Rice bulliform phytoliths reveal the process of rice domestication in the Neolithic Lower Yangtze River region

Pollen evidence to interpret the history of rice farming at the Hemudu site on the Ningshao coast, eastern China

“…3 and 5). Rice farming returned as evidenced by rising proportion of domesticated bulliform phytoliths, and more rice paddies of late Hemudu Culture excavated in Yaojiang Valley comparing to previous stage (Ma et al, 2016). High pollen concentration, ascending Quercus (evergreen type) and descending Pinus in this stage suggested a relatively warm and humid climate beneficial for rice farming.…”

“…Then rice farming became significant at the Kuahuqiao site (8000e7200 cal yr BP) on the coast, west of Hangzhou Bay (Fig. 1A) (Lu et al, 2002;Jiang, 2007;Zong et al, 2007;Mao et al, 2008;Innes et al, 2009;Huan et al, 2014;Ma et al, 2016;Yao et al, 2016). The previous studies showed that rice domestication had started during the early stage of the Hemudu Culture ca.…”

“…8000e7200 cal yr BP) and the Hemudu Culture (ca. 7000e5000 cal yr BP) (Chang, 1986;Liu, 2005;Liu and Chen, 2012;Ma et al, 2016;Yao et al, 2016). These developments included the migration of early collector/foragers from hills to coastal plain (Zong et al, 2007;Innes et al, 2009), as the climate ameliorated and the sea level stabilized in the early to middle Holocene (Zong, 2004;Xu et al, 2010).…”

Dating rice remains through phytolith carbon-14 study reveals domestication at the beginning of the Holocene

“…Although rice spikelet bases are considered key to documenting rice domestication (3), few of these were well-preserved at the site because of the acidic soil conditions. However, rice bulliform cell phytoliths, derived from the leaves, are highly resistant to decomposition, and their morphological characteristics can be used as a reliable proxy for domestication (24,29,30). Identification criteria include the number of fish-scale decorations on the lateral side of rice bulliform phytolith (Fig.…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that abundant rice phytoliths occur in different cultural layers of Shangshan (24). Direct radiocarbon dating of the phytoliths may allow establishment of a firm rice chronology.…”