Evidence for large-scale rice utilization in the Guanzhong region during the final Neolithic (ca. 4600-4000 B.P.): A case study of the Yangyuan site, Xi'an

Rice, domesticated in the Yangtze River Basin, was introduced to the Guanzhong Plain, and became prominence alongside millets during the Longshan period (ca. 4600-4000 B.P.). This study analyzes flotation samples from the Yangyuan site, revealing a significant abundance of charred rice grains and spikelet bases, surpassing those found at other contemporaneous sites in the Guanzhong Plain. The high concentration suggests substantial rice utilization by the site's ancient inhabitants. The Yangshao period, was marked by rice use influenced by external factors, whereas during the Longshan period, local inhabitants in the Guanzhong region gradually adopted the uses of rice as a self-sustaining practice, with possible regional transport of rice. These findings offer valuable insights into the agricultural practices and dietary preferences of the Neolithic Guanzhong Plain, highlighting the region's evolving civilization and its mixed agriculture of rice and millets.