Insights into plant-based food resource harvesting and processing: A microfossil analysis of stone tools at the Xinzhai Site, China

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The Xinzhai site, located in the heartland of China’s Central Plains, served as the capital site of the Xinzhai Period (1850–1750 BCE), representing a transitional phase from the Longshan Culture (ca. 3000–1900 BCE) to the Erlitou Culture (1750–1520 BCE). To investigate the types of plant-based food resources that were harvested and processed, along with the tools and methods that were used, we analyzed plant microfossils (primarily starch and phytoliths) recovered from 29 stone tools that were suspected to be related to the harvesting and processing of plant-based food resources. Research findings suggest that millets (Setaria italica and Panicum miliaceum) were the primary crop harvested and processed by residents of the Xinzhai site, followed by Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), rice (Oryza sativa), and beans (Fabaceae). Additionally, tubers and nuts served as supplementary food resources, however further investigation is required to understand the utilization of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Stone knives served as the primary harvesting tools, with single-plant earhead cutting being the predominant harvesting method. In contrast, the widespread adoption of batch-harvesting methods using stone sickles was not evident. Stone mortars and grinding rods were the two types of processing tools found at the site. Although relatively few starch grains were found on these tools, phytoliths were abundant. However, grinding rod likely did not play a role in the processing of plant-based foods. Furthermore, stone mortars may have been used in conjunction with wooden pestles instead of stone pestles. Notably, some whetstones, may have functioned as grinding slabs in conjunction with grinding rods.