Abstract:

The history for the domestication and introduction of “Six livestock” including pig, dog, cattle, sheep, horse and chicken to China has been studied, based on the review and analysis of zooarchaeological evidences in Eurasia. The results suggest that pig and dog were domesticated in northern China during 10 000～9 000 BP, cattle and sheep were firstly domesticated in Western Asia around 10 000 BP, and introduced to the Central Plains of China before 4 500 BP. Horse was probably domesticated in Central Asia around 5 500 BP, and introduced to China during Xia and Shang Dynasties (4 000～3 000 BP). Domesticated chicken emerged in northern China before 3600 BP, while the timing and center for chicken domestication is still in debate. These six important domestic animals had been widely utilized in China before the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD).