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Homework answers / question archive / Research Paper Assignment Scope of the Paper Find an archaeological topic related to the use of food, drink, or medicines about which you would like to learn more, develop a research question related to that topic, and address that question in a well-written research paper

Research Paper Assignment Scope of the Paper Find an archaeological topic related to the use of food, drink, or medicines about which you would like to learn more, develop a research question related to that topic, and address that question in a well-written research paper

Writing

Research Paper Assignment Scope of the Paper Find an archaeological topic related to the use of food, drink, or medicines about which you would like to learn more, develop a research question related to that topic, and address that question in a well-written research paper. You have complete freedom in topic with the following exceptions: 1) the question and sources you draw on must deal with archaeological evidence (although other evidence types, such as historical documents, can also serve as evidence) 2) you must find at least three academic articles, books, or book chapters beyond those assigned in this class (although you may also cite readings from class) 3) you may not draw on non-scholarly sources of evidence, including journalistic writing, without advance permission from your instructor You will need to undertake original research to locate a suitable topic and appropriate scientific literature to allow you to write an effective paper. I recommend the ISI Web of Knowledge search engine (http://www.webofknowledge.com) and the Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) search options (both accessible from campus or via library proxy or VPN). Justify your points by citing relevant points from the texts you choose and from background sources assigned for this class, as necessary. Please avoid lengthy quotations or summary of the texts: your goal is to integrate a number of data types to address your question of interest. Please discuss your choice of topic with Prof. Robinson well before the paper is due to make sure you are on the right track! Format The paper must be 7 pages of double-spaced text, with 1-inch margins and 12-point font. Papers shorter or longer than this will be penalized. Your paper should have a title that reflects the content of the paper. Include page numbers at the bottom of each page. You need a separate “Works Cited” page that lists all referenced publications in a standard bibliographic format; I suggest SAA style (see the food journal assignment for details). You may also wish to include figures with your paper; be sure to reference each figure and cite the original source in the caption (note: the “Works Cited” page and any figures do not count towards your page limit, and should be appended at the end of the paper). Check your paper for spelling, grammar, and other typographical errors before turning it in – remember this is a writing intensive course. Proposal and Conference Prior to writing the paper, you also need to complete a one-paragraph paper proposal (~225 words). This proposal should explain what topic you have chosen to explore, identify the tentative research question you have developed as the focus for your paper, cite at least two scholarly noncourse articles or book that you have consulted (with full bibliographic information at the end of your paragraph – does not count towards word limit), and briefly describe the approach you will take to complete your research. An example proposal is posted on Blackboard. Note that your research question will provide you a tentative thesis statement in this proposal. The purpose of this exercise is to have you begin thinking about your paper well before it is due, and to give you an opportunity to discuss your ideas with your instructor prior to beginning to write the paper. Five points (out of 100) of your final paper grade will be based on the timeliness and completeness of this proposal. 1 Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to arrange a 10-15-minute conference with Kathleen during her office hours between the proposal deadline and the paper deadline once you receive comments on your paper proposal. Grading and Revision Papers will be graded on the quality of your analysis, and presentation of that analysis. Papers must be exclusively you own work, must not contain any copied information without credit to the original author, and must not be done in collaboration with another person. 2 Student Name: ___________________________________ Every essay is scored based on these criteria, with points assigned up to the maximum value awarded for each section. Only the very best papers receive the maximum score in most, or every, category. See also brief comments in the text of the paper, especially at the end. This paper is scored out of 100 total possible points. 1. Argument (20 pts) Does the paper focus on one central question that ties the paper together? Is this thesis a relevant archaeological question that is supportable using the scholarly sources cited in the essay? 2. Use of Evidence (25 pts) Are at least three new sources referenced, and are the references chosen appropriate scientific sources? How closely are the multiple sources of evidence integrated analytically? 3. Quality of Thought (20 pts) Does the essay demonstrate a clear understanding of archaeological evidence and the data types and scientific methods chosen? Are meaningful comparisons between diverse sources of evidence explored? Does the essay demonstrate insight or an original perspective on the topic? 4. Organization (20 pts) Is the introduction focused around a clear thesis argument, with relevant background information and supporting arguments laid out in a logical and effective order, and a coherent conclusion? 5. Style (10 pts) Does the essay fulfill the requirements of the essay as specified in the assignment, including structure, length, citation use and style, bibliography, page numbers, and title? Do the language, syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of the paper fulfill expectations for analytical writing at the college level? Has the paper been adequately proofread and spell-checked? 6. Paper proposal (5 pts) Was a sufficient paper proposal submitted by the assigned deadline? Total score: _________________ 1 Traditional use Deer antler base as Medicine in China Introduction In industrialized countries, natural products with health benefits are a rapidly rising area of the market. Green medicines, for example, are regarded as safer and healthier than synthetic medicines. Natural ingredients' use in local and traditional remedies has become a source of rising importance. Plant-based medicines are gaining worldwide recognition, but the other two elements of conventional medicine, animalbased drugs, and minerals, are overlooked. As a result, in recent years, some scientists have focused on studying animal-based medicine. Velvet antler has been used in the East for many years as a traditional animal-based medicine to treat or prevent a different ailment (Zhang et al.2018). The diseases include gynecological issues, cardiovascular illness, blood malignancies, immunological deficiencies, and tissue repair. China also has a variety of different deer species. There are eight races of red Deer in China, and deer farming has recently increased to include several of these subspecies. Sika deer population is lives across northeastern Asia (Zhang et al. 2019). However, the China Veterinary Association has disallowed commercial shooting of wild sika deer, many domesticated Sika deer as new livestock in animal breeding management. After slicing off the velvet antler of the male red deer and sika deer, the rudimental and ossified antler slips off by itself the following year when the velvet antler begins to develop at extraordinary speed. Acquiring a Deer antler base is accessible at a minimal cost because it is grown naturally by the Deer without any pain each year (Li 2 et al. 2018). Unfortunately, people have concentrated on the therapeutic and nutritional benefits of velvet antler in recent decades while ignoring the therapeutic benefits of deer antler base for an extended period. Factors that led to the discovery of the medicinal value of the Velvet Silk scrolls discovered in a tomb over 2000 years ago were the first reported use of deer antler velvet. The scroll described how to produce deer antler velvet and utilize it to increase vigor and stamina, and the supplement has been a popular part of Traditional Chinese culture ever since (Wu et al.2013). According to the data on the silk scroll, the deer antler velvet was thought to be highly potent since it came from a quickly growing antler that renewed every year. Ancient discoverers believed that antlers were full of nutrition, live tissues, and growth stimulants during their regeneration stage. The early discoverers of medicine were correct. The Velvet was an excellent choice. Traditional men realized that antler velvet was regenerated each year by rapidly expanding antlers. Because they felt that antlers were full of nourishment, vital tissues, and growth stimulants during their regeneration period, traditionalists thought the Velvet could be therapeutic and tried it as a medical concoction. They discovered that the early discoverers were correct after experimenting with the drug (Wu etal.2013). As a result, the Velvet was a great pick. Deer antler velvet has long been regarded as a home staple when it comes to supplements. For millennia, the supplement help with general physiological balance regeneration and overall body strength and wellness (Qin et al. 2020). Not everyone, however, was permitted to prescribe the supplement. Only traditionalists who were well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine concepts were allowed to produce and dispense the medicine. 3 Methods used by the Traditionalists to acquire the Antler Base Traditional Chinese people utilized deer velvet as an incredible source of medicine. Antler velvet and velvet antler are two other names for it. The Velvet was produced from immature deer antlers having velvet-like hair on them (Zhang et al.2019). The antlers are composed of cartilage at this age. Protein, minerals, fat, and other chemical substances, including hormones, are also present in antlers. Deer velvet comes from stags that have shed their antlers. The stags had to be in the process of regrowing the antlers. The antlers are covered in soft skin and fuzzy hair short, giving them a velvet-like texture. Velveting is the surgical excision of a male deer's velvet antler. So as not to suffer, the animal was restrained, sedated, and given a decent local traditional anesthetic (Zhang et al.2019). The Deer were then free to roam after velvet harvesting was completed, with no harmful effects from the process. Deer antler is traditionally cut very thinly or reduced to powder. It was not usually boiled in decoctions with herbs because the gelatins easily attach to the herb dregs or the boiling kettle, resulting in a significant waste of helpful material. As a result, consumers took the herb powder separately. Boiling of ossified antlers (cheap than Velvet) for many hours removed the gelatin (protein ingredients) from the rigid matrix. After cooking, the dregs' filtering takes place, mixing the antler gelatin to an herbal decoction. It could also be powdered and drunk straight away. The remnant hard antler material is dehydrated and powdered after gelatin is removed from the antler to form lujiaoshuang deer antler. Usually, it helped in medical formulations (treating eczema, boils, and skin ulcers, since it serves as an astringent and helps to fasten healing). If consumed in large enough doses, it had limited efficacy as a kidney yang tonic. Whole 4 stick antler velvet was separated into three divisions in China traditional commercial commerce based on their stated characteristics. These sections are known as the bone piece (bottoms), the blood piece (middles), and the wax piece (tips or uppers or tip). Because the harvested deer antlers have delicate cartilage and fine hair, preservation was made using a particular method. Protection was typically accomplished by cutting the antlers into smaller portions and drying them. Different forms in which the medicine appeared and their uses The antler base appeared in different forms. These included Tablets, powder, tinctures, ointments, and extracts are all examples of antler preparation methods. Velvet antler was dried and marketed as slices or as a powder heated in water and served as a therapeutic soup, generally with various seasonings and herbs (Li et al. 2018). Whole stick antler velvet is separated into three divisions in China traditional commercial commerce based on their stated characteristics. These sections are known as the bone piece (bottoms), the blood piece (middles), and the wax piece (tips or uppers or tip). Despite the lack of uniform standardization: the wax piece is essential as a development tonic for children, the blood piece for bone and joint health, and the bone piece for geriatric needs and calcium deficiency (Qin et al. 2020). It was dried, powdered, and ingested as a nutritional supplement in encapsulated form or an aqueous alcohol extract. Deer antler spray is yet another form of velvet antler. Warm in nature and with a salty and sweet flavor, velvet deer antler was utilized as a kidney supplement and strengthened the bones, stimulated bone marrow, and 5 replenished the blood. Velvet deer was used in treating vacuity problems such as kidney failure and cold limbs and dizziness, blurred vision, impotence, and seminal emission (Qin et al.2020). Ossified deer antler, which has a salty flavor and is warm, was used as a kidney supplement to strengthen bones. It has similar activity to velvet deer antler and acts as a replacement. However, it is less effective. Finally, deer antler gelatin, which has a pleasant flavor and is warm, was utilized because it warms and replenishes the kidney, frees the blood from the arteries, engenders essential and blood, and prevents stanches floods (excessive uterine bleeding). Spotting and vaginal discharge, deficient bleeding, and flat-abscess were the most common uses (lumps that are not swollen, red, hot, or painful). The use of the concoction outside Chinese Borders The commerce in deer antler velvet has grown to numerous parts of the world in recent years, including North America, New Zealand, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The use of the supplement is currently practical in every country on the planet. Over the last few years, the United States has made extensive use of the drug (Zhang et al. 2019). While the flavor of this supplement isn't enjoyable, it is one of the oldest dietary supplements available in current supplement stores—deer antler velvet aid in producing various bodybuilding and anti-aging products Velvet antler formulations exist in China as part of traditional medicine and nutritional supplements in the United States and other countries. New Zealand produces 450-500 tons of red deer velvet antler each year, making it the world's largest producer of deer velvet. China manufactures 400 tons, mainly from Sika deer; Russia produces 6 80 tons of coal while the United States and Canada generate 20 tons (Chen et al.2015). In addition, deer antler is a well-known traditional Medicine used as a tonic to alleviate aging symptoms in Asian countries. The pharmacological properties of the Antler base made it helpful in treating all these ailments. According to the Chinese medical classics, deer antler base is said to nourish the kidney, strengthen muscles and bones, energize the spleen, and increase blood flow. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China has associated a complete deer antler base with alleviating various ailments, including breast hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, mastitis, children's mumps, and malignant lesions. For many years, researchers focused on the benefit of velvet antler rather than the pharmacological (Zhang et al. 2019). However, scientists have recently conducted many pharmacological, chemical, and therapeutic studies on the antler base of Deer. The growing cartilage and bone that grows into deer antlers are in deer velvet. Deer velvet treats a variety of ailments (Chen et al. 2015). Deer velvet help to increase strength and endurance, strengthen the immune system's function, reduce stress, and speed up recovery from disease. Even though the mechanism of action is still unknown, the key bioactive substances polypeptides, amino acids, and proteins are responsible for pharmacological activity. Deer antler base has been shown in animal research and clinical trials to have no serious adverse effects. Traditional medicine has revealed that deer antler base is a good source. However, more research is needed to investigate which bioactive chemicals are involved in these pharmacological effects in vivo and in vitro and their mechanisms of action. Before the medical procedures, more clinical 7 studies and safety analyses in humans are required (Qin et al. 2020). The current research has supplied primary data for future exploration and commercial deer antler base exploitation. It is unknown whether deer velvet has any adverse side effects. There is insufficient trustworthy evidence on the effectiveness of taking deer velvet while pregnant or nursing. Deer velvet may behave like estrogen in hormonesensitive illnesses such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids. There is insufficient data to define an appropriate dosing range for deer velvet (Chen et al. 2015). Keep in mind that natural remedies aren't always safe and that dosages are vital. Before using, be sure to read the product label and contact your physician, pharmacist, or another healthcare expert. Conclusion Velvet antler base is one of the most in Chinese culture. Antler is biologically active in curing different ailments, according to conventional medical accounts and clinical observations. In the old days, the Chinese relied on it as a source of medicine. The physical and chemical qualities of velvet antlers are critical for antler products approved as nutraceuticals and functional consumables. Because the base of a deer antler is incredibly tough to break, extracting and separating its active components is difficult. As a result, there has been less study into using deer antler base than velvet antler. The use of deer antler base as a folk treatment, on the other hand, has a long history and has yielded positive effects. More human clinical trials are urgently needed to prove this traditional medicine's efficiency. Furthermore, there isn't enough information concerning deer antler base's toxicity. Although there are no adverse 8 negative effects, more research is needed to ensure the safety of deer antler base before using it in medicine. The critical bioactive chemicals of deer antler base may be transformed into new medications to treat challenging and complicated disorders, taking into account their economic considerations and therapeutic efficiency. References Cited Chen, Jaw-Chyun, Chien-Yun Hsiang, Yung-Chang Lin, and Tin-Yun Ho 9 2014 Deer antler extract improves fatigue effect through altering the expression of genes related to muscle strength in skeletal muscle of mice. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM 2014:540580. Chen, Lu, Xiaoyu Wang, and Baokang Huang 2015 The genus Hippocampus--a review on traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties. Journal of ethnopharmacology 162:104–111. Li, Xue, Yuzhen Pi, Dongbing Tao, and Kun Qian 2018 Effects of deer antler base polypeptide on hormone-induced mammary hyperplasia in mice. Food science and technology research 24(3):531–539. Qin, Tao, Guanning Wei, Haiping Zhao, Yong Li, Hengxing Ba, and Chunyi Li 2020 Reclassification of velvet antler portions following transcriptomic analysis. Animal production science 60(10):1364. Wu, Feifei, Huaqiang Li, Liji Jin, Xiaoyu Li, Yongsheng Ma, Jiansong You, Shuying Li, and Yongping Xu 2013 Deer antler base as a traditional Chinese medicine: a review of its traditional uses, chemistry and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology 145(2):403–415. Zhang, Hui, Jiaming Sun, Jingfeng Li, Hui Sun, Xuefeng Bian, Nanxi Zhang, Yaping Wang, and Ying Zong 2019 Research on mechanism of traditional hot processing on velvet antler based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate statistical analysis. Pharmacognosy magazine 15(63):378. 10 Received: 19 November 2018 Revised: 15 February 2019 Accepted: 18 February 2019 DOI: 10.1002/oa.2745 RESEARCH ARTICLE Animal use in a Shang Village: The Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage Yanfeng Hou1 | Roderick Campbell2 | Yan Zhang2 | Suting Li1 1 Archaeometry Laboratory, Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Longhai Road, China 2 Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University, New York, New York, USA Correspondence Roderick Campbell, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University, 15 East 84th Street, New York, NY 10028. Email: rbc2@nyu.edu Abstract Chinese Bronze Age zooarchaeological data sets have almost exclusively been derived from large, urban centres and often from elite contexts. The Anyang period (ca. 1250–1050 BCE) village site of Guandimiao fills an important lacuna as a small, non?elite, rural site. The large urban sites of the Chinese Bronze Age are thought to have been more centres of animal consumption than of stock rearing, and so, Guandimiao presents the first glimpse of a possible production site. In addition, the near total excavation of the original village affords a rarely fine?grained understanding of context allowing us to distinguish broadly between domestic, ritual?related, and mortuary assemblages. These assemblages show differences in relative quantities of taxa, in body part distribution, bone modification, and taphonomy, giving additional insight into animal?related human behaviour at the site. In addition, a variety of lines of evidence demonstrates a large dog?related taphonomic bias, a subject that is generally ignored in Chinese zooarchaeology. Finally, the survivorship curves for pig and cattle generally show gradual attrition with a significant proportion of older animals, in contrast with contemporaneous Shang urban sites. This fact, plus the fact that the sex analysis performed on the pig mandibles demonstrated that they were nearly all female, supports the hypothesis that Guandimiao was a site of livestock raising and origin point for urban provisioning. K E Y W OR D S China, Bronze Age, non?urban, provisioning, Shang, taphonomy, village, zooarchaeology 1 | I N T RO D U CT I O N provisioned from smaller agricultural sites, there has been a dearth of work on such sites as Chinese archaeology has struggled to deal with Zooarchaeology has made many important contributions to the study of the demands of decades of large?scale development mandated salvage the Chinese past, contributing to our understanding of domestication excavation and the relatively small resources afforded to archaeology. (e.g., Huang, 2010; Yuan, 1999, 2010), regional trajectories (e.g., Flad, However, if we envision animal economies as a chain or network from Yuan, & Li, 2007; Yuan, Huang, Yang, et al., 2007), and even secondary birth to death and consumption by humans, if small sites provision large products (e.g., Brunson, He, & Dai, 2016; Li, Brunson, & Dai, 2014; Li, centres, then Chinese Bronze Age zooarchaeology has only been Campbell, Bronson, et al., 2014) and craft production (Campbell, looking at one part of the picture. Village sites, as potential production Zhipeng, Yuling, et al., 2011; Hou et al. 2018). Nevertheless, previous loci, allow us to see other links in the animal economy chain and a fuller zooarchaeological work on the Chinese Bronze Age has focused on picture of animal husbandry as well as consumption and use practices. large sites and central places (e.g., Huang, 2000; Li, 2011a, 2011b; Li, In this paper, we present the zooarchaeological analysis of the Campbell, et al., 2014). Despite awareness that large centres where small, Anyang period (1250–1050 BCE) settlement of Xingyang, Int J Osteoarchaeol. 2019;29:335–345. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/oa © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 335 336 HOU Guandimiao in Henan Province. Guandimiao was excavated from ET AL. metropolitan centre at Anyang and 50 km from the walls of the for- 2006 to 2008 in preparation for the Nanshuibeidiao water?diversion mer, Erligang period (ca. 1600–1400) centre at Zhengzhou. It is not mega project and was awarded the distinction of being a top?10 dis- entirely clear at present what regional political economy Guandimiao covery of Chinese archaeology in 2007. It is the only well preserved was embedded in, but it was likely part of the extended hinterland and nearly fully excavated Anyang period village site to date (Henan, of the Great Settlement Shang at Anyang, administered by a local lord 2008, 2009). The preservation and excavation scope allows a rela- (Campbell, 2018). tively clear understanding of site layout, and by comparing the faunal Guandimiao is located 18?km south of the Yellow river, in the low records of different areas and contexts, we can arrive at a more Xingyang ?? basin, a few kilometers north?east of a hill called Mount nuanced picture of animal use in Guandimiao. As such, we will present Tan ??. Survey results indicate that the nearest river was 6 km from not only data and analysis based on the total sample but also the site. Groundwater was apparently available, however, and excava- distinguish and compare ritual?related, mortuary, and daily use tions at the site uncovered over 30 wells dating to the Shang period zooarchaeological assemblages. Finally, we will compare the results village (Henan 2008, 2009, Li, Campbell, & Hou, 2018; Figure 1). from Guandimiao with those published for urban sites such as Anyang. A total of 20,300 m2 of Guandimiao was excavated, including the extant three?quarters of a Shang village dating to Anyang periods I? III (ca. 1250–1100 BCE; the remainder was destroyed by later activity) 2 | LOCATION based on ceramic typology and stratigraphy (Figure 2). Within that excavation, 22 small houses, 23 kilns, 32 wells, 1,472 ash pits, 17 sac- Guandimiao is located near the modern city of Zhengzhou. It was rificial pits, and 228 tombs were found, all thought to date to the roughly Anyang period (Henan 2008, 2009, Li et al., 2018). Moreover, though 200?km south?east of the contemporaneous Shang FIGURE 1 Guandimiao site location FIGURE 2 Guandimiao site map HOU 337 ET AL. features of various kinds are scattered across the site, a basic site The assemblage was recorded in a standardized excel database structure is apparent. Houses and some of the kilns cluster in the used by the Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. The north?west corner in what appears to be the main residential area. A format of the database was based on Meadow's (1978) BONECODE. small ditch seems to encircle the village, and most of the burials cluster All of the identified bones were used to calculate the NISP, the mini- to the north?east of the ditch. Ritual features including sacrificial pits mum number of individuals (MNI), and the minimum number of skele- and some burials are most densely located on the high ground of the tal elements (MNE). Mortality profiles for the major livestock species of the site (cattle south?west (Figure 2). With more kilns than houses, and ample evidence of ceramic pro- and pigs) were generated based on tooth eruption and wear and the duction tools and waste, Guandimiao appears to have been a settle- epiphyseal fusion of bones (Grant, 1982; Halstead, 1985; Lemoine, ment specialized in pottery production. Based on estimates from both Zeder, Bishop, et al., 2014; Silver, 1969; Zeder, Lemoine, & Payne, residences and tombs, it is unlikely Guandimiao ever had a population 2015). Only the sex of pigs was identified, and that was based on of more than 100 people (Li et al., 2018). At the same time, the picture the morphologies of canine teeth in both mandibles and maxillae. that emerges from the mortuary remains, residences, and artifacts recovered from the site is one of poverty, at least compared with even non?elite areas of Anyang. The animal bone assemblage, moreover, is less than one tenth the size of the assemblage recovered from a similarly sized excavation area at Xiaomintun, Anyang (Li et al., 2018). 4 | UNITS OF ANALYSIS The Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage can be divided into three separate subgroups or contexts. These are tombs, ritual?related deposits and unexceptional, or domestic contexts. The mortuary 3 | METHODOLOGY The animal remains collected from the site were recovered through either hand selection or flotation. Most of the animal bone fragments were from pits scattered across the site. In this paper, we report only the results of the animal bone assemblage recovered through hand selection, which totaled more than 11,000 fragments. Although the vast majority of the site and its features date to the Anyang period, there were a few earlier and later deposits, and it is likely that there is some small degree of mixing in the assemblage. The Guandimiao animal bone assemblage is kept in the zooarchaeology lab of the Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in Zhengzhou. The whole collection was sorted and identified by the authors in the zooarchaeology lab using its world class comparative collections and several bone catalogs (e.g., Hillson, 1992; Zeder & Lapham, 2010; Zeder & Pilaar, 2010). Identification was attempted for every fragment, and size classes were employed for less determinate specimens. Based on our observation, there were very few wild mammal species (
 

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Animals as a Source of Medicine In China

Introduction

Medicines used in the healthcare industry are derived from both animals and plants. In China during the 3rd century B.C, a healthcare system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was developed.  According to Huangdi Neijing (ancient Chinese medical text), 1000 plant species and 36 animal species were used in TCM. In this healthcare system, for an individual to be healthy, qi (vital force or energy) must move smoothly in the body, and yin and yang forces have to be balanced.  In this context, yin and yang forces are passive and active, cold and hot; and absorbing and penetrating, which should balance for one to be healthy.   Additionally, various excavations from zooarchaeological assemblage have demonstrated that animals during various periods, such as the Chinese Bronze Age, were used as a source of medicine in China.  Animals that were majorly found in most zooarchaeological sites include; pigs, cattle, dogs, shellfish, deer, tigers, and seahorses.  According to the ancient doctrines of Chinese medicine demonstrated by the historical books, the "Treatise on Cold Damage" and "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon," animals such as bear gallbladder have used and prescribed in TCM to treat and manage various illnesses such as inflammation,  pain, and bacterial infections. In this research paper, we will first demonstrate the evidence of the animal resources found at various sites in China and then analyze how these different animals were then used as medicines

Zooarchaeological Remains

 

Evidence from Yujiagou Site

Several zooarchaeological have been conducted to determine the existence of plants and their use, thus ignoring animals and their use during ancient times in China. Wang, Xie, Mei, and Gao, published an article called “Intensive exploitation of animal resources during Deglacial times in North China: a case study from the Yujiagou site” (2019). In this scholarly article, the authors have examined the animals’ resources found at the Yujiagou site located in North China during the Deglacial period (ca. 16,000–8000 cal. BP).   In their analysis, they provided zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from two layers because other layers were complex. The layers used were layers 3 and 4 collected at the Yujiagou site. The data presented was faunal assemblages, processing and hunting. The article demonstrates how animals’ resources were obtained and the lifestyle of the hunter-gatherers.  Animals found in these two layers were categorized into different classes based on bone size and tooth size. Class 1 species include; shellfish, zokor, and civet. Class 2 includes; gazelle, ostrich, topi, boar, and fox.  Class 3 species were; horse red deer, donkey, and hyena. Class 5 species include; rhinos (Wang, Xie, Mei, and Gao, 2019).  Also, in the process, it was discovered that micro blades were the technology that was being used for hunting. Animals were used to provide the required nutrients and energy for people. For instance, it was found out that during this period in this site, people preferred hunting juvenile horses and gazelles for their bone marrow which was the source of energy and essential body nutrients. Therefore, in conclusion, different animal species were resourceful in North China during the Deglacial period, as demonstrated from the bone remains excavated and studied from the Yujiagou site.

Evidence from Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan Sites

Shang dynasty is among the pioneers of TCM since they used bones and animals such as tortoise shells for curing diseases bloated abdomen that affected the Shang royal family.  Therefore, understanding in this region during the political transition period from the Shang dynasty to Zhou Dynasty provides evidence that animals existed and were used as a source of medicine.  In the journal article “Animal use in the late second millennium BCE in northern China: Evidence from Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan in the Jing River Valley,” Li et al. have provided evidence of animal use. In this publication, the authors have examined the animals that were present and used in Jing River valley using the artifacts in the archeological sites of Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan during the second millennium BCE.  From their analysis, different species of animals were found from the two sites ranging from domesticated mammals, wild mammals to reptiles and birds.  Domesticated mammals include; cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and goats. On the other hand, the wild mammals include; porcupine, Chinese bamboo rat, Chinese zokor, Brown rat, bear, tiger, deer, and buffalo (Li et al., 2020).  Other categories of animals that were found in these sites were birds such as Ring-necked pheasant, reptiles such as Softshell turtle, mollusks, and fishes. During this period, animal domestication was vital since it helped in building the economy of the Zhou Dynasty during the transition period.  One of the building blocks of the economy is healthcare, for which these animals played a role in its growth. Therefore, this evidence demonstrates that animals were resourceful in Northern China during the second millennium BCE hence the reason why some of them were domesticated and hunted.

Evidence from Guandimiao Zooarchaeological Assemblage

            Animals’ usage in any archeological site can be analyzed based on different types of assemblage.  In ancient times in China and other nations, animals were used for different purposes, including ritual, consumption, and work.  Understanding the type of assemblage used in archeological sites provides an overview of how the animals were used. In the article “Animal use in a Shang Village: The Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage,” the authors Hou, Y., Campbell, R., Zhang, Y., and Li examine how animals were used in Shang Village. The authors utilize the Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage for analysis during the Anyang period, which occurred in ca. 1250–1050 BCE. In their analysis, it was found out that mammals were the majority of zooarchaeological remains, followed by shellfish, birds, reptiles, and then fish consecutively (Hou, Campbell, Zhang, & Li, 2019). In domestic assemblage, cattle, pigs, dogs, deer, and horses were the majority. In ritual assemblage, cattle, pigs, caprine, deer, and horses were the majority. In the mortuary context, cattle, pigs, and dogs were the main ones. In the survivorship and sexing unit of analysis, it was found out that the males were not few in numbers suggesting that they were mostly used by people in the area.  Therefore, the three pieces of evidence demonstrate that animals were used by people in ancient China as resources ranging from consumption to use as medicine.

Animals Used as source of Medicine

Donkeys

 Donkeys are among the most domesticated animals in ancient China, as demonstrated by the Zooarchaeological evidence.  Despite being domesticated for different purposes such as transportation, they were used for medical purposes. Donkey-hide gelatin, also called ejiao in simplified Chinese, is gelatin that is derived from the skin of the donkeys via stewing and soaking. Historically, this was prepared during winter and late fall and was prepared from a well-nourished donkey that was freshly killed. It was prepared either by mixing with powdered oyster shells (to create glueballs) or dry gelatin. Donkey-hide gelatin was used in TCM to treat different types of illnesses such as bleeding, dry cough, insomnia, and dizziness. It is also used in treating anemia and menopause due to its molecular basis of peptidic components.

 

Deers

            From the above archeological evidence, deers are among the animals that were found in China and were resourceful during ancient times.  They were resources because they were used as a source of medicine for the people. One of the most commonly used deer is the Siberian musk deer. The males were hunted and hunted because they secreted musk, which is a strong aromatic substance that was excreted from the scrotum of the musk gland. In TCM, musk, which is also called She Xiang, is dried and used to make over 300 patented recipes of TCM ranging from cardiac medicaments to anti-rheumatic products (Still, 2003). Musk has chemicals that tend to work like androgens and is used for treating a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, stroke, convulsions, and tumors.

Additionally, the deer penis is important for medicinal purposes even in modern times. In TCM, deer penis possesses vital therapeutic properties making them be sold in some of the current pharmacies (Still, 2003). The penis is harvested while the deer is alive, cut into pieces, roasted, and dried in the sun for preservation. It was used by pregnant women to make the child and the mother stronger because it has a fattening property (Maciocia, 1994). When soaked in wine, it can be used for healing athletes’ injuries.

Rhino

            Rhino which was also found in the archeological sites played a significant role in the creation of medicines in China. In TCM, rhino horn has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2000 years (Call, 2006).  Rhino horn contains a powder called Xi Niu Jia, which has antipyretic properties, i.e., reduces fever. It reduces fever by making the hypothalamus quickly override the increase in body temperature induced by prostaglandin (Maciocia, 1994).  Also, this powder helps in curing heart diseases, blood spitting, liver diseases, and stomach diseases. On the other hand, the rhino’s skin for treating and managing skin illnesses while its penis was used as an aphrodisiac (Still, 2003). Its blood and bone are used for treating blood and bone malfunctions in the human body, respectively.

Saiga Antelope

In China, mainly in Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang provinces, antelopes were killed for their horns.  It was due to their medicinal purposes. The antelopes were killed, and horns were cut off, cut into pieces, and dried (Call, 2006). Saiga Antelopes horns powder called Ling Yang Jiao were used for curing headaches, convulsions, and dizziness (Call, 2006).  The dosage of this powder that was recommended was 1 and 3 grams mixed with water.

Tiger

 Tigers are among the animals that were found at the archeological sites based on their remains. The male tigers, like the pigs, were low in number. The male tigers were low in number because the penises (tiger penises) had medicinal value (Maciocia, 1994).  The testicles and penises were cut off to prepare medicine that would help in enhancing sexual performances and treating erectile dysfunctions. Additionally, tiger bones, referred to as Hu Gu, were utilized to strengthen the human body and treat rheumatism (Call, 2006). Also, it was used for the treatment of malaria and epilepsy. Furthermore, tiger teeth were used for rabies, its feces to heal alcoholism and burns, and testicles for healing tuberculosis.

Sea Horses

 From the evidence provided on the presence of animals from the archeological sites, seahorse bones were among those collected. They were categorized among the small-boned animals.  Seahorses also played a significant role in TCM since they were harvested and dried, then crushed to form Hai Ma powder. This powder was then used to treat incontinence and kidney diseases. It was also used in improving the brain functioning of people having dementia. Additionally, it was utilized to treat arteriosclerosis, importance, thyroid disorders, heart diseases, skin infections, and asthma due to its therapeutic properties.

Bear

             Historically, both bear bile and gall bladder were used in TCM to treat various maladies (Still, 2003). Some of the illnesses include; pain, bacterial infections, and inflammations. 

Conclusion

            Traditional Chinese Medicine is a healthcare plan that utilizes plants and animals for the creation of medicine.  Plants and animals were used because of their properties, which help in the treatment process. In China, the evidence of the existence of animals used for creating medicines is based on the zooarchaeological remains in different archeological sites and historical periods. For instance, in the Yujiagou site during the Deglacial times, animals such as donkeys were highly domesticated for different reasons.  One of the reasons was to offer different medical purposes such as treatment of anemia. Information about which animals were used for medical purposes can also be found in historical Chinese books such as "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon." These animals were used for this purpose because they contain chemicals and properties such as therapeutic abilities.  From the analysis of the artifacts, it was also observed that some of the animals based on their gender were less in population. Thus this demonstrates that they were killed for different purposes.

Outline

Animals as a Source of Medicine In China

Introduction

  • In China during the 3rd century B.C, a healthcare system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was developed.
  • According to Huangdi Neijing (ancient Chinese medical text), 1000 plant species and 36 animal species were used in TCM.
  • Various excavations from zooarchaeological assemblage have demonstrated that animals during various periods, such as the Chinese Bronze Age, were used as a source of medicine in China.

Zooarchaeological Remains

 

Evidence from Yujiagou Site

  • Wang, Xie, Mei, and Gao, published an article called “Intensive exploitation of animal resources during Deglacial times in North China: a case study from the Yujiagou site.”
  • In this scholarly article, the authors have examined the animals’ resources found at the Yujiagou site located in North China during the Deglacial period (ca. 16,000–8000 cal. BP). 
  • In their analysis, they provided zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from two layers because other layers were complex.
  • Animals found in these two layers were categorized into different classes based on bone size and tooth size. Class 1 species include; shellfish, zokor, and civet. Class 2 includes; gazelle, ostrich, topi, boar, and fox.  Class 3 species were; horse red deer, donkey, and hyena. Class 5 species include; rhinos.

Evidence from Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan Sites

  • Shang dynasty is among the pioneers of TCM since they used bones and animals such as tortoise shells for curing diseases bloated abdomen that affected the Shang royal family.
  • In the journal article “Animal use in the late second millennium BCE in northern China: Evidence from Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan in the Jing River Valley,” Li et al. have provided evidence of animal use. In this publication, the authors have examined the animals that were present and used in Jing River valley using the artifacts in the archeological sites of Zaoshugounao and Zaolinhetan during the second millennium BCE.
  • From their analysis, different species of animals were found from the two sites ranging from domesticated mammals, wild mammals to reptiles and birds.

Evidence from Guandimiao Zooarchaeological Assemblage

  • Animals’ usage in any archeological site can be analyzed based on different types of assemblageUnderstanding the type of assemblage used in archeological sites provides an overview of how the animals were used.
  • In the article “Animal use in a Shang Village: The Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage,” the authors Hou, Y., Campbell, R., Zhang, Y., and Li examine how animals were used in Shang Village.
  • The authors utilize the Guandimiao zooarchaeological assemblage for analysis during the Anyang period, which occurred in ca. 1250–1050 BCE. In their analysis, it was found out that mammals were the majority of zooarchaeological remains, followed by shellfish, birds, reptiles, and then fish consecutively (Hou, Campbell, Zhang, & Li, 2019).

Animals Used as source of Medicine

Donkeys

  • . Donkey-hide gelatin, also called ejiao in simplified Chinese, is gelatin that is derived from the skin of the donkeys via stewing and soaking.
  • Donkey-hide gelatin was used in TCM to treat different types of illnesses such as bleeding, dry cough, insomnia, and dizziness. It is also used in treating anemia and menopause due to its molecular basis of peptidic components.

Deers

  •       One of the most commonly used deer is the Siberian musk deer. The males were hunted and hunted because they secreted musk, which is a strong aromatic substance that was excreted from the scrotum of the musk gland.
  • In TCM, musk, which is also called She Xiang, is dried and used to make over 300 patented recipes of TCM ranging from cardiac medicaments to anti-rheumatic products.
  • The deer penis is important for medicinal purposes even in modern times. In TCM, deer penis possesses vital therapeutic properties making them be sold in some of the current pharmacies.

Rhino

  • Rhino horn contains a powder called Xi Niu Jia, which has antipyretic properties, i.e., reduces fever. It reduces fever by making the hypothalamus quickly override the increase in body temperature induced by prostaglandin.
  • Also, this powder helps in curing heart diseases, blood spitting, liver diseases, and stomach diseases.
  • On the other hand, the rhino’s skin for treating and managing skin illnesses while its penis was used as an aphrodisiac.
  • Its blood and bone are used for treating blood and bone malfunctions in the human body, respectively.

Saiga Antelope

  • Saiga Antelopes horns powder called Ling Yang Jiao were used for curing headaches, convulsions, and dizziness.

Tiger

  • The testicles and penises were cut off to prepare medicine that would help in enhancing sexual performances and treating erectile dysfunctions.
  • Tiger bones, referred to as Hu Gu, were utilized to strengthen the human body and treat rheumatism. Also, it was used for the treatment of malaria and epilepsy.
  • Furthermore, tiger teeth were used for rabies, its feces to heal alcoholism and burns, and testicles for healing tuberculosis.

Sea Horses

  • Seahorses also played a significant role in TCM since they were harvested and dried, then crushed to form Hai Ma powder.
  •  This powder was then used to treat incontinence and kidney diseases. It was also used in improving the brain functioning of people having dementia.
  •  Additionally, it was utilized to treat arteriosclerosis, importance, thyroid disorders, heart diseases, skin infections, and asthma due to its therapeutic properties.

Bear

  • Historically, both bear bile and gall bladder were used in TCM to treat various maladies. Some of the illnesses include; pain, bacterial infections, and inflammations. 

Conclusion

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine is a healthcare plan that utilizes plants and animals for the creation of medicine. 
  • In China, the evidence of the existence of animals used for creating medicines is based on the zooarchaeological remains in different archeological sites and historical periods. For instance, in the Yujiagou site during the Deglacial times, animals such as donkeys were highly domesticated for different reasons.
  • Information about which animals were used for medical purposes can also be found in historical Chinese books such as "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon."
  • These animals were used for this purpose because they contain chemicals and properties such as therapeutic abilities.