Food Production and Landscape Reconstruction of Liangzhu Culture Village (5000–4600 B.P.)—Archaeobotanical Evidence from the Site of Zhumucun, Southern China

Archaeobotanical evidence from the Zhumucun site reveals that rice was the primary crop during the Liangzhu period (5000–4600 B.P.), with millet presence suggesting interregional communication. Analysis of discarded spikelets confirmed local rice production and processing, while charcoal studies reconstructed the settlement's landscape, indicating a well-organized agricultural system. The site likely supported a smaller population than other Liangzhu settlements, with functional zoning for residential, processing, tomb, and farming areas. This coordinated resource management suggests an efficient labor structure, potentially enabling food surplus redistribution to larger settlements.

Zheng, X., Yang, F., Sun, M., & Chen, Q. (2025). Food Production and Landscape Reconstruction of Liangzhu Culture Village (5000–4600 B.P.)—Archaeobotanical Evidence from the Site of Zhumucun, Southern China. Quaternary, 8(2), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/quat8020021