A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age

The introduction and the later dispersal of domestic cattle in China had played an enormous part in food production, handicraft manufacture, and ritual activities. However, we lack the details of pastoral economies, herding strategies, and utilization patterns of cattle in ancient China. This study,...

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Main Authors: Chong Yu, Hao Zhao, Songmei Hu, Miaomiao Yang, Xiaoning Guo, Chuenyan Ng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.949860/full
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author Chong Yu
Hao Zhao
Songmei Hu
Miaomiao Yang
Xiaoning Guo
Chuenyan Ng
author_facet Chong Yu
Hao Zhao
Songmei Hu
Miaomiao Yang
Xiaoning Guo
Chuenyan Ng
author_sort Chong Yu
collection DOAJ
description The introduction and the later dispersal of domestic cattle in China had played an enormous part in food production, handicraft manufacture, and ritual activities. However, we lack the details of pastoral economies, herding strategies, and utilization patterns of cattle in ancient China. This study, for the first time, uses biometrical assessments to investigate post-domesticated cattle husbandry and how it changed over time. Biometric data from eight sites dating from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age were evaluated using kernel analysis and mixture analysis. Results indicated that the general body size of cattle first decrease and then increase. By combining the estimated distribution of male and female individuals, we can see that the sex ratios affect size variation during Bronze Age times. Although no breed improvement has been detected so far, the herding and slaughtering strategies over time are different.
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spelling doaj.art-213b45dfcfe644f1b75e5a1e6bff62612022-12-22T01:26:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-08-011010.3389/fevo.2022.949860949860A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze AgeChong Yu0Hao Zhao1Songmei Hu2Miaomiao Yang3Xiaoning Guo4Chuenyan Ng5School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Xi’an, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Xi’an, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Xi’an, ChinaSchool of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe introduction and the later dispersal of domestic cattle in China had played an enormous part in food production, handicraft manufacture, and ritual activities. However, we lack the details of pastoral economies, herding strategies, and utilization patterns of cattle in ancient China. This study, for the first time, uses biometrical assessments to investigate post-domesticated cattle husbandry and how it changed over time. Biometric data from eight sites dating from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age were evaluated using kernel analysis and mixture analysis. Results indicated that the general body size of cattle first decrease and then increase. By combining the estimated distribution of male and female individuals, we can see that the sex ratios affect size variation during Bronze Age times. Although no breed improvement has been detected so far, the herding and slaughtering strategies over time are different.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.949860/fullcattle husbandrybody sizesex ratioLate NeolithicBronze AgeChina
spellingShingle Chong Yu
Hao Zhao
Songmei Hu
Miaomiao Yang
Xiaoning Guo
Chuenyan Ng
A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
cattle husbandry
body size
sex ratio
Late Neolithic
Bronze Age
China
title A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
title_full A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
title_fullStr A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
title_full_unstemmed A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
title_short A passion for beef: Post-domestication changes in cattle body size in China from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age
title_sort passion for beef post domestication changes in cattle body size in china from the late neolithic to the late bronze age
topic cattle husbandry
body size
sex ratio
Late Neolithic
Bronze Age
China
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.949860/full
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