Following Camels Between Bone and Culture: Camel-Human Interactions in China from the Neolithic to the Late Imperial Period

Abstract

Bactrian camels were key agents of long-distance interaction in China. Previous studies on camel-human dynamics have relied mainly on iconographic and textual data. This study integrates osteological material with broader archaeological and historical evidence to better understand long-term patterns of human–camel relationships. Results reveal diverse forms of interactions, including transport, labor, consumption, funerary practices, and craft production. Camel skeletal evidence consistently clusters in northern arid regions, where environmental conditions supported sustained economic use, whereas in Central China the record remains sparse despite increasing cultural representations. This distribution suggests limited practical integration in the everyday life of the Central Plains, with camels instead acquiring cultural significance through their role in wider exchange networks. These findings demonstrate how social demand and environmental conditions shaped camel use, offering new insight into early mobility, exchange and socio-cultural dynamics in China.