Long-buried stories emerge from animal remains

"These animal remains may look ordinary, but they help us construct a research network from animal evolution to subsistence mode and, finally, to social culture," says Lyu.

"In this regard, behind each bone there is a powerful historical truth."

For example, animal bone analysis suggests the earliest-known domesticated dog in China, from the Nanzhuangtou site in Hebei province about 10,000 years ago, indicating that dogs began to enter humans' lives as hunting assistants then. Carbon and nitrogen isotope studies unveil that ancient people generously shared their food with their dog partners, says Lyu.

Research on pig remains from the Jiahu site, in Henan province, dating back roughly 9,000 years, points to some of the earliest domesticated pigs in China.

Over time, pigs became a major source of protein, shaping dietary patterns and agricultural systems.

"The set of criteria for determining animal domestication, developed by Chinese archaeologists led by Yuan Jing, highlights ancient Chinese people's contributions to global animal domestication, providing archaeological support to China's 10,000-year-old cultural history," says Lyu.

The repository contains domesticated sheep remains from the Lajia site in Qinghai province dating back 5,000 years.

There are also cattle bones from the Shantaisi site, around 4,500 years old, and horse remains unearthed at the Yinxu Ruins, dating back about 3,300 years, both in Henan.