Archaeological Evidence for Peach (Prunus persica) Cultivation and Domestication in China

Archaeological evidence from Zhejiang Province, China, reveals that peach (Prunus persica) cultivation and domestication began around 8000 BP, primarily along the Yangzi River valley. The study analyzed five populations of ancient peach stones, showing early selection for preferred types at sites like Kuahuqiao (8000-7000 BP) and Tianluoshan (7000-6500 BP). Peach stone morphology suggests an unknown wild ancestor, with significant changes in size and shape by the Liangzhu culture period (ca. 5300 to 4300 BP), indicating advanced domestication. Similar stones found in Japan (6700-6400 BP) imply a shared source population linked to the Liangzhu culture, reinforcing the lower Yangzi River valley as a key region for early peach domestication.

Zheng, Y., Crawford, G. W., & Chen, X. (2014). Archaeological Evidence for Peach (Prunus persica) Cultivation and Domestication in China. PLoS ONE, 9(9), e106595. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106595