Rapid Assessment Of Management Effectiveness Of The Zhangye National Wetland Park, Gansu Province, People’s Republic Of China

Changes in Wood Utilization Due to Iron Age Jade Mining in the Western Hexi Corridor: Wood Charcoal Investigations

“…Use of Wood at the JBR Jade Mine During the Iron Age Wood has long played a significant role in human livelihoods and social organization as a raw material for construction, cooking, fire making, heating, and artifact production (Rubiales et al, 2011;Salavert and Dufraisse, 2014;Wang et al, 2014a,b;Medina-Alcaide et al, 2015;Kabukcu, 2018). Charcoal remains derived from cultural features with clear functional attributes are the result of conscious choice and can reflect information on wood use and the patterns of its collection in the past (Li et al, 2012;Marcos and Ortega, 2014;Wang et al, 2014a;Rhode, 2016;Hazell et al, 2017;Kováčik and Cummings, 2017;Mafferra, 2017;Mota and Scheel-Ybert, 2019;Kabukcu and Chabal, 2020). Tamarix L. was the most abundant taxon in houses, hearths, and ash pits at JBR.…”

“…Because the tamarisk shrub usually grows on alluvial and silty plains in arid and semi-arid areas of Northwest China, its branches are ideal for making agricultural implements and fences, as well as for fuel. Archeobotanical evidence suggests the universal use of Tamarix L. in archeological sites in the western Hexi Corridor during both prehistoric and early historical periods (Li et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014a;Liu et al, 2019a,b). The highest relative percentage and frequency of Tamarix L. occurred in hearths and ash pits, indicating that it was at least used as firewood at JBR (Figures 4, 5).…”