Jia Xin - School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, ۲۱۰۰۲۳, China)

With its extremely warm climate, the “medieval warm period” is considered analogous to the climatechange humans are likely to face due to future global warming. Thus, the ability of humans to adapt to anextremely warm climate during the medieval period in Eurasia’s farming-pastoral zone has attracted someattention. The warmth of the climate during this period (۹۰۰-۱۳۰۰ BC) is demonstrated by evidence ofbamboo in charcoal remains and phytoliths found in the settlement sites and tomb murals of the WesternLiao river basin in Northeast China. This warmth probably promoted agricultural diversification, as thepresence of foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, wheat, barley, soybean, hemp, and buckwheat in this regioncan be seen in plant seeds and phytoliths found in archaeological sites. The bones of deer and birds alsoprovide evidence of hunting, and the practice of animal husbandry is indicated in pig, dog, cattle, andovicaprid, horse and camel bones. Diversity in food structures is also shown in stable isotopes from humanand animal bones. Competence in animal husbandry and hunting, and the availability of stable foodresources may have contributed to the rise of the Liao people in military prowess and power, and promotedthe expansion of Khitan-Liao culture.