DISCOVERY OF RICE PHYTOLITHS IN THE NEOLITHIC SITE AT JIAHU OF
HENAN PROVINCE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE CHEN Baozhang , (Regional
Development Institute of Xuzhou Normal University, Xuzhou
221009, China) (Cultural Relic Institute of Henan Province,
Zhengzou 450004, China) (State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao
266003, China) (Chinese Science Bulletin (40)14, July, 1995.
Supported by China National Natural Science Foundation. Rec’d.
Dec. 29, 1994. Scanned from English by G. Leir, ed. by Leir & B.
Gordon.) Keywords: Neolithic site at Jiahu, rice phytoliths,
rice cultivation, cradle. Neolithic rice sites play an important
role in the study of the origin, evolution and propagation of
cultivated rice (1). Of >100 Chinese Neolithic rice sites, 80%
and all earlier ones (Hemudu & Luojiajiao, ca. 7 ka B.P.;
Pengtoushan, ca. 7.5-9 ka B.P.) are in the Yangtze River area.
Is there earlier, cultivated rice near the Yellow or Huai
Rivers? This problem has received great attention academically.
Jiahu is on the alluvial plain east