Agronomy (Nov 2023)
Adaptability of Millets and Landscapes: Ancient Cultivation in North-Central Asia
- Alicia R. Ventresca-Miller,
- Shevan Wilkin,
- Rachel Smithers,
- Kara Larson,
- Robert Spengler,
- Ashleigh Haruda,
- Nikolay Kradin,
- Bilikto Bazarov,
- Denis Miyagashev,
- Tserendorj Odbaatar,
- Tsagaan Turbat,
- Elena Zhambaltarova,
- Prokopii Konovalov,
- Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan,
- Anke Hein,
- Peter Hommel,
- Brendan Nash,
- Ayushi Nayak,
- Nils Vanwezer,
- Bryan Miller,
- Ricardo Fernandes,
- Nicole Boivin,
- Patrick Roberts
Affiliations
- Alicia R. Ventresca-Miller
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Shevan Wilkin
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Rachel Smithers
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, King’s Manor, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Kara Larson
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Robert Spengler
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Ashleigh Haruda
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK
- Nikolay Kradin
- Laboratory of Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
- Bilikto Bazarov
- Laboratory of Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
- Denis Miyagashev
- Laboratory of Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
- Tserendorj Odbaatar
- National Museum of Mongolia, Juulchin Street-1, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
- Tsagaan Turbat
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
- Elena Zhambaltarova
- Department of Museology and Heritage, Faculty of Social and Cultural Activities, Heritage, and Tourism, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education, East Siberian State Institute of Culture, 670031 Ulan-Ude, Russia
- Prokopii Konovalov
- Laboratory of Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
- Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Anke Hein
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK
- Peter Hommel
- Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, 12–14 Abercromby Sq, Liverpool L69 7WZ, UK
- Brendan Nash
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Ayushi Nayak
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Nils Vanwezer
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Bryan Miller
- Museum of Anthropological Archaeology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Ricardo Fernandes
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Nicole Boivin
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Patrick Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112848
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13,
no. 11
p. 2848
Abstract
Millet is a highly adaptable plant whose cultivation dramatically altered ancient economies in northern Asia. The adoption of millet is associated with increased subsistence reliability in semi-arid settings and perceived as a cultigen compatible with pastoralism. Here, we examine the pace of millet’s transmission and locales of adoption by compiling stable carbon isotope data from humans and fauna, then comparing them to environmental variables. The Bayesian modelling of isotope data allows for the assessment of changes in dietary intake over time and space. Our results suggest variability in the pace of adoption and intensification of millet production across northern Asia.
Keywords
