Abstract: Isotopic analysis of human bones using 13 C and 15 N is used to determine the diet of ancient peoples from the Yangshao Culture sites of the Central Plains including the Xishan site in Zhengzhou, Yuhuazhai site in Xian and the Xipo site in Lingbao. The results of this work show that these people consumed C4 plants as a staple food. Isotopic analysis of 15 N shows that there is some meat in their diet. For this research，animal bones from related regions were also analyzed, which indicate that the diet of domesticated animals was similar to the diet of the people. Dietary analysis has also been linked to social rank through the analysis of burial tombs for the Yangshao period.

Key words: Yangshao Culture; Central Plains; Carbon; Nitrogen; Isotopic analysis; Diet