The prehistoric roots of Chinese cuisines: Mapping staple food systems of China, 6000 BC–220 AD
Fig 5
Kellner and Schoeninger’s approach.
δ13Capatite and δ13Ccollagen measured in archaeological humans from one site dating to >5000 cal BC in the Yangtze-Huai region (gray, Jiahu) and three sites from the Loess Plateau dating to between 5000 and 2000 cal BC (red). Humans plotting along the C3 regression line are interpreted to consume primarily C3 protein, while those along the C4 regression line consume C4 protein. The position on the line along the y-axis is further indicative of the energy source, with low apatite δ13C values corresponding with C3 energy sources and high apatite δ13C values corresponding with C4 energy sources.