A preliminary study of early agriculture practices at the Haojiatai site in Luohe city, Henan Province

As the most fundamental economic sector of human societies, farming has played a significant role in interactions between humans and the environment. The study of crop patterns in various regions could not only clarify the economic foundations of early societies, but also greatly improve our understanding of interactions among human beings, the environment, and other creatures. In this regard, this study focuses on early agriculture practices at the Haojiatai site, situated in the cultural and natural transitional region between North and South China. Macro plant remains from this site reveal that foxtail millet was the most important staple crop here during the Longshan and Xinzhai periods (4300-3800 cal. yr BP), along with common millet and a small amount of rice and soybean. This crop pattern is in contrast to the ancient environmental conditions of this region, and cultural factors such as agriculture traditions and food preferences may have been more important in the formation process of this crop pattern.