Agriculturalization of the Nomad‐Dominated Empires of the Northern Wei Dynasty in Pingcheng city (398–494 <scp>ad</scp>): A stable isotopic study on animal and human bones from the Jinmaoyuan cemetery, China
Guowen Zhang, Xiaogang Hou, LI Shu-yun, Yawei Zhou, Michael P. Richards
Abstract
Abstract To investigate the agriculturalization of the Nomad‐Dominated Empires of the Northern Wei Dynasty, we analysed the δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of animal and human bone/dentine collagen from the Jingmaoyuan cemetery, Datong city, China. The majority of the Jingmaoyuan humans predominately relied on a diet of C 4 plants, likely millets and/or domestic animals fed on by‐products of millet. Other individuals had a C 3 /C 4 mixed diet, indicating diets with more protein from domestic animals and/or freshwater fish. The economy of millet‐based agriculture and diversified animal husbandry together with the integration between the nomadic Tuoba Xianbei and Han Chinese in Pingcheng city probably were driving forces behind the agriculturalization and development of the Northern Wei Pingcheng period (398–494 ad ).