title: Oldest directly dated remains of sheep in China.
abstract: The origins of domesticated sheep (Ovis sp.) in China remain unknown. Previous workers have speculated that sheep may have been present in China up to 7000 years ago, however many claims are based on associations with archaeological material rather than independent dates on sheep material. Here we present 7 radiocarbon dates on sheep bone from Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces. DNA analysis on one of the bones confirms it is Ovis sp. The oldest ages are about 4700 to 4400 BCE and are thus the oldest objectively dated Ovis material in eastern Asia. The graphitisised bone collagen had δ(13)C values indicating some millet was represented in the diet. This probably indicates sheep were in a domestic setting where millet was grown. The younger samples had δ(13)C values indicating that even more millet was in the diet, and this was likely related to changes in foddering practices.
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.affiliation: 1] Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia [2] Garvan Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banati
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atahan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Archaeology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Songmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Chang An University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet; D005580:Fossils; D055110:Radiometric Dating; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA