Fingerprints on the Frontier: Decoding Han Dynasty Border Artisan Identity Through Ceramic Tiles
Archaeometry, vol. 68, pp. 1037–1049
Abstract
ABSTRACT Fingerprints preserved on archaeological artifacts provide valuable insights into the characteristics of ancient populations. Research in this area has been limited, however, due to the scarcity and poor preservation of fingerprint impressions. In this study, we employed advanced archaeological science techniques to recover two fingerprint phenotypes from 2000‐year‐old ceramic tile remains unearthed at the Shichengzi site in Xinjiang, China. By comparing Mean Ridge Breadth (MRB) and Mean Ridge Density (MRD) values from all 10 fingers of modern individuals across three Chinese populations, our results indicate that the impressions were most likely left by males sharing some biological affinity to modern residents in Xinjiang. Moreover, the two fingerprints exhibit distinct anatomical patterns, suggesting that the construction of this Han Dynasty frontier fortress likely involved the participation of local male inhabitants.
Authors 8
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Pengfei Sheng corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeological Science, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology Fudan University Shanghai China
Paleoanthropological Research Center (PARC) Fudan University Shanghai China
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Affiliation as printed
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeological Science, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology Fudan University Shanghai China
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeological Science, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology Fudan University Shanghai China
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeological Science, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology Fudan University Shanghai China
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Jingwen Liao Aachen Department of Archaeological Sciences Faculty of Archaeology Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Department of Archaeological Sciences, Faculty of Archaeology Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands
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Jinxi Li corresponding
Fudan University · Institute of Forensic Science
Affiliation as printed
State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, Human Phenome Institute, Institute of Forensic Science Fudan University Shanghai China
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Pianpian Wei corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeological Science, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology Fudan University Shanghai China
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences Fudan University Shanghai China
Paleoanthropological Research Center (PARC) Fudan University Shanghai China
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