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Xinjiang, in Northwestern China, was a key point in the prehistoric trans-Eurasian network of exchange and played an important role in facilitating the dispersal of crops across Eurasia. Millet crops were first cultivated and used ca. 10,000 years ago in Northern China, from where they spread via different routes, leaving intriguing traces in various sites across Xinjiang. This paper presents the latest data on millet in Xinjiang. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, including radiocarbon dating, archaeobotanical evidence, and carbon isotope datasets, this study explores potential routes by which millet entered Xinjiang and traces its expansion from the third millennium BC to the 10th century AD. The research highlights the significant role of millet in shaping the ancient economies and cultures of Xinjiang and Central Asia, while also underscoring the importance of further investigation to uncover the complex pathways of its dispersal across Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to study the spatial characteristics and possible influencing factors of farmland soil texture and salt content in the Syr Darya River Basin. Data on the soil grain size and salt content were collected at 56 sampling sites in the southern part of the Shardara Reservoir and the left bank of the Syr Darya River irrigation area. With the methods of local spatial statistics (Getis-Ord Gi* and Moran's I), the hotspots of soil salinity and grain size in the study area were revealed, and along with the use of correlation analysis, the possible factors affecting soil salt distribution were discussed. Among the 56 soil sampling sites, sandy loam, loamy loam, and chalky loam accounted for 20%, 50%, and 30%, respectively, and mildly, moderately, and severely saline soils accounted for 80.36%, 14.28%, and 5.36%, respectively. There was statistically significant spatial autocorrelation between sand, silt, and clay content in the soils, but the spatial autocorrelation for salt content was weak. The results show that high and high-cluster areas (hotspots) with statistically significant salt content are mainly distributed in the northwest of the study area and that the hotspot distribution of salt content is mainly affected by topography (altitude), but the effect of soil texture on salt content is not significant. The control of soil salinity should prioritize low-altitude areas, especially in the northwestern region. The results are of great significance for the regulation and control of soil salinity and the sustainable utilization of soil in arid Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]