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The use of cattle labour in antiquity is a worldwide well-discussed topic among researchers as it can shed light on the possible development trajectories of our communities over the past several millennia. Zooarchaeology can play a vital role in illuminating the history of cattle traction through observed pathologies on cattle bones linked to traction activity. Systemic zooarchaeological investigation is still underdeveloped in China, one of the likely early beneficiaries of animal labour exploitation in the world. Here, we apply the pathological index (PI) method, first developed by Bartosiewicz et al. on European assemblages, to Chinese Bronze Age cattle bones. Our results first confirm the wide applicability of the PI method with the involvement of Chinese control samples, which holds the potential to be applied as an effective tool in a larger geographical region. Our results also confirm the importance of cattle traction for the Late Shang states (c. 1300-1046 BC) as previously proposed on the basis of disputed interpretations of oracle bone inscriptions as showing cattle ploughing, but also show that light cattle traction practices likely developed in China in the Bronze Age Erlitou (c. 1750-1530 BC) and Early Shang (c. 1600-1300 BC) periods. Cattle traction use in the Chinese Bronze Age may have facilitated the introduction and subsequent cultivation in China of wheat, an exotic cereal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine meadow plays important roles in the animal production and conservation of water resources in the upper basin of Yellow River. In recent decades, desertification of this alpine meadow has resulted in changes in vegetation and soil features, as well as threatening the ecosystem functions and security. A field study was conducted to explain the response of vegetation pattern and soil features to desertification of alpine meadows. Results of vegetation studies indicated that hygrophytes were gradually replaced by mesophytes, xerophytes, and some annual psammophilous plants, and that cover and herbaceous biomass decreased along with the progressive desertification. Vegetation height increased in the slightly desertified stage, and then decreased in the very severe stage. Species diversity decreased, suggesting that desertification of alpine meadow contributed to species loss. This study also indicated that soil features gradually declined with increasing desertification of alpine meadow with soil texture becoming coarser and water content decreasing gradually. Soil bulk density (0-20 cm layer) increased with increasing desertification, but in the deeper soil (20-40 cm layer) decreased from original vegetation to the moderately desertified stage, and then increased after the severely desertified stage. The difference between the topsoil and the deeper soil in both soil bulk density and soil moisture was greatest at the moderately desertified stage. Soil organic matter dramatically reduced with progressive desertification. Soil nutrients (total N, P and K) decreased greatly due to desertification. Soil pH (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) showed no significant differences among desertification stages. Overall, desertification of alpine meadow decreased plant diversity, reduced dominance of palatable species and changed soil physical and chemical properties. Correlation analysis indicated that vegetation change has been regulated by soil texture, soil organic matter and soil water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]