After the Capital: Animal Economies in the Ming–Qing Period (1368–1912) at Xiajiazhuang, Xi’an, China

Faunal remains from the Ming–Qing period (1368–1912) recovered at Xiajiazhuang were analyzed to investigate animal exploitation in late imperial Xi’an. Zooarchaeological evidence of unsystematic herd management and household-based pig husbandry indicates localized, small-scale practices with limited oversight of animal production. Comparison with Tang-period (618–907 CE) assemblages and other evidence suggests that demographic changes, socioeconomic shifts following Xi’an’s administrative transitions, and enduring cultural traditions were key factors shaping faunal resource management. The analysis highlights zooarchaeology’s potential to complement textual narratives and enrich understandings of historical Chinese lifeways.