Empirical study for formation processes of horse production system during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K03207
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (2019); Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (2017-2018)
• Principal Investigator: Kikuchi Hiroki 総合研究大学院大学, 先導科学研究科, 特別研究員 (00612433)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 覚張 隆史 金沢大学, 国際文化資源学研究センター, 助教 (70749530)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 馬匹生産 / 春秋戦国時代 / 動物考古学 / 同位体化学 / 簡牘 / 秦国 / 曾国

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aims clarifying the formation process of the horse production management during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (B.C. the fifth to the third century) in China using an interdisciplinary study combining zooarcheology, isotope chemistry and history. In the analysis of the Qin state 秦 and the Zeng state 曾, It could show the possibility of ranch movement according to the maturity level of the horse rearing technique and the feeding stage. Furthermore, by comparing with the contents of Bamboo Slips, it was revealed that the horse production management was operated strictly. And it was appreciated that the formation of a stable horse production management had an important function to support the nations of lords.

Free Research Field

東アジア考古学、動物考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

秦国と曾国関連遺跡出土馬骨の実践的研究から、春秋戦国時代において発展した馬匹生産体制が古代東アジア養馬史のなかでも特筆すべき画期のひとつであり、秦漢帝国を支えた社会・経済システムの礎となったことが評価された。本研究課題の成果は、中国古代王権で確立した馬匹生産体制が、その後に波及した古代朝鮮半島や日本の馬匹生産体制のみならず、古代ユーラシア大陸の馬文化や東西交流史の背景を考えるうえでも、大きく寄与するものとなる。