New result
25+ km·90+ fields·45 homesteads
Written in the soil: Record of prehistoric subsistence agriculture in semi-arid foothills of Tien Shan, SW Kyrgyzstan
Ravat preserves over 25 km of canals, more than 90 fields and 45 homesteads linked to the Davan/Dayuan horizon. Geochemistry and stable isotopes reveal long-term manuring and distinguish prehistoric farming from Soviet and modern agriculture.
What the study shows
- More than 25 km of canals, over 90 fields and 45 homesteads reveal an organised system for sharing seasonal water.
- Prehistoric soils preserve evidence of long-term, low-intensity organic fertilisation.
- The isotope signal in part of the field system is compatible with C₄ crops, most plausibly millet.
Why it matters
More than 25 km of canals, over 90 fields and 45 homesteads reveal an organised system for sharing seasonal water.
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