Radiocarbon dating and dietary reconstruction of the Early Neolithic Houtaomuga and Shuangta sites in the Song-Nen Plain, Northeast China

Abstract Our objective in this study was to date and reconstruct the diets of humans at the Houtaomuga and Shuangta sites in Northeast China. Both sites have recently been surveyed and are important for understanding the emergence of pottery. Ours is the first study to provide age estimates for the Houtaomuga site. Phase Houtaomuga I (H-I) was dated to 10,820–9770 BP (13,000–11,000 calBP); Phase Shuangta I (S-I) was dated to 9400–7125 BP (11,000–7800 calBP); Phase Houtaomuga II (H-II) was dated to 7085–6755 BP (8000–7500 calBP); Phase Houtaomuga III (H-III) was dated to 5380–4920 BP (6300–5500 calBP); and Phase Houtaomuga IV (H-IV) was dated to 4420 BP (5000 calBP). This is the first site in Northeast China to be dated to the Early Neolithic period; future studies will focus on the relationship between this area, North China, and the Amur River Basin in Russia. Dietary reconstruction on the basis of carbon and nitrogen isotope composition and C/N ratios of charred residues on pottery indicated that freshwater fish was likely a major component of the diet in this region. These data are important for understanding the use of pottery in Northeast Asia.