Multi-Isotope Analysis Reveals Human Millet-Based Diets and Limited Mobility in the Central Plains of China ca. 5000 Years Ago

Abstract

Unlike the unification of the Miaodigou culture, the late Yangshao period in the Central Plains of ancient China is marked by regional cultural diversity and external influences, necessitating more research into human subsistence and mobility patterns during this period. However, there has been a long-time lack of direct evidence for the mobility of Yangshao populations. The present study, therefore, aims to address this gap by reconstructing human dietary practices and mobility over 600 years (~3500–2900 bc) at the Qingtai site in the Central Plains, using a direct radiocarbon dating alongside strontium, carbon, and nitrogen isotope analyses of human remains. Our findings reveal a consistent millet-based diet and stable pig-based protein sources, with minimal dietary variation over time. Additionally, this study provides the first strontium isotope data for the late Yangshao period to date, which might suggest limited human mobility during this period. We infer that the stability of the self-sufficient millet-based economy and sedentary lifestyle not only supported population growth but also contributed significantly to the development of social complexity and economic stability during the late Yangshao period in the Central Plains.