华北民族融合进程中人群生存方式及对健康的影响——以北京延庆西屯村墓地为例

探讨农耕民族与游牧民族之间的相互交融和融合,对揭示中华民族的形成和发展过程极具重要意义。目前,历史文献与人群体质特征的研究,为了解华北地区东周以后人群的混合和交流提供了丰富的线索,但在民族交融过程中生存方式的转变及其对人群健康的影响尚缺乏细致地研究。为此,本文以北京延庆西屯村墓地汉魏时期的人骨为对象,对其开展C、N稳定同位素分析,并紧密结合体质人类学研究成果及历史文献,揭示自汉至北朝期间先民生存方式的变迁及对人群健康状况的影响。研究表明,先民食物中包含大量的C₄类,反映了粟黍农作物种植业在先民生存方式中占有重要地位;自汉至北朝,先民的δ ¹³C值明显升高,可能与民族融合进程中统治阶级对农业经济的重视和多项利农措施的实施密切相关;而北朝时期人群死亡高峰的推后及女性平均身高的增高,则可能与农业经济的发展改善人群的营养健康相关。本文通过对人骨稳定同位素的分析与人骨体质特征的有机结合,为揭示我国民族间融合进程中人群生存方式的变迁及健康状况提供了新的研究视角。

Ethnic fusion in North China from Han Dynasty to Northern Dynasties: Stable isotope analysis of human bones from the Xitun cemetery,Beijing

The study of genetic admixture of nomads and farmers is significant in understanding the beginnings of the Chinese nation. Anthropology and historic research on North China give us a variety of information about human admixture and ethnic mixing in this area, and yet during this period, the impact of subsistence strategy shifts on human health is unclear. Stable isotope analysis (C & N) of human bones were undertaken from the Xitun cemetery (~200BC-580AD) located in Yanqing, Beijing, in combination with evidence from morphological study on human skeletons and historical records in order to discuss possible influences of the health of the ancient population when subsistence shifts appeared. Results show that people mostly consumed C₄-based foods during both periods, which means millet agriculture played an important role. Compared with people living during in Han Dynasty, residents in the Northern Dynasties had a higher δ ¹³C value, which could be closely related to agricultural measures implemented by governments during the ethnic mixing process. Increasing females height and changing death statistics in the Northern Dynasties indicate that development of agriculture may have had unexpected effects on people’s health. In our research, stable isotope analysis and physical anthropological methods provide a new aspect in understanding the fusion of mixing of ancient ethnic groups and thus reflect the beginnings of the Chinese nation.