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Early evidence of naked barley in western Tibet: cereal cultivation at extreme altitude along the upper Sutlej River, c. 3500 BP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2025

Liya Tang ,
Shargan Wangdue ,
Lin Xi ,
Tashi Tsering ,
Chun Yu ,
Jianlin Zhang ,
Zhijun Zhao ,
Rui Wen  and
Dorian Q. Fuller Open the ORCID record for Dorian Q. Fuller [Opens in a new window]
Liya Tang
Affiliation:
China-Central Asia ‘The Belt and Road' Joint Laboratory on Human and Environment Research, Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation, School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi'an, P.R. China
Shargan Wangdue
Affiliation:
Institute of Cultural Relics Protection of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, P.R. China
Lin Xi
Affiliation:
Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology, Xi'an, P.R. China
Tashi Tsering
Affiliation:
Institute of Cultural Relics Protection of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, P.R. China
Chun Yu
Affiliation:
China-Central Asia ‘The Belt and Road' Joint Laboratory on Human and Environment Research, Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation, School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi'an, P.R. China
Jianlin Zhang
Affiliation:
Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology, Xi'an, P.R. China
Zhijun Zhao
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
Rui Wen*
Affiliation:
China-Central Asia ‘The Belt and Road' Joint Laboratory on Human and Environment Research, Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation, School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi'an, P.R. China
Dorian Q. Fuller*
Affiliation:
China-Central Asia ‘The Belt and Road' Joint Laboratory on Human and Environment Research, Key Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation, School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi'an, P.R. China Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
*
*Authors for correspondence ✉ rwen80@163.com & d.fuller@ucl.ac.uk
*Authors for correspondence ✉ rwen80@163.com & d.fuller@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Despite being almost 4000m above sea level, cereal crops have been grown in the Ngari Prefecture on the Tibetan Plateau for thousands of years. Where and when domestic crop species adapted to high-altitude growing conditions is a matter of ongoing debate. Here, the authors present a new radiocarbon date from the Gepa serul cemetery, providing the earliest evidence of naked six-rowed barley in Tibet (c. 3500 BP). Evaluating the available evidence for barley cultivation and interregional connections in central Asia at this time, two hypotheses are considered—a generational advance with farmers migrating up river valleys or rapid, long-distance trade through mountain corridors.

Keywords

Central AsiaHimalayasIndus Valleyarchaeobotanyalpine agricultureHordeum vulgare

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 99 , Issue 404 , April 2025 , pp. 392 - 406
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antiquity Publications Ltd

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