ai Chung , Guam , Malayo , Pangasinan , Canberra , Australian Capital Territory , Dalong , Jiayi Xian , Tianmen , Australian , Indonesian , Formosa , Chinese , Taiwanese , Minanga Sipakko , Wiley Blackwell , Guodishan Deng , Timor Glover , Samrong Sen , Kham Haeng , Bronk Ramsey , Khao Sam Kaeo , Gua Sireh , Khok Charoen , Xiezidi Tang , Loc Giang , C Renfrew Cambridge , University College London , Institute Of History , Civil Construction Basic Design Service Tender , Department Of Anthropology Peabody Museum , Tree Valley Foundation , Express , Research School Of Pacific , Department Of Anthropology , Research Of Archaeological Sites , Department Affairs Of Cultural , International Symposium On Austronesian , Yale University , Blackwell , Australian National University , Council Of Agriculture , Australian Research Council Grants , Sanxia Junior High School , Institute Of Archaeology , Department Of Prehistory , Department Of Cultural Affairs , Sinotech Engineering Consultants Ltd , Key Laboratory Of Radiocarbon , National Museum Of Prehistory , Bureau Of Animal , Dalong Primary School Of Taipei , Archaeobotanical Laboratory Of Peking University , Radiocarbon Laboratory , National Museum Of Natural Science , Mcdonald Institute For Archaeological Research , Cultural Exchange , Routledge , Plant Health Inspection , Farming Language Dispersal , Mariana Islands , Indonesian Archipelago , Bismarck Archipelago , Island Southeast Asia , Middle Neolithic , Early Middle Neolithic , Three Study , Taipei Botanical Garden , Xindian River , Danshui River , Early Xuntangpu , Archaeobotanical Laboratory , Key Laboratory , Radiocarbon Dating , Peking University , Beta Analytical , Australian National , Neolithic Zhiwuyuan , Variety Cultivated , Neolithic Taiwan , East Asia , Southeast Asia , Northern Luzon , Important Role , Iron Age , Metal Age , Uai Bobo , East Timor , Southern China , Cai Beo , Rach Nui , Non Nok Tha , Non Pa Wai , Nil Kham Haeng , Nong Nor , Mainland Southeast , Island Southeast , Supplementary Material , National Natural Science Foundation , Strategic Priority Research Program , Chinese Academy , Australian Research Council , Chiang Ching Kuo Foundation , International Scholarly Exchange , Med Abstract , Crossref Full Text , West Sulawesi , Oryza Sativa , Language Dispersal , Mcdonald Institute , Archaeological Research , First Farmers , First Islanders , Human Migration , Investigating Archaeological , New York , Northern Philippines , Terra Australis , Plant Seeds , New Haven , Research Project , Collected Remains From , Zhiwuyuan Site , Sanxia Junior High , Routes Investigation , Follow Up Maintenance , Sinotech Engineering Consultants , Cultural Affairs , Taipei City , Rescue Excavation Report , National Museum , Prehistoric Agriculture , Lower Han River Valley , South China , Prehistoric Rice Agriculture , Eastern Timor , Research School , Pacific Studies , Illustrated Seeds , Chinese Medicinal , Agricultural Publishing , Evaluation Report , National Taiwan , Cultural Interaction , Southern Coastal China , Early History , Prehistoric Archaeology , Routledge Handbook , Taiwan Archaeological , New Frontiers , Neolithic Archaeology , Maritime Cultural , Final Report , Rescue Excavation , Near Oceania , From Southeast Asia , Academia Sinica , Atest Excavation , Dalong Primary School , Department Affairs , Field Survey , Archaeological Sites , Civil Affairs , Archaeological Survey , Cultural Associations , Identification Guide , Near Eastern Grass , Putting Together Archaeology , Farmland Weeds , Coloured Illustrative , Test Excavation Report , Tree Valley , Austronesian , Mixed Farming , Japonica Rice , He Zhiwuyuan Botanical Garden Site , Northern Taiwan ,