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published in(发表于) 2013/12/24 8:46:51
Shaanxi Archaeological Institute： 5，300 years ago， Chinese cat control rodents

New in XI ' an, December 23 (Xinhua bitter whirl Wei) Shaanxi Provincial Institute of archaeology researcher Hu Songmei, 23rd to Central News Agency reporter that the archaeological excavations showed that more than 5,300 years ago in Shaanxi Hua county, helping people catch stealing cat food a rat active, this is found the earliest evidence of cats have a symbiotic relationship with people. Doesn't prove this as domestic cats.

Located in East of Guanzhong plain ruins of prehistoric village of huaxian Springs nursing, was first discovered in 1958. Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute expert in 1997 for the second excavation, found 8 bones of at least two cats, two pieces for the left tibia. Previously undisclosed information.

Said Hu Songmei, they cat bone bone measurement, dating and isotopic analysis. Its dimensions similar to the bones of modern European house cats, but is smaller than the European wild cat bones. More diggings perform isotope analysis show that springs to protect human beings, domesticated dogs and pigs, rodents from eating a lot of millet based food, Cat predation holes into the rat eating millet in the cupboard. However, a cat eating less meat, eat more foods are dominated by millet. She speculated that this indicates that the cat may be eating human leftovers or being fed.

Cat bones were found, she said, in China, the archaeological excavations appeared in cat bones are not uncommon, fruit Hill Banpo ruins in XI ' an, Shaanxi jingbian five sites have been reported. She stressed that while the study confirmed 5,300 years ago, Chinese people started to use cat to control rodents, but it is not confirmed that these cats have been domesticated cat a family at that time. Previously, China's domestic cats are considered to be incoming from Europe during the Eastern Han dynasty, from less than 2000 years ago.

Archaeological history of domestication and the origin theories about the cat. Discovered human-related Cat 9,500 years ago in Cyprus to the tomb and buried a wild cat, and cats appear is defined in more than 4,000 years ago in ancient Egypt.

"After years of research, the Shaanxi Hua county of cat bones found, confirms the symbiotic relationship between a cat, rat, and provides important scientific basis for understanding domestication of cats." Hu Songmei said, the focus of this study is to explore the interrelationship between animals and people, especially in the food chain, animal domestication process and mechanism. (End text)

(Edit: SN091)
December 24, 2013 China News Network
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陕西考古院：中国人5300年前就用猫控制鼠害|中国人|鼠害|考古_新闻资讯

　　中新社西安12月23日电(记者 冽玮) 陕西省考古研究院研究员胡松梅23日向中新社记者透露，该院的考古发掘表明，5300多年前的陕西华县，就有帮助人类捕捉偷粮老鼠的猫活跃其间，这是迄今发现的猫与人具有共生关系的最早证据。但并不能证明此为家养的猫。

　　位于关中平原东部的华县泉护村史前遗址，最早发掘于1958年。陕西省考古研究院专家于1997年进行二次发掘，发现了至少两只猫的8块骨头，其中两块为左胫骨。此前一直未曾披露该信息。

　　胡松梅说，他们对这些猫骨完成了骨骼测量、测年和同位素分析。其尺寸类似现代欧洲家猫的骨头尺寸，但小于欧洲野猫的骨头。对更多发掘物实施的同位素分析显示，当时泉护村人类、家养的狗与猪、老鼠大量食用以粟为主的食物，猫则捕食打洞进入粮仓偷吃粟的老鼠。不过，其中一只猫吃肉较少，吃的以粟为主的食物较多。她推测，这说明这只猫可能吃了人类的残羹剩饭或者被人喂养。

　　针对猫骨的发现地，她透露，在中国，考古发掘中出现猫骨并不罕见，西安半坡遗址、陕北靖边五庄果墚遗址均曾发现过。她强调，尽管这一研究证实5300年前中国人就开始利用猫来控制鼠害，但并不能证实当时这些猫已被驯养成家猫。此前，中国的家猫被认为是东汉时期从欧洲传入的，距今不到2000年。

　　考古史上，有关猫的驯化与起源众说纷纭。迄今发现最早与人类有关的猫是9500年前在塞浦路斯给墓主陪葬的一只野猫，而家猫的出现则被界定在4000多年前的古埃及。

　　“经过多年研究，此次陕西华县发现的猫骨，证实了猫、鼠、人之间的共生关系，为了解猫的驯化提供了重要科学依据”。胡松梅还表示，这项研究的重点在于探讨动物与人群间的相互关系，尤其是食物链关系，了解动物的驯化过程和机制。(完)

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