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This article provides a comprehensive synthesis of the multidisciplinary exploration into the origins of agriculture, tracing its evolution through archaeological practice, biological research, and theoretical frameworks over the past century. Central to this inquiry is the integration of techniques shch as flotation—revolutionizing the recovery of tiny plant remins—and advanced methods like AMS radiocarbon dating and electron microscopy, which have refined chronologies and morphological analyses of early demesticated species. Pioneering fieldwork by figures like Robert Braidwood in the Near East and Richard MacNeish in Mesoamerica established multidisciplinary models, revealing transition from foraging to cultivation through settlement patterns and domestication markers. The development of optimal foraging theory and coevolutionary models further contextualized human-environment dynamics, challenging earlier paradigms of passive adaptation by emphasizing active ecological manipulation. While genetic studies and molecular biology have clarified ancestral relationships and domestication pathways, debates persist around prime movers such as population pressure, climate shifts, and social competition. The article underscores the shifts from general explanations to localized, multifactorial analyses, integrating ecological engineering and nich construction theories that highlight human agency in shaping agricultural landscapes. In China, despite breakthoughs in identifying ealy millet and rice cultivation, gaps ramain in routine adoption of flotation and theoretical innovation. The conclusion calls for bridging methodological sophistication with interpretative frameworks to advance studies on dryland and paddy agriculture, positioning China’s contributions within global narratives. By synthesizing archaeological evidence, life sciences, and human ecology, the review advocates for a holistic approach that balances technological rigor with ecological and social complexity, ultimately enriching our understanding of agriculture’s transformative role in human history.

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The Practice and Theory of Exploring the Origins of Agriculture

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Chun Chen

摘要

This article provides a comprehensive synthesis of the multidisciplinary exploration into the origins of agriculture, tracing its evolution through archaeological practice, biological research, and theoretical frameworks over the past century. Central to this inquiry is the integration of techniques shch as flotation—revolutionizing the recovery of tiny plant remins—and advanced methods like AMS radiocarbon dating and electron microscopy, which have refined chronologies and morphological analyses of early demesticated species. Pioneering fieldwork by figures like Robert Braidwood in the Near East and Richard MacNeish in Mesoamerica established multidisciplinary models, revealing transition from foraging to cultivation through settlement patterns and domestication markers. The development of optimal foraging theory and coevolutionary models further contextualized human-environment dynamics, challenging earlier paradigms of passive adaptation by emphasizing active ecological manipulation. While genetic studies and molecular biology have clarified ancestral relationships and domestication pathways, debates persist around prime movers such as population pressure, climate shifts, and social competition. The article underscores the shifts from general explanations to localized, multifactorial analyses, integrating ecological engineering and nich construction theories that highlight human agency in shaping agricultural landscapes. In China, despite breakthoughs in identifying ealy millet and rice cultivation, gaps ramain in routine adoption of flotation and theoretical innovation. The conclusion calls for bridging methodological sophistication with interpretative frameworks to advance studies on dryland and paddy agriculture, positioning China’s contributions within global narratives. By synthesizing archaeological evidence, life sciences, and human ecology, the review advocates for a holistic approach that balances technological rigor with ecological and social complexity, ultimately enriching our understanding of agriculture’s transformative role in human history.