Journal of Geographical Sciences >
Evolution of Neolithic site distribution (9.0-4.0 ka BP) in Anhui, East China
Wu Li (1985–), Professor, specialized in environmental evolution and geoarchaeology. E-mail: jedi-wuli@163.com |
Received date: 2019-09-05
Accepted date: 2020-04-30
Online published: 2020-11-25
Supported by
National Natural Science Foundation of China(41771221)
National Natural Science Foundation of China(41571179)
Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences(SKLLQG1851)
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2018M632403)
National Key Technologies R&D Program(2016YFA0600501)
National Innovation Training Program for College Students(201810370207)
Copyright
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.
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 . DOI: 10.1007/s11442-020-1792-x
Table 1 Distribution changes of Neolithic sites with altitudes during different periods in Anhui |
Period | Changes of site distribution with different altitudes | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
< 50 m | Proportion (%) | 50-100 m | Proportion (%) | > 100 m | Proportion (%) | ||
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 |
Figure 1 Distribution of cultural sites in Anhui during the early Neolithic Age (9.0-7.0 ka BP) |
Figure 2 Distribution of cultural sites in Anhui during the middle Neolithic Age (7.0-5.0 ka BP) |
Figure 3 Distribution of cultural sites in Anhui during the late Neolithic Age (5.0-4.0 ka BP) |
Figure 4 Distribution changes of the middle and late Neolithic sites with slope directions in Anhui |
Table 2 Distribution changes of the mid and late Neolithic sites with slope gradients in Anhui |
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 |
Proportion (%) | 24.1 | 46.0 | 12.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 10.3 | |
Late Neolithic Age | Site number | 48 | 116 | 53 | 14 | 6 | 31 |
Proportion (%) | 17.9 | 43.3 | 19.8 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 11.6 |
Table 3 Paleoenvironmental characteristics recorded by the typical strata in Anhui |
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 | |
4.4-4.0 | Tend to be dry | |||
Along the Huaihe River | Yuhuicun site in Bengbu | >4.5 | Relatively wet | Zhang et al., 2010 |
4.5-4.0 | From warm-wet to dry | |||
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 | |
6.3-4.0 | Tend to be relatively dry | |||
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 |
Figure 5 The Wanjiang channels of cultural exchange during the late Neolithic Age in Anhui |
Special thanks to Chuan Wang, Wenpeng Zhao, and Haiping Yu for their support and help with the field investigation and manuscript editing.
[1] |
Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (APICRA), 2004. Xuejiagang Site in Qianshan. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. (in Chinese)
|
[2] |
|
[3] |
|
[4] |
|
[5] |
Chorography Compiling Commission of Anhui Province (CCCAP), 1998. Anhui Chorography Relics. Beijing: Chronicles Press. (in Chinese)
|
[6] |
Chorography Compiling Commission of Anhui Province (CCCAP), 1999. Anhui Chorography Natural Environment. Beijing: Chronicles Press. (in Chinese)
|
[7] |
|
[8] |
|
[9] |
|
[10] |
|
[11] |
|
[12] |
|
[13] |
|
[14] |
|
[15] |
|
[16] |
|
[17] |
|
[18] |
|
[19] |
Institute of Geologic Surveying and Mapping, Anhui Province (IGSMAP), 2017. Atlas of Mineral Resources and Geological Environment in Anhui Province. Beijing: SinoMaps Press. (in Chinese)
|
[20] |
|
[21] |
|
[22] |
|
[23] |
|
[24] |
|
[25] |
|
[26] |
|
[27] |
|
[28] |
|
[29] |
|
[30] |
|
[31] |
|
[32] |
|
[33] |
National Research Council (NRC), 2010. Understanding the Changing Planet: Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences. USA: National Academies Press.
|
[34] |
|
[35] |
|
[36] |
|
[37] |
|
[38] |
|
[39] |
|
[40] |
State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), 2014. An Atlas of Chinese Cultural Relics· Anhui.. Beijing: SinoMaps Press. (in Chinese)
|
[41] |
|
[42] |
|
[43] |
|
[44] |
The No.1 Hydrogeological and Engineering Geological Team of Bureau of Geology and Mineral of Anhui Province (No.1 HEGT), Jin Q, 1990. Quaternary System of Huaibei Plain in Anhui. Beijing: Geological Publishing House. (in Chinese)
|
[45] |
|
[46] |
|
[47] |
|
[48] |
|
[49] |
|
[50] |
|
[51] |
|
[52] |
|
[53] |
|
[54] |
|
[55] |
|
[56] |
|
[57] |
|
[58] |
|
[59] |
|
[60] |
|
[61] |
|
[62] |
|
[63] |
|
[64] |
|
[65] |
|
[66] |
|
[67] |
|
[68] |
|
[69] |
|
[70] |
|
[71] |
|
[72] |
|
[73] |
|
[74] |
|
[75] |
|
[76] |
|
[77] |
|
[78] |
|
[79] |
|
[80] |
|
[81] |
|
/
〈 |
|
〉 |