Phytolith evidence of agricultural emergence and its dispersal routes in the southeastern mountain area of China

Abstract

Late Neolithic cultures in the southeastern mountainous region of China were diverse and frequently interacted with surrounding areas. Understanding the emergence of agriculture and its relationship with the regional cultural background is crucial for comprehending the development of societies. This study combined detailed phytolith analysis with archaeological and historical data and examined Late Neolithic sites in the inland mountainous area of Fujian. The results revealed the presence of various rice phytoliths from the Niubishan to Maling period (5300–3800 cal BP), indicating that rice cultivation occurred in this region at least 5000 years ago. Furthermore, the earliest millet phytoliths emerged in the Upper Niubishan Culture layers 4500 years ago. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural development in this region. This study suggests that the emergence of rice and millet in the southeastern mountainous areas of China may be linked to interactions between prehistoric cultures in different regions. The initial emergence of rice at approximately 7500 cal BP likely spread from the lower Yangtze River along the coastal route. Between 5500 and 3500 cal BP, the gradual opening of land routes facilitated the southward dispersal of agriculture from the middle and lower Yangtze River, creating interconnected land and sea routes. This integration possibly led to the formation of a mixed rice-millet agricultural system that spread to Southeast Asia. Additionally, environmental factors, such as early to mid-Holocene sea level rise and mid to late Holocene drought, appear to have played a crucial role in the emergence and spread of agriculture in this region. Overall, These findings provide significant insights into the emergence, development, and dispersal of prehistoric agriculture and its relationship with cultural exchange and environmental changes in this region.