AUTHOR=Zheng Xuefang , Peng Fei , Wang Shuzhi , Guo Jialong , Wang Huiming , Gao Xing , Zhao Zhijun TITLE=Plant exploitation and subsistence patterns of the Mesolithic in arid China: New evidence of plant macro-remains from the Pigeon Mountain site JOURNAL=Frontiers in Earth Science VOLUME=11 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1134677 DOI=10.3389/feart.2023.1134677 ISSN=2296-6463 ABSTRACT=

The nature of the Mesolithic in China has not been studied much due to the few well-context sites discovered and excavated during this period. The situation also restricts the understanding of human subsistence in the Mesolithic period in China, especially in the arid region. The present paper reports the flotation results at Locality 10 of the Pigeon Mountain site in Northwest China. Ten species of plants belonging to six families were identified, dominated by Agriophyllum squarrosum and Artemisia sieversiana. No firm evidence proves the domestication. Combined with the lithic artefacts in QG10, ancient people could utilize plant resources by constructing or expanding the food spectrum. It is the first systematic archaeobotany work in the Paleolithic site of Northwest China. The result reminds us that the enhanced utilization of wild plant resources is a vital subsistence for Mesolithic people in arid regions.