Evolution of Neolithic site distribution (9.0-4.0 ka BP) in Anhui, East China

doi:10.1007/s11442-020-1792-x

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on archaeological surveys of Neolithic cultural development and GIS spatial analysis, this study reproduced the main characteristics of temporal distribution and settlement selection of the sites from the Neolithic Age in Anhui and identified a relationship between environmental evolution and human activity. The results show that altitude, slope direction, and slope gradient were consistent among the settlements at different stages of the Neolithic Age in Anhui, and the sites were mostly distributed in hilly and plain areas on southeast- or south-facing slopes of low gradients close to rivers. We determined that early Neolithic Age (9.0-7.0 ka BP) sites were scattered in small numbers and likely had little cultural exchange with communities of other provinces. The environmental characteristics of various regions in Anhui indicated that the climate was warm and humid with extensive water distribution. The sites of the mid Neolithic Age (7.0-5.0 ka BP) increased rapidly with wide distribution. They were mainly distributed in the plain area north of the Huaihe River and the southwestern areas of Anhui. In the mid Neolithic Age, the warm and humid climate gradually dried, and our ancestors slowly developed cultural exchanges. The largest number of sites existed during the late Neolithic Age (5.0-4.0 ka BP), and were distributed throughout the province. During this period, the overall climate was relatively dry, but humans could still obtain water and other resources through migration. The relatively benign climate facilitated cultural interaction and exchange, which increased during this time, and the Wanjiang culture matured. We also determined that as early civilization evolved, cultures in different regions responded differently to environmental changes. In humid subtropical regions, especially in low-lying plains and areas beside lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, the relatively dry climate in the late period of the middle Holocene, prefaced by a period of high humidity, was conducive to the development of human culture. The evidence from the Neolithic settlements in Anhui therefore reflects this subtropical man-land relationship between cultural development and environmental conditions.

Key words: Neolithic, spatial-temporal distribution pattern, man-land relationship, environmental archaeology, Anhui, East China

WU Li, SUN Xiaoling, SUN Wei, ZHU Cheng, ZHU Tongxin, LU Shuguang, ZHOU Hui, GUO Qingchun, GUAN Houchun, XIE Wei, KE Rui, LIN Guiping. Evolution of Neolithic site distribution (9.0-4.0 ka BP) in Anhui, East China[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(9): 1451-1466.

Figures/Tables 8

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Period	Changes of site distribution with different altitudes						Total
Period	< 50 m	Proportion (%)	50-100 m	Proportion (%)	> 100 m	Proportion (%)	Total
Early Neolithic Age	11	91.7	0	0	1	8.3	12
Mid Neolithic Age	76	87.4	6	6.9	5	5.7	87
Late Neolithic Age	186	69.4	44	16.4	38	14.2	268

Period	Slope gradient (^o)	0	0-1	1-2	2-3	3-4	> 4
Mid Neolithic Age	Site number	21	40	11	3	3	9
Mid Neolithic Age	Proportion (%)	24.1	46.0	12.6	3.5	3.5	10.3
Late Neolithic Age	Site number	48	116	53	14	6	31
Late Neolithic Age	Proportion (%)	17.9	43.3	19.8	5.2	2.2	11.6

Region	Stratigraphic profile	Time range (ka BP)	Environmental characteristic	References
Huaibei Plain	Huangkou borehole in Xiaoxian	12.0-7.5	Warm cool but a little wetter	The No. 1 Hydrogeological and Engineering Geological Team of Bureau of Geology and Mineral of Anhui Province and Jin, 1990; Huang et al., 2006; Wu et al., 2019b
		7.5-5.3	Warm and humid
		5.3-4.0	Warm but a little drier
	Yuchisi site in Mengcheng	5.0-4.4	Warm and relatively wet	Ma et al., 2006; Xu et al., 2011
	Yuchisi site in Mengcheng	4.4-4.0	Tend to be dry	Ma et al., 2006; Xu et al., 2011
Along the Huaihe River	Yuhuicun site in Bengbu	>4.5	Relatively wet	Zhang et al., 2010
Along the Huaihe River	Yuhuicun site in Bengbu	4.5-4.0	From warm-wet to dry	Zhang et al., 2010
Chaohu Lake Basin	Chaohu borehole	9.9-7.7	Warm and relatively wet, with relatively high lake-level	Chen et al., 2009; Wu et al., 2010, 2012b, 2015, 2019a; Luo et al., 2015
		7.7-6.0	Relatively warm and wet, with stable high lake-level
		6.0-4.9	Warm and wet, with relatively high lake-level
		4.9-2.2	Relatively warm and dry, with low lake-level
Along the Yangtze River	Wuhu borehole	9.0-6.0	Warm and wet	Xu et al., 1987
		6.0-5.3	From damp-hot to dry-cool
		5.3-4.0	Tend to be drought
	Longgan borehole	10.0-6.3	Wet	Qu et al., 1998; Yang et al., 2002
	Longgan borehole	6.3-4.0	Tend to be relatively dry	Qu et al., 1998; Yang et al., 2002
West Anhui mountainous area	Tiantangzhai peat	8.8-7.0	Warm and wet	Huang et al., 2007
		7.0-5.0	Tend to be cool and dry
		5.0-4.0	From warm-wet to cold-dry