21/08/2026
What did food processing look like more than 10,000 years ago? 🪨🌾
At the Shizitan Site in Shanxi, archaeologists discovered grinding slabs and handstones used by prehistoric communities to process food. Made from hard, coarse rocks such as sandstone and granite, these simple-looking tools were surprisingly versatile.
Microscopic wear and residue analysis suggest they were used to process wild grains, tubers and nuts — and even to grind pigments and make ornaments. Different movements, including pounding, back-and-forth grinding and circular grinding, helped remove husks and crush seeds.
The Shizitan Site preserves evidence of human activity dating from around 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. These grinding tools offer a fascinating glimpse into how gathering and processing edible plants gradually became part of the long journey towards agriculture.
一块看似普通的石头，在一万多年前，却可能是先民手中的“粮食加工器”。🪨🌾
山西柿子滩遗址出土的石磨盘、石磨棒，多由砂岩、花岗岩等坚硬粗糙的石材制成。研究人员通过使用痕迹和残留物分析发现，它们不仅可以加工野生谷物、块茎和坚果，还可能用于研磨颜料、制作饰品。
砸压、撮磨、旋磨——不同的使用方式既能帮助谷物脱壳，也能将籽粒磨碎。
柿子滩遗址留下了约2万至1万年前人类生活的丰富痕迹。从采集可食用植物，到熟练使用工具进行加工，一次次碾磨，也记录着人类逐渐走向农耕生活的漫长历程。
#中国考古 #柿子滩遗址 #史前文明 #文化遗产
