The Honghe site (123°35′56″E, 47°06′49″N), situated on the right bank of the middle reaches of the Nenjiang River in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, has been ascertained to be a pivotal location for comprehending prehistoric and historical human activities in this region. Between 2013 and 2019, the Heilongjiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology carried out five excavations at the Honghe site, leading to the discovery of copious cultural relics and faunal remains. These findings span an extensive chronological range, from the Late Neolithic to the Qing Dynasty, underlining the protracted history of human settlement and resource exploitation in the area. Among the diverse animal remains unearthed, the bones of roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) stand out notably.
The principal aim of this study was to analyze the roe deer bones excavated from the Honghe site, with the intention of discerning the interactions between humans and roe deer during the Late Neolithic era. By conducting a comprehensive examination of the roe deer skeletal remains, researchers endeavored to reconstruct the modalities of hunting, processing, and utilization by ancient inhabitants. The analysis incorporated the investigation of the age structure at death, sex ratios, seasonal hunting patterns, skeletal distributions, and techniques of bone processing and utilization. The results demonstrated that the mortality of roe deer predominantly transpired within two age brackets: Prime ages of 3~7 years and 7~9 years, and a higher proportion of males was detected among the specimens. This suggests that hunters might have deliberately targeted these age groups, potentially due to their size and the quality of their antlers.
Hunting activities at the Honghe site seemingly took place throughout the year, indicating a continuous dependence on roe deer as a resource. Although seasonal fluctuations were observed, the data imply that roe deer served as a dependable source of both meat and bone materials year-round. The bones most commonly unearthed comprised mandibles, antlers, and limb bones, affording glimpses into the portions of the animal that were most prized. The presence of antlers intimates that hunters may have focused on males for their antlers, which could have been employed for fabricating tools and ornaments.
Furthermore, the site yielded an assortment of bone tools fashioned from roe deer bones, such as fishhooks, awls, and daggers. These artifacts accentuate the role of roe deer bones as a crucial raw material for tool manufacture, exemplifying the adaptability and ingenuity of the Neolithic inhabitants. It is highly probable that the roe deer hides played a significant part in the production of clothing, furnishing warmth and safeguarding against the frigid climate of Northeast China.
In toto, the study of the Honghe site illuminates the significant part that roe deer played in the subsistence and material culture of the ancient inhabitants of this region. The findings offer precious insights into the broader fishing and hunting economy of the Late Neolithic period in Northeast China, stressing the importance of roe deer as a multifaceted resource. Through this analysis, researchers have attained a more profound understanding of the means by which the Neolithic communities acclimated to and thrived in their environment, relying on local fauna to support their livelihoods.
