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 brough
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left European governments scrambling to ensure that their energy needs will be met. Germany the no 1 buyer of Russian gas in recent years is said to be reconsidering a commitment to close down its last few nuclear power stations at the end of this year, while a political deal made late last year to phase out coal by 2030 may well unravel. Several smaller economies, among them Bulgaria and Finland, are even more dependent on Russian gas than Germany.
Taiwan isn’t so exposed. Last year, 14.7 percent of the coal burned in Taiwan