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The consumption, utilization and supply of sheep and goats at the late Shang Dynasty capital: a zooarchaeological study on the sheep and goat remains unearthed in the Yinxu area
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Zhipeng Li
Published/Copyright:
November 20, 2012
Abstract
Based on morphological identifications of sheep and goat bones unearthed at Yinxu and statistical analyses of the Number of Identified Specimens (NISP), Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI), and ubiquities, this paper discusses the percentage of mutton in the diet of the residents in the capital of the late Shang Dynasty, the percentage of the sheep and goats used in animal sacrifices in burials, and the ratio between sheep and goats. Through the analysis of mortality profiles, this paper argues that the sheep and goats consumed by the residents of Yinxu were mostly juvenile individuals, matching the slaughter profile for sheep and goat husbandry aimed at meat consumption. The sources of the sheep and goats slaughtered for consumption were mainly from outside supplies. The sheep and goats in the animal victims were also mainly juvenile individuals, reflecting the funeral rituals of“ serving the dead as they were alive”.
Published Online: 2012-11-20
Published in Print: 2012-11-1
© 2012 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
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Keywords for this article
Domestic sheep and goats;
Shang Dynasty;
Yinxu Site (Anyang City, Henan);
zooarchaeology
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- The Western Zhou cemetery at Dahekou in Yicheng County, Shanxi
- The Mudu Archaic City Site of the Spring-and-Autumn Period in Suzhou City, Jiangsu
- The Tuyoq Buddhist Grottoes in Shanshan County, Xinjiang
- The Laosicheng Site in Yongshun County, Hunan
- The sunken ship “Nan’ao I” of the Ming Dynasty in Shantou City, Guangdong
- Tomb No. 139 of the Shang Dynasty at Daxinzhuang, Jinan City
- Peng She’s tomb of the Chu State of the Spring-and-Autumn Period in Nanyang, Henan
- Late Paleolithic site at Locality S9 of Shizitan Complex in Jixian County, Shanxi
- Architectural Complex VI of Changle Palace, Han Chang’an City in Xi’an
- Excavation of the Yuyang Tomb of the Western Han Dynasty at Wangchengpo, Changsha, Hunan
- A mural tomb of the Northern Qi Dynasty at Shuiquanliang in Shuozhou, Shanxi
- The “Black Dragon Gate” site and Architectural Foundation No. 4 of Zuling Mausoleum precinct of the Liao Dynasty
- The excavation of a stone crypt of the Liao Dynasty in Chaoyang City, Liaoning
- A preliminary study on the fu and yue institution in ancient China
- Reexamination of the pre-Qin muji (grave sacrifice) institution
- Also on the typology of bow-shaped objects and relevant issues
- Differentiation of two types of cultural remains of the Eastern Zhou Period in North China: on the relationships among the Rong, Di and the Hu
- A study of Xiongnu tombs
- A study of Xianbei tombs
- A Study of ancient Tibetan gold and silver ware
- Concerning string cutting, tuo (emery wheel) cutting and tuo carving – and discussion of the date the tuo began to be used
- Prehistoric settlements and environment of West Liaohe River Valley
- On the subsistence practices of the Shi’erqiao Culture: focused on zooarchaeology
- The consumption, utilization and supply of sheep and goats at the late Shang Dynasty capital: a zooarchaeological study on the sheep and goat remains unearthed in the Yinxu area
