Go north: Isotope and aDNA analysis reconstructing the life history of a first-generation immigrant in the early Western Zhou Yan state

Abstract

The Shang-Zhou transition (ca. 1046 BCE) marked a pivotal phase in the formation of the early Chinese state. Following the Zhou conquest of the Shang, the Western Zhou dynasty implemented an enfeoffment system (fengjian 封建), redistributing territories to royal kin and trusted allies to consolidate control over newly acquired lands. This system facilitated the integration of diverse regional populations into a unified political framework. However, the fate of former Shang elites under Zhou rule remains poorly understood. Key questions persist: Were these communities forcefully subdued, relocated, or incorporated into the new regime? Although historical texts briefly mention Shang descendants, these references have fueled ongoing archaeological efforts to identify such individuals through material culture. Nevertheless, direct bioarchaeological evidence remains limited, leaving many aspects of their lived experiences under Zhou rule unresolved. Archaeological discoveries at the Liulihe site—the capital of the Yan vassal state in present-day Beijing—provide crucial material for addressing these issues. This study conducts a multidisciplinary analysis of human remains from two newly excavated noble tombs at Liulihe, integrating archaeological context (including bronze inscriptions), radiocarbon dating, and multiple isotopic and ancient DNA analyses. The tomb features, inscriptions, and radiocarbon dating suggest that the M1902 individual was associated with Shang-descendant groups who moved to Liulihe following the Western Zhou enfeoffment. Genetic and strontium isotope analyses are consistent with an origin in the Yellow River region and indicate that his early-childhood residence differed from Liulihe. Dietary analysis reveals that he maintained a stable diet throughout his lifetime, consuming a higher proportion of animal-derived protein compared to local commoners at Liulihe. The comprehensive bioarchaeological profile of this individual offers rare insight into the lived experience of Shang descendants under Western Zhou rule and reflects the dynasty’s emphasis on peaceful incorporation during its early expansion.