Introduction

This paper reports plant remains retrieved from three features , one burial(2002Z II A3M33) and two pits (2002 II A3H72 and H83 ) at Zhouyuan site in Shaanxi Province . As plant remains were recovered manually without sieving or flotation , densities of plant remains per sediment volume are not available . The report , therefore , focus on identification of plants rather than quantification , and the implications of plants related to their archaeological contexts .

More than 1000 of seeds recovered represent five families of Poaceae, Cucurbitace , Rhamnaceae , Rosaceae , and Ulmaceae (table 1). Most common remains belong to Rosaceae , probably representing at least three different species of Genus Prunus (plum) , two of which are probably apricot (Persicaria cf. armeniaca or mandshurica ) and peach (P. cf.  persica )(table 2) . The identification of the other type is impending . Plum pits of this unidentified Prunus are quite smaller than other two species found here , and resemble P.humilis , P. Japonicus , or P. tomentosa .

The next abundant taxon is jujube (Zizihpus jujuba) . The two taxa of grasses represent one domesticated crop , foxtail millet and one weedy species , probably millet tribe (Paniceae) . These smaller grass seeds are likely underrepresented as a fine-mesh sieve was not used to collect seeds .

Preservation conditions are generally good . Most of seeds and pits are uncharred . In most aerial (open ) sites , carbonization ( or charring) , desiccation , or mineralization guarantee preservation of organic materials . Pit 83 seems to be treated with fire for maintaining rather dry condition inside . The dry condition seems to enable pits preserved relatively well . Considering the large amount of the pits and seeds , they do not seem to have entered by post-depositional disturbance and the pit was fired to make it water-proof .

Details of seed compositions are summarized according to each context below .

 

Plant composition at M33

Only three pits found at M33 show clear surface structure , which resemble hackberry (Genus Celtis) (Plate 70-1) . Calcite pits of hackberry can be preserved for a prolonged period as these specimens indicate . Two intact specimens are similar in size , measuring 8.41 to 8.46 mm in length and 7.21 mm in thickness ( table 3). Many species of Celtis are edible. It is , however , questionable whether the specimens found here were buried intentionally for food offering or were accidentally buried as only few were recovered .

 

Plant composition at H72

Pit 72 yields two different taxa and one unknown species (table 2) . Possible peach pit was found as one fragmented piece (Plate 70-2) . A pit fragment has deeply grooved surface and resemble modern domesticated pit (Prunus persica) . Without an intact whole pit , however , it is uncertain to identify whether the specimen represent domesticated or wild peach .

Almost 200 pits of jujube (Zizihiphus jujuba) are well presevered at pit 72 . Some broken pits show a seed inside with well-preserved seed coat (Plate 70-3) . One specimen shows an almost entire fruit , showing its exocarp (fruit coat) , mesocarp (fleshy fruit part) , endocarp (pit) and an inner seed (Plate 71-1) . Seed coat is pitted . This specimen may indicate that entire fruit of jujube were stored in Pit72 for later use . The seed size ranges are wide , measuring 4.73 to 6.19 mm in length and 3.70 to 5.24 mm in width . As well , pit sizes are variable from 6.47 to 9.73 mm in length and 4.81 to 8.14 mm in width(table 3) . Broken pit remains demonstrate inner structure and resemble that of jujube (plate71-2) Negligible amount of bone and charcoal fragments are also found in Pit 72 (table 2).

 

Plant composition at H83

Pit 83 reveals the most diverse seed composition among three feature analyzed(table 2) . The most abundant remains , equivalent to almost 500 fruits , belong to plum genus(Prunus) , possibly apricot (P. armeniaca or P. mandshurica) (table 1) . Like modern apricot , the seeds are easily halved , one side flat and the other side convex (Plate 71-3) . Some specimens show seed coat remains attached to seeds . Apricot here , whether they represent domesticated or wild fruits , seems to be stored as cache for immediate use as they were probably stored as fruits . Seed sizes range from to 5.23 to 10.84 mm in length and from 3.73 to 9.99 in width .( table 3)

surface structure and overall shapes of seeds resemble smaller taxa of plum , including P.humilis , P. japonicus or P. tomentosa (plate 72-1).

Many melon (Cucumis cf. melo) seeds , at least over 150 are found (Plate 72-2) . Their sizes are from 6.11 to 6.51 mm in length and from 2.93 to 3.58 mm in length (table 3) . Melon may have been stored with plums for later use in this pit .

Two taxa of grasses represent one domesticated one , foxtail millet (Setaria italica)(Plate72-3) , and possible related weed of millet tribe (Paniceae) (Plate72-4 ).

 

Sumary

The plant remains from Zhouyuan reveals a part of diet and possibly mortuary practice of food offering . Burial examined , M33 itself does not exhibit much plant remains but two pits next to the burial seem to have been established as storage facility . Fruits are a good source for preserved food and delicacy such as sweet preserves , wine or vinegar . Particularly , all the fruit remains here , including peach , apricot , and jujube have been documented as important food and medicinal sources in Chinese history . We need to examine the antiquity of uncarbonized , dried seeds from the pits , but it is still highly likely that hard parts of plants like pits can survive for a considerable length of time when they are dried in relatively arid regions . The current report further contribute our understanding of continuing importance of agriculture and non-cultivated plants in both practical and religious aspects . (by Gyoung-Ah Lee[①])

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