Zooarchaeological research of horse production system in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, China

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25770289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2014-2016); Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (2013)
• Principal Investigator: KIKUCHI Hiroki 京都大学, 人文科学研究所, 特別研究員(PD) (00612433)
• Research Collaborator: GAKUHARI Takashi 金沢大学, 国際文化資源学研究センター, 助教 (70749530)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 馬 / 殷周王朝 / 馬匹生産 / 動物考古学 / 同位体化学 / 秦律 / 三次元計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examines the horse production system in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, China through zooarchaeological research of horse remains from excavated archaeological sites. Classic ancient literature and Qin bamboo slips document that the utilization and breeding technology of the horse production system in ancient China. Although the officials running the system varied with the season, further details of this management system remain unknown. So, we combine zooarchaeological, stable isotope (C/O/Sr) analyses and historical studies from archaeological sites to investigate this horse production system. Our results indicate that grazing and feeding regimes varied according to age and sex of the horses. Further, this system appears to have developed during the Western Zhou and was well established in Han Dynasty.

Free Research Field

考古学