Chinese researchers have recently uncovered groundbreaking evidence revealing the origins of rice domestication. By employing advanced CT scanning technology, they detected traces of rice in two ceramic sherds that date back approximately 10,000 years.
An Ting, the head of the research team at Zhejiang University's School of Art and Archaeology, explained that tracing the evolution from wild to domesticated rice presents a significant challenge. This difficulty arises from the scarcity of macrobotanical remains such as seeds, fruits, stems, and plant fibers.
Instead, plant imprints on unearthed artifacts become crucial evidence in identifying the presence of specific plants. An Ting introduced their findings in the international journal The Holocene, highlighting the importance of these imprints in understanding early rice cultivation.
The two ceramic sherds analyzed were discovered at the Shangshan site, an ancient ruin situated along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in present-day east China’s Zhejiang Province. Excavated in 2000, the site dates back to approximately 11,400 to 8,600 years ago, offering a unique window into ancient agricultural practices.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
