1. Discuss the origin of rice in South China from Hemudu Site and describe the characteristics of Hemudu Site.
Hemudu site, located in Hemudu village, Yuyao, Zhejiang, is about 7000 years ago. At this time, the climate is humid, the river network is dense and the land is fertile. Obviously, it is very suitable for rice planting. Relying on the unique environmental advantages, the seeds of rice began to germinate here for the first time, which also made China the first country to grow rice in the world, and the origin of rice in South China began at this time.
In the ruins, we found a lot of piled rice, rice husk and straw. Not only that, the thickness of the piled rice exceeds 1 meter, and the intact degree is even amazing. Some rice stalks are even yellow-green when unearthed, and the shape of rice is complete, which provides very good physical evidence for historians to study primitive farming culture, confirms many claims that could not be verified before, and verifies the thick and long-standing primitive farming culture of Chinese civilization.
The cultivation of rice needs to dig deep and level the wet land, and needs to use more solid production tools. So Hemudu people use the shoulder blades or stones of large animals, grind them and put them on wooden handles to turn over the soil. What we later called "Neolithic Age" was named by archaeologists because Hemudu people began to use polished animal bones and stone tools.
Hemudu people's residences are also very particular. They live in a house with a dry fence. The so-called Ganlan House is a popular living form in the Yangtze River valley and southern China in primitive times. The so-called pole fence means that people use wood and bamboo as piles, put beams on them, put boards on them, and fix them with the unique architectural technology in ancient China-Mao bamboo shoot technology.
This kind of house, with people living above and livestock raised below, was very suitable for people's production needs at that time, and it was ventilated and moisture-proof, especially suitable for wet and rainy southern areas. It is not only a great achievement in architecture, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of the working people at that time and the product of the times. In addition, Hemudu people have mastered many other skills necessary for life.
They can make clothes out of linen cloth. In addition, they can dig wells to solve the problem of domestic water use. When food and clothing were properly solved, they also began to develop animal husbandry and raise pigs, dogs, buffaloes, chickens and other livestock and poultry around their houses. At the same time, they have a preliminary understanding of family relations. We can see in the ruins that houses with poles are collectively built, which shows that Hemudu people have a strong sense of affection.
2. Explore the origin of northern millet from Banpo site and describe its characteristics.
Opposite Hemudu site in the south is Banpo site in the north. Similarly, what we can explore from the "Banpo Site" is the origin of the northern millet food culture.
Banpo site is located in banpo village, An 'an, Shaanxi Province, which was verified by archaeologists about 6000 years ago. Because the climate in the north is dry, it is different from that in the south. Avoid soil moisture and various insect poisons. There is no need to overhead buildings like it, but choose a simpler way. So Banpo people live in houses in the half crypt.
The so-called semi-crypt house, as its name implies, is that the building is divided into two floors, one is on the ground for people's living and daily life, and the other is buried underground for storing food and stacking sundries. This architectural pattern is also very consistent with the environment and climate in the north. I have to say that the wisdom of the working people in ancient China is immeasurable.
The housing problem is solved, and the next focus is how to fill your stomach and then accumulate things. The origin of primitive farming in the north is all concentrated in the Yellow River basin, where the climate is warm and the land is fertile, which is most suitable for the growth of millet dry land plants. However, rice in the south needs a lot of water irrigation, so it is difficult to survive in the north, so millet has replaced rice and become the most important food for working people in the north.
At the same time, they also raise pigs, dogs and other livestock, and grow chestnuts, millet and other grains. Because of this, China has also become one of the earliest countries to grow millet in the world.
The ancient crops in Banpo site are also well preserved, which plays a key role in studying the primitive farming culture in China. A large number of millet grains were found in more than 200 pits excavated, which shows that millet cultivation was quite popular at that time.
It is speculated that Banpo site was built later than Hemudu site. That is to say, when Banpo people choose to grow grain, rice cultivation has already appeared in the south, but they still choose to grow cereal crops, which is a choice after considering the national environment. That's what the so-called natural selection means.
In addition, many seeds of Chinese cabbage or mustard were found in this site, which has never been found before. Before the Banpo site was unearthed, the vegetable cultivation culture in China was always considered to have originated after the formation of the country, and this excavation fully shows that vegetable cultivation in China also has a long history.