The research, initiated in 2021, revealed a series of sites along the Fujian coast, dating from 3,000 to 7,500 years ago, which provide insight into the early stages of Austronesian migration. At a conference of the National Cultural Heritage Administration in Beijing, key findings from these sites were shared, offering new understanding into this ancient odyssey.
Particularly notable is the Xiying site on Pingtan Island, near the provincial capital of Fuzhou. Dated between 6,500 and 7,300 years ago, this site revealed human settlements, where analysis of unearthed human bones indicated genetic connections with populations in southern China and Southeast Asia. "This is direct evidence aiding our studies in decoding early groups of Austronesian peoples," commented Zhou Zhenyu, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The Keqiutou site, also on Pingtan Island, offers insights into the life 5,000 to 6,500 years ago. Here, archaeologists found distinct functional areas within the settlement, including residential, food-processing, and handicraft zones, as well as waste disposal areas.
At both sites, archaeologists discovered seashells, animal bones, and notably, the oldest-known rice on coastal islands of southeastern China, suggesting early agricultural practices.
Further exploration at the Donghuaqiu and Guishan sites on the same island showed more advanced human settlements, dated 3,000 to 4,200 years ago, with evidence of public activity spaces, ceremonial areas, and well-designed residential zones.
Zhou further explained that these discoveries help trace a complete lineage of cultures along the western shore of the Taiwan Strait from that era.
The Austronesian peoples are a group of various indigenous ethnicities, historically spanning regions including Taiwan, parts of Southeast Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Madagascar, Easter Island, and Polynesia. Their migrations, believed to have started around 6,000 years ago and continued until about 1,000 years ago, represent a significant chapter in human history, with around 400 million people today speaking some 1,200 Austronesian languages.
The study of the Dapenkeng culture in Taiwan, dating back 4,500 to 6,000 years, has provided insights into the early Austronesian cultures. Comparative analysis between prehistoric sites in Taiwan and the new findings along the Fujian coast has revealed similarities in pottery and stone artifacts, suggesting cultural interactions across this region.
Further interdisciplinary studies, including botanical research and molecular biology, continue to offer clues about these prehistoric links. For instance, a 2022 study showed that rice and millet were introduced to Taiwan from present-day Fujian around 4,600 to 4,800 years ago, indicating the spread of agriculture alongside human migration.
From 2011 to 2012, archaeologists from Taipei-based Academia Sinica discovered human remains, dated 7,500 and 8,200 years old, on Liangdao, an islet near Fuzhou. Follow-up studies showed these remains to be among the earliest-known Austronesian people, with links to early residents in Taiwan.
In 2020, a team led by Fu Qiaomei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted comparative DNA analysis, further corroborating these genetic links.
The research underscores the complexity of the Austronesian migration, suggesting a wider geographic origin and diverse routes. Archaeological sites in provinces like Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Hainan are also part of this extensive origins-tracing program. For example, pottery patterns found at sites in Hainan show resemblances to the oldest known pottery in the Philippines.
Zhang Chi, an archaeology professor at Peking University, emphasizes the significance of language and agriculture in this migration. "Our findings highlight the spread of languages and agriculture, but they also raise new questions for future interdisciplinary research," Zhang notes.
The studies contribute to a deeper understanding of the use of maritime resources by prehistoric people in southeastern China, offering insights into the early human adaptation to coastal environments.
Based on a Xinhua News Agency article
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