The emergence and early utilization of domestic sheep in Xinjiang
-
Yue You
,
Peng Lü
Abstract
This paper summarizes current zooarchaeological research on the origin of domestic sheep and early sheep exploitation strategies in Xinjiang. The researchers analyze sheep bones excavated from the Shirenzigou ( 石人子沟, lit. Stone Human Statue Gully) Site using zooarchaeological methods, including using pelvises to identify sex, and confirm that the sheep at Shirenzigou were domesticated sheep. Previous discoveries and archaeological research in Xinjiang provide background for the researchers’ arguments that the main ways ancient people exploited domestic sheep during the Bronze Age to early Iron Age included: consuming and producing meat, wool, hide and milk; using sheep in rituals such as funerary practices; and making bone artifacts out of sheep bones.
Postscript
The original paper published in Kaogu 考古 (Archaeology) 2016.12:104–14 with 13 illustrations including three line drawings, 10 color plates, and four tables was coauthored by Yue You 尤悦, Peng Lü 吕鹏, Jianxin Wang 王建新, Jian Ma 马健 and Meng Ren 任萌. This abridged version is prepared by Yue You and Peng Lü and translated into English by Katherine Brunson 博凯龄.
References
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© 2018 by Walter de Gruyter, Inc. · Boston · Berlin
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Banlashan Cemetery of Hongshan Culture in Chaoyang City, Liaoning
- Surveys and excavations in 2014–2016 at Shijiahe Site in Tianmen City, Hubei
- The Imperial City Terrace Locality of the Shimao City Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province
- The Jartai Pass Site in Nilka County, Xinjiang
- Reports
- The excavation of the Modaoshan Site of the Paleolithic Age in Yunan County, Guangdong
- The excavation of the Daxi Cultural remains at Dashuitian Site in Wushan County, Chongqing
- The excavation of the Wujiachang Cemetery in Fuquanshan Site, Shanghai in 2010
- The Shang burials at the Yangjiawan Locality of the Panlongcheng Site in Wuhan
- The excavation of burial M89 at Tiesan Road at the Yinxu Site in Anyang, Henan
- The excavation of the burial M8 at the Zhoujiazhai Cemetery in Suizhou, Hubei
- The recovering of the Qianfosi cliff sculptures in Tongnan County, Chongqing
- Research
- On the subsistence types of the Xiantouling Culture
- On the origin and formation of the early Qin Culture
- On the provenance study method of the archaeological relics based on styles and distributions
- Maitreya statues in the Southern Dynasties and the incarnation of Fu Dashi as Maitreya
- A preliminary research on the burials of the Mongol Khanate period and Yuan Dynasty in northern area
- The emergence and early utilization of domestic sheep in Xinjiang
- The development and formation of soldering technique on the bronze ritual vessel casting of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
- Brief report on the laboratory archaeology of the tomb M1 at Dahekou
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Banlashan Cemetery of Hongshan Culture in Chaoyang City, Liaoning
- Surveys and excavations in 2014–2016 at Shijiahe Site in Tianmen City, Hubei
- The Imperial City Terrace Locality of the Shimao City Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province
- The Jartai Pass Site in Nilka County, Xinjiang
- Reports
- The excavation of the Modaoshan Site of the Paleolithic Age in Yunan County, Guangdong
- The excavation of the Daxi Cultural remains at Dashuitian Site in Wushan County, Chongqing
- The excavation of the Wujiachang Cemetery in Fuquanshan Site, Shanghai in 2010
- The Shang burials at the Yangjiawan Locality of the Panlongcheng Site in Wuhan
- The excavation of burial M89 at Tiesan Road at the Yinxu Site in Anyang, Henan
- The excavation of the burial M8 at the Zhoujiazhai Cemetery in Suizhou, Hubei
- The recovering of the Qianfosi cliff sculptures in Tongnan County, Chongqing
- Research
- On the subsistence types of the Xiantouling Culture
- On the origin and formation of the early Qin Culture
- On the provenance study method of the archaeological relics based on styles and distributions
- Maitreya statues in the Southern Dynasties and the incarnation of Fu Dashi as Maitreya
- A preliminary research on the burials of the Mongol Khanate period and Yuan Dynasty in northern area
- The emergence and early utilization of domestic sheep in Xinjiang
- The development and formation of soldering technique on the bronze ritual vessel casting of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
- Brief report on the laboratory archaeology of the tomb M1 at Dahekou
