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Sika deer in Bronze Age Guanzhong: sustainable wildlife exploitation in ancient China?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2021

Yue Li Open the ORCID record for Yue Li [Opens in a new window] ,
Chengrui Zhang ,
Honghai Chen ,
Zhen Wang  and
Yaopeng Qian
Yue Li
Affiliation:
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, P.R. China Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Studies and Conservation, Northwest University, P.R. China
Chengrui Zhang*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, USA
Honghai Chen
Affiliation:
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, P.R. China Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Studies and Conservation, Northwest University, P.R. China
Zhen Wang
Affiliation:
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, P.R. China Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Studies and Conservation, Northwest University, P.R. China
Yaopeng Qian
Affiliation:
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, P.R. China Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Studies and Conservation, Northwest University, P.R. China
*
*Author for correspondence: ✉ chengrui_zhang@g.harvard.edu
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Abstract

The interplay between sustainability and anthropogenic landscape transformation is crucial to understanding the past decline and eradication of wild animals. The Bronze Age site of Zaoshugounao is located in the Guanzhong region of China, an area critical in the formation and development of early Chinese civilisation. Drawing upon zooarchaeological, palaeoenvironmental and textual evidence, analysis of sika deer remains from Zaoshugounao reveals sustainable sika deer-hunting strategies at the site, despite an overall long-term trend in the sika deer population decline and habitat loss. The authors’ results highlight the complexity and diversity of human-sika relations and contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding wild animal eradication and conservation in China.

Keywords

ChinaGuanzhongZaoshugounaoBronze Agesika deersustainabilityzooarchaeology
Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 95 , Issue 382 , August 2021 , pp. 940 - 954
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antiquity Publications Ltd.

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