Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of the deliberate harvesting of rice grains. About informs Archeonews.
Wild rice differs from domesticated rice because the seeds of domestic rice are shed when ripe, while the mature seeds of domesticated rice remain on the plants. Harvesting rice required some kind of tool, whereas using a tool meant that the early rice growers collected seeds that tended to remain on the plants. Domestication took place as the proportion of seeds remaining on plants increased. Scientists knew that rice began to be domesticated in China around 10,000 BC, but they found the means by which the harvesting was carried out.
Recently, archaeologists have discovered many small pieces of sharp-edged stone that can be used for harvesting plants at several early Neolithic sites in the lower Yangtze Valley. A new study confirms that these are indeed tools for grain harvesting. The scientists examined a total of 52 stone tools from the Shanshan and Hehuashan regions left by the Shanshan and Kuahuqiao cultures. They date back to 10,000 – 8,000 BC. Stone scales are rough in appearance and lack fine workmanship, but have sharp edges. Their width is about 4 centimeters.
These instruments were examined under a microscope. The results showed that 30 stones had wear marks similar to those produced by harvesting siliceous (silica-rich) plants, including rice. Also, 28 guns had traces of chemicals from regular contact with brass. Also, rice husks and leaves leave different traces, so it was possible to learn that the collection was done in two ways. In the first method, the plant was cut with a sharp edge like a sickle, while in the second method, the upper part of the plant was cut by holding it between the finger and the stone.