家养食草动物粪便中的花粉及菌孢子类型及其对人类活动的指示意义

考古遗址中动物粪化石中的微体植物遗存是重建过去生态环境以及人类活动的重要材料,然而对于能够指示人类活动的粪化石孢粉组合类型及其特征仍然缺乏清楚的认识。本文研究了山羊(Capra aegagrus)、绵羊(Ovis aries)、牛(Bos taurus)、骆驼(Camelus)、牦牛(Bos grunniens)和马(Equus caballus)等几种中国常见的家养食草类动物粪便中的主要孢粉和真菌孢子类型。通过分析这些动物粪便的花粉组合特征,探讨了花粉和菌孢子等微体植物遗存对生态环境及人类活动的指示意义。花粉种类丰度低、一些特征种属花粉(如禾本科、藜科)含量高是家养食草类动物粪便花粉组合的主要特征,可以用于指示人类的饲养行为。家养食草动物粪便中的粪生真菌孢子类型主要有Sporormiella,Sodaria,Pleospora,Coniochaeta,Thecaphora and Dictyosporium。研究表明真菌孢子的分布主要受到动物活动范围的影响,这使得利用粪生菌孢子(如Sporormiella)并结合其他记录来反映人类的饲养或游牧活动成为可能。

A study of pollen and fungal spores extracted from the feces of domestic herbivores in China and their implications for human behavior

It has been demonstrated that plant microfossils in the coprolites unearthed from archaeological sites are important materials for reconstructing past ecologies and environments as well as human activities. However, the palynological assemblages of animals’ coprolites that reflects human behavior of feeding and grazing are still poorly understood. Here we present the results of a study of the major pollen and fungal spore types found in the feces of six common domestic herbivores in China: goat (Capra aegagrus), sheep (Ovis aries), cattle (Bos taurus), camel (Camelus sp.), yak (Bos grunniens), and horse (Equus caballus). A study of surface soil samples in proximity to a sheepfold was also conducted to evaluate the influence of factors affecting the transmission of coprophilous fungal spores. The pollen characteristics of the feces include overall low taxonomic abundance and a high proportion of just a few pollen types, such as those of the Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae, which are affected by human activities. The main fungal spore types detected in domestic herbivore feces include the genera Sporormiella, Sodaria, Pleospora, Coniochaeta, Thecaphora and Dictyosporium. The distribution of fungal spores is apparently affected by the range of the animals, making it possible to use coprophilous spores (e.g., Sporormiella) to reconstruct the pastoral and animal breeding activities of ancient humans.