Archaeobotanical investigations at high-elevation sites of the Pamir Mountains and fergana foothills.

ABSTRACT: Central Asia, located at the crossroads of Eurasia, played a crucial role in the prehistoric spread of cultivated plants. Archaeobotanical evidence from rockshelters in the Fergana foothills and the Pamir Mountains reveals exchange between lowland and highland zones. Radiocarbon dating shows that broomcorn millet reached the lowlands of northern Central Asia by the late third millennium BCE and foxtail millet by the early second millennium BCE. Walnut and pistachio remains from the Fergana Valley indicate nut foraging as early as 7,800 years ago. The high-altitude site of Kurteke demonstrates cultural and economic links with lowland areas through shared technologies, while its plant assemblage differs from contemporaneous Tien Shan sites, suggesting distinct subsistence strategies. This st

SUBMITTER: Boxleitner K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12775865 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature