Early legume exploitation in Neolithic southern China: Starch residues evidence from the middle Yangtze River

Abstract

The Ganjiang-Poyang Lake basin is situated in a key corridor region for the dissemination of Neolithic agriculture in eastern China. However, the role of food legumes in the agricultural utilization patterns of this area remains unclear. This study presents systematic analysis of starch granules extracted from stone tools and pottery residues at 6 Neolithic sites (ca. 5900-3100 cal. a BP) in the Ganjiang-Poyang Lake basin, Jiangxi, southern China. Through morphological comparisons and statistical analysis with modern reference collections, we identified 56 starch granules attributable to the Fabaceae family. These legume starches accounted for 2–24 % of the total starch assemblage, coexisting with remains of rice and other crops. Our findings demonstrate that legume exploitation constituted a critical component of early agricultural subsistence in southern China, supplementing the traditional pattern dominated by rice cultivation. This work underscores the role of multi-crop systems, particularly protein-rich legumes, in enhancing dietary diversity during the Neolithic era, and provides novel insights into the dispersal of legume domestication in southern China.