The Banpo people were richly endowed by nature in their natural environment
and geographical conditions for their engagement in the agricultural production.
The main crop unearthed from the Banpo site was millet.
Millet seeds were discovers in a steam. Such a crop had its advantages; drought
tolerance, thus suitable for growing in the loess areas of northern China:
simple techniques were requires in its production; a bigger harvest yield;
a shorter mature period; long period of storage without getting rotten. Hence
the main crop of the north at that time.
After the crop had grown in the previous year on the soil, it had to be turned up so as to make up for soil fertility so that the crop could grow in the following year .The main tool in turning up the soil was stonecats, which was similar to the modern iron spade. (ͼright)
When autumn came, people used stone knives or pottery knives for harvests
.At both sides of the stone knives, there were notches, between which ropes
might be tied, so that people could insert there thumbs to hold while using
them .In the later period, stone knives with handles fixed to them were invented.
The method of grain processing used buy the Banpo people had reached a certain level. AT the site stone grinders and stone grinding clubs were discovered. When they used them. Millets were put on the grinding stone, and then the millets were ground with stone cobs by hands, for peeling the millets or grinding them into flour. Tools for processing were very primitive. (ͼleft)
During the period of the Banpo clan, people also began growing vegetables.
Seeds of vegetables were discovered in a pottery jar for storage, seeds which
had carbonized.
In the course of excavation, archaeologists have also discovered two sites
of sheep pens and pigsties, and bones of six animals of pigs, dog's oxen,
and sheep. Horse and chickens. According to the studies of the experts on
the history of the raising of animal, the only domestic animals, which could
be determined, were pigs and dogs. It is estimated that oxen, sheep, hores
and chickens were being tamed.
Hunting economy played a rather important role in the life of the Banpo people.
There were a large number of wild animals. It may be judged from the bones
of animals discovered at the site that they were bares deer, red deer, bamboo
rats, raccoon dogs, badgers, foxes, tabbits, rocs and so on, most of which
were the bones of barred deer. Hunting activities were conducted collectively.
The tools for hunting were arrows; stone balls stone spears etc.
Fishing
Fishing was ado an important occupation in the economic sectors of the Babpo
inhabitants. The, barbed fishhooks and barbed harpoons invented by them were
exquisitely made and looked as beautiful as the present-day metal ones. It
is estimated that harpooning was more popular than dishing in those days.
Although no trace the fishing-nets had been found, the cur and fish patterns
on the unearthed painted pottery utensils still demonstrate the inhabitants'
use fishing-nets. They might fish by drying a certain fishing ground. (ͼright)
The Banpo inhabitants had already developed their own clothing style with
the sense of primitive esthetic judgment.
The inventions of bone shuttles and stone spinning wheels convinced us that
the clever Banpo inhabitants had a good grasp of weaving skills. (ͼleft top)
The 281 bone needles of delicate workmanship discovered at the site with eyes at their ends, which made it possible to pass thread gotten the hang of sewing. ( ͼleft bottom)
