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Mobile pastoralism was a key lifeway in the Late Bronze and Iron Age of Northwest China and played a crucial role in the regional socio-cultural development, as well as the formation of transregional networks. In this paper we analyse the complete faunal assemblage from House F2 in Shirenzigou, on the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, in combination with radiocarbon dating and spatial analysis, to explore local animal resources exploitation strategies and related socio-economic implications. Our results show an intensive multipurpose caprine management, while the exploitation of other domestic taxa, cattle, horses and dogs, was limited. This pastoral economy was supplemented with some hunting. The differentiated use of space in F2 indicates that basic domestic tasks were carried out in the structure, however its position within the landscape and the predominance of bone tools related to warfare and socialization activities, suggests that it was not an ordinary dwelling, it may also have served as a watch post for the summer encampment within the gully. Our findings constitute an important contribution on the discussion on animal resources exploitation strategies and their relationship with evolving socio-economic complexity in the Eastern Tianshan region in the late first millennium BCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the three-dimensional modelling and lighting simulations provide an opportunity to engage with role of illumination in the functionality of space in archaeological contexts. The original spatial contexts of the once brightly coloured paintings and statuary of the cave temples of South, Central and East Asia provide the perfect case study since they are preserved in situ and their entire form is preserved. Visual perception is a key factor in the experience of a space. To this end, this paper presents a precis on the forms of lighting which were present in these regions during the 5th–8th centuries when these caves were being constructed before presenting data from physical and simulated lighting experiments which demonstrate the varying extents to which the interior of these caves would have been visible to devotees under different potential lighting solutions. These data are then extrapolated in order to outline the way in which lighting affected the historical functionality of the caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions played a pivotal role in the spread of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) since the late Neolithic period. However, previous research failed to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution and associated environmental factors. Herein, we collected foxtail and broomcorn millet data from 113 Late Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in the Tibetan Plateau region to reconstruct the spatiotemporal distribution, and integrated palaeoclimatic data to identify the extent of environmental factors influencing the distribution using the Maximum Entropy (MaxENT) model and Growing Degree Day (GDD) model. Our results show that the spatiotemporal distribution of millets can be classified into three routes and four stages during 6000–3500 cal yr BP. Millet agriculture thrived predominantly in areas below 2500 m asl with average summer temperature ranging from 15 to 25 °C. Temperature exerts the most significant influence on the dispersal process, followed by precipitation, distance from reliable water sources, and altitude. These findings provide important environmental insights into the spatiotemporal distribution of millets and dispersal routes surrounding the Tibetan Plateau. • Tracing three routes and four stages of millet spread across the study area during 6000-3500 cal yr BP. • Temperature is the primary factor shaping millet dispersal and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the study of four late to middle to late Tang Dynasty (781–907 CE) and one Song Dynasty (907–1279 CE) Buddhist sites which are set within a kilometre of one another to the south of the ancient centre of Rongxian (荣县), Zigong, Sichuan. The question addressed is whether these five religious sites could have existed as distinct entities, or if over time they became part of a unified whole. Traditionally such sites are considered as independent works of art divorced from their landscape and social context. Since the connections demonstrated in this paper indicate a unity of purpose we suggest that a more holistic approach to the study of such monuments is worthwhile. This paper proposes that although these sites were originally distinct entities during the Tang, they came to be connected by a pilgrimage route defined by the construction of a pagoda in the Song Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]