Wood utilization and paleo-vegetation revealed by wooden remains excavated from ancient Dahe City site (AD 618–907) in Barkol, Xinjiang, northwest China

Abstract

The Dahe City, dating back to Tang Dynasty (AD 618–907), is a vital urban center and military site located in the northern foothill of the East Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. In present study, by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of microscopic features, desiccated wood and charred wood samples recovered from diverse archaeological contexts (crossbars, house sites, doorways and ash piles) of the site were determined as Picea sp. (52.82%), Salix sp. (27.63%), Larix sp. (13.91%), Sorbus sp. (5.45%), and Abies sp. (0.19%). All these tree species were used as fuelwood, while only the wood of Picea was preferably used as construction timber because of its superior property. According to growth habits and distributional characteristics of each genus, wood of Salix should be collected from the local Barkol Basin, and wood of Picea, Larix, Abies, and Sorbus were collected from the distant Barkol and Moqinwula Mountains, which implied that the scope of wood material selection was largely expanded due to usage requirement. In addition, the discovery of Sorbus proved that fruits were collected/planted as an important food supplement in daily life. Compared with modern vegetation, there was no significant change of primary forest composition in high-altitude mountains. This study would provide an important reference for exploring survival strategy and subsistence environment of ancestors living in the core area of the Silk Road during Tang Dynasty.