The impacts of climate change on the Neolithic cultures of Gansu-Qinghai region during the late Holocene Megathermal

The Holocene Megathermal is divided into early, middle and late periods, each having different impacts on the Neolithic cultures due to their different climate changing trends This study is based on a comparative analysis of the environmental evolution information recorded in the Qinghai Lake, the western edge of the Loess Plateau and Zoige and the spatial distribution of Neolithic sites of the Gansu-Qinghai region. Results show that the early and middle periods towards warm and humid promoted the development of Neolithic cultures with agriculture as the main sector in the Gansu-Qinghai region, furthermore a heyday of Yangshao Culture prosperity emerged. The Holocene entered the late period after the cold climate event at 5.9 ka BP in the Gansu-Qinghai region. Later the climate began to turn cold. However, at the 5.8-4.2 ka BP a relatively stable warm and humid climate created the conditions for the development of Majiayao Culture of the Neolithic Age in this region, thus the distribution of its cultural heritage sites expanded towards high altitudes and high latitudes. From 4.2 ka BP onwards, the climate became cold and dry, which had a significant influence on the Neolithic cultures of the Gansu-Qinghai region, leading to a dramatic change in the cultural characters and spatial distribution of Qijia Culture around 4.2 ka BP. After a nearly 300 years of cold and dry period, the unified Neolithic farming culture completely collapsed. Afterwards an industrial division of animal husbandry and farming and regional multiple cultures formed, and ultimately led to the end of primitive society and the starting of a civilized society.

Impact of Holocene environmental change on temporal-spatial distribution of Neolithic sites in Huaihe River Basin, Anhui Province

The Huaihe River basin of Anhui is not only a transitional zone of physical geography, but also a convergent area of many cultures in China. It is one of the sensitive ecotones to global changes and the birthplace of Chinese civilization. Using the field archaeological data and the sporo-pollens and the age data of the drilling cores, we analysed Neolithic cultural development and environmental evolution in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui. According to the combination of some research results in archaeology with environmental evolution research, this paper discusses the relationship between culture and environment in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui. The Neolithic cultural development was strongly impacted by the environmental change. The primitive culture （Shishanzi） was developed in the beginning of the Holocene Megathermal Period with distinct regional feature of the culture. From 6.5 kaBP to 5.5 kaBP, the climate changed warmer and wetter. The frequent occurrence of flood and waterlog due to such a climate regime and high sea level caused the earth＇s surface environment deteriorated in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui and the interruption of the Neolithic cultural development, hence a lack of archaeological sites. From 5.5 kaBP to 4.0 kaBP, the climate changed from wet to dry, the natural environment was propitious to human survival. Dawenkou Culture and Longshan Culture flourished in this period. The Neolithic cultural development, the number of the sites and their distribution characteristics of the sites in the study area differed apparently from those in Central China and Shandong Province.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS ON HUMAN SETTLEMENT IN THE CHANGJIANG RIVER DELTA IN NEOLITHIC AGE

Dating data, altitude of Neolithic sites, climatic changes from sedimentary records and previous research results were collected and analyzed to detect possible connections between climatic changes and human activities in the Changjiang River Delta in the Neolithic Age. The results indicated that hydrological changes greatly impacted the human activities in the study region. Low-lying geomorphology made the floods and sea level changes become the important factors affecting human activities, especially the altitude change of human settlements. People usually moved to higher places during the periods characterized by high sea level and frequent floods to escape the negative influences from water body expansion, which resulted in cultural hiatus in certain profiles. However, some higher-altitude settlements were not the results of climatic changes but the results of social factors, such as religious ceremony and social status. Therefore, further research will be necessary for the degree and types of impacts of climatic changes on human activities in the study area at that time.

The Dry-Cold Climate of the Qijia Archeological Civilization in Chankou of the Loess Plateau along the Silk Road Since the Neolithic Period

Objective Large numbers of archeological relics from the Neolithic period are widely distributed in all tributaries of the Yellow River. The early humans tended to reside along the river valleys, and developed small but characteristically decentralized ancient valley culture. It is universally acknowledged that the agriculture exchange between China and western countries and the moderate

DENTAL OCCLUSION STUDY OF YUDEN'S SKULL IN NEOLITHIC AGE

This investigation was concerned to stude abetal occlusion of Yuean's skull inNeolithic Age's. The material for this study drawn from the collection in the ChangzhouNatural Museum aud Shanghai Natural Museum from 1972 to 1978. These skulls were de-termined with 14C by the Arcforolop Institute of the Academy of Social Scienceof China. The samples belong to hNeolitic Age (B.C 4750-3700) about 6000 years ago.The samples were tis individuals in all. Eighteen compete skull samples were selected inthe study . Observation of occlnd relationShips according to able's clasthetion wereed sudy of occlusal surface attrition were taken standard according to degree ofattrition in the 'Hand Book of Ha Measurements'. Some charaCteristics of dentalocclusion of Yuden's skull in Neolithic Age's were obtained:occlnd relationships ofYuden Neolithic Age's was edge to ease occlusion. Dental occlnd suUrface of NeolityicAge's exist excessive attrition which (dentinepoine or line was over ++ 66.6% of the to-tal) become SUrfaCe contact relation. These charaCteristics can further understand thatmankind's occlusion evolution and development.

Physico-Chemical Study of the Neolithic Ceramics of the Region of Oran (Northwest Algeria)

Neolithic sites in Oran are rich in ceramic pottery.Microscopic and chemical analysis of products is closely linked to the subsequent development of the main analytical methods:optical microscopy and X-ray fluorescence.This study learns more about the mineralogical constituents of some caves pottery shards,ceramic typology of the Oran region,likely from the basic raw material(common clay,various types of regolith,silty loams,rarely marl),knowledge of the nature of intentionally added degreasers and characterized geological and archaeological context,also combined with the microscopic study of thin pottery blades met these requirements allowing us to showcase the progress of these ancient societies.

Investigation of Pottery from Different Neolithic Sites in Southeast Albania Using Various Analytical Techniques

In this paper we will consider the results of the investigation of ceramic shards from four Neolithic sites located in the south-east of Albania using different analytical methods. The sites of Vashtemi, Podgori, Dunavec and Maliq, situated at the plateau of Korca, represent the Neolithic culture at the different stages from Early Neolithic to Eneolithic. The application of EDXRF, micro-XRF, XRD and Optical Microscopy (OM) allowed us to collect data on the mineralogical and elemental composition of the ceramics and the materials used for the external decorations. The results indicate that coarse to medium coarse, non-calcareous clays were used for the ceramic manufacture in all the sites. Mineral inclusions rich in Si, Ca, K, and Fe were identified, some of which could have been intentionally added to the clays during the production process. The similarities of the elemental composition of the shards indicate that the ceramics in each site were prepared from different clay deposits that should have been close to each site. Minerals rich in Ca, Fe and Mn have been used respectively for the white, red and dark brown surface decorations, while bitumen has been applied after the firing in a black decoration.

Results from Multi Technique Investigation of Pottery from Different Early Neolithic Sites in Albania

The archaeological excavations of the Neolithic sites in Albania show that this area has been the center of the confluence of different cultures with various levels of development and social organization. This is reflected in the pottery manufacturing, which during early Neolithic is classified in three major groups. The pottery from the Early Neolithic site at Kolsh, situated in north east, shows similarities with all the other cultures of central Balkans, the shards from the site Blaz in the north-west region show an Adriatic-Mediterraean character, while the south culture represented by Vashtemi and Podgorie sites appears to show cultural report with early Neolithic in the area of Thessaloniki. During the last years, the Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics of the University of Tirana and the Institute of Archaeology of the Center of Albanian Studies have initiated a cooperative study of the ceramic finds which aims at a better characterization and classification of the ceramic finds. In this context Optical Microscopy (OM), EDXRF, micro-XRF and XRD were used for the elemental and structural characterization of ceramic samples. Some data on the fabric texture, inclusions, decoration materials and elemental composition of the shards from pottery samples belonging to the mentioned Early Neolithic sites in Albania will be presented.

辽西地区新石器时代文化空间分布特征及其演进预测研究

以辽西地区新石器时期的小河西文化、兴隆洼文化、赵宝沟文化、红山文化和小河沿文化遗址为研究对象,使用ArcGIS软件对各文化时期遗址数据进行提取,借助Logistic回归分析方法构建辽西地区新石器时期遗址的分布预测模型,得出遗址分布与海拔高程等自然地理要素之间的关系,生成辽西地区新石器时期遗址分布概率图。研究结果表明,辽西地区新石器时期聚落选址与自然地理要素关系密切,河流对遗址分布影响较大,海拔高程、坡度影响其次,坡向影响最弱。遗址预测模型显示较高概率分布区集中分布于距离河流较近的河谷、丘陵地带和地势较高的台地。预测模型可为探讨辽西地区史前人地关系演变提供重要参考,为考古发掘工作提供科学判断与决策支持,提高考古工作效率。

Spatial and temporal distribution of Neolithic sites in coastal China:Sea level changes, geomorphic evolution and human adaption

The East China coastal plain is one of the most important Neolithic culture areas in China, where rich archaeological sites including those producing the earliest domesticated rice are observed. It is also a place where landscape has experienced dramatic evolution during the Holocene when both sea level and climate changed, such that it is an ideal place for studying human-environment interaction. This study investigated over 2000 sites of pre-history and Shang and Zhou Dynasties, with 655 of which being Neolithic ages, by using DEM and GIS methods. The results suggest that the spatial and temporal distribution of Neolithic sites has largely been controlled by landscape evolution(particularly changes in coastal line), which ultimately governed by sea level changes. During early Holocene, Neolithic sites sparsely distributed in the intermountain basins of east Zhejiang Province, far from the influence of ocean. Over the period of 9–7 ka, the coastal plain(including the shelf) was largely submerged,only the feet of low hills to the south and southwest of the study area, and islands protruding the estuary, cradled limited number of settlements with characteristic "maritime components". At about 7 ka, sea level rise decelerated prominently, while sediments supply in the drainage remained high value, the combination of which led to land formation and propagation. Vast space during this period facilitated the growth of settlements in both size and number. In the mean time, however, the coastal plain was vulnerable to extreme environmental events such as storms and flooding owning to its geomorphic nature, which exerted great influence on the rise and fall of Neolithic culture.

关中盆地新石器时期水沟遗址人类活动与自然地理环境适宜性研究

本研究通过对关中盆地西部新石器时期水沟遗址人类活动的灰坑、文化层、房址、陶窑和陶器等遗迹、遗物做了详细的梳理分析,理解区域古人类活动的特征,系统地开展水沟文化层剖面环境磁学和AMS14C年代学研究,恢复该区全新世以来气候变化和古人类活动历史,结果表明:水沟新石器时期古人类活动时间为全新世中期5 530~4 300 a B.P.的气候适宜期,其文化发展处在寒冷干燥向温暖湿润转换的过渡阶段。在GIS空间分析技术支持下提取影响水沟遗迹分布的海拔、坡度、坡向和距水源距离因子,构建指数模型,分析新石器时期水沟遗址古人类活动的自然地理环境适宜性分布规律,主要集中在海拔900~960 m,坡度小于6°,坡向朝南,距水源距离小于200 m的自然环境条件优越的区域,并进一步探讨了古人类活动对环境变化的响应与适应的过程和机制。

中国史前漆器溯源初探

展示了史前漆器的出土概况,提出了漆器发明的四大要素,对史前重要漆器文物进行简介,分析论证史前用漆文献材料,最后对史前漆器做了综述总结。

河北阳原马鞍山遗址1997-1998年发掘基本材料与初步认识

马鞍山遗址位于泥河湾盆地桑干河北岸二级阶地,是虎头梁遗址群的重要组成部分。1997-1998年发掘获得多层古人类活动面,石制品和动物化石数以万计,编号标本3549件,遗迹包括十余处火塘和一个可能为储藏坑的遗迹。^(14)C测年的贝叶斯模型显示,遗址校正后的年代大致距今1.7-1.5万年。石制品以火山角砾岩为主要原料,以楔形细石核技法为主要特征,石器类型多样;动物化石数量较少,主要为羊、马、牛等大中型偶蹄动物,还有少量鸵鸟蛋皮串珠和1件骨锥。这些发现为认识泥河湾盆地与东北亚地区在更新世末期的人群交流与文化互动提供了重要线索,也是探讨华北北部地区旧石器-新石器过渡阶段历史过程的关键材料。

新石器时代广西地区橄榄属植物研究现状

新石器时代先民对植物资源利用一直是学界研究的热点问题。橄榄属植物是广西地区重要植物资源,然而有关橄榄属的系统研究十分缺乏。本文系统综述了国内外所发现的橄榄属遗存及其研究方法,进一步强调了拓宽识别方法对橄榄属遗存研究的重要性。本文对橄榄属遗存及其研究方法的梳理,不仅有助于理解新石器时代广西地区先民对橄榄属植物的利用情况,也为解读橄榄属植物在这一地区的驯化史、环境史提供重要信息。

A buried Neolithic paddy soil reveals loss of microbial functional diversity after modern rice cultivation

It has been documented that human activities are causing the rapid loss of taxonomic, phylogenetic, genetic and functional diversity in soils. However, it remains unclear how modern intensive rice cultivation impacts the soil microbiome and its functionality. Here we examined the microbial composition and function differences between a buried Neolithic paddy soil and an adjacent, currently-cultivated paddy soil using high throughput metagenomics technologies. Our results showed that the currently cultivated soil contained about 10-fold more microbial biomass than the buried one. Analyses based on both 16S rRNA genes and functional gene array showed that the currently cultivated soil had significantly higher phylogenetic diversity, but less functional diversity than the buried Neolithic one. The community structures were significantly different between modern and ancient soils, with functional structure shifting towards accelerated organic carbon （C） degradation and nitrogen （N） transfor- mation in the modem soils. This study implies that, modern intensive rice cultivation has substantially altered soil microbial functional structure, leading to functional homogenization and the promotion of soil ecological functions related to the acceleration of nutrient cycling which is necessary for high crop yields.

Starch grain analysis reveals Late Neolithic plant utilization in the middle reaches of the Ganjiang River

Plant utilization is poorly known in South China as compared to North China.Fanchengdui, Zhuweicheng, Shinianshan, and Yinjiaping, which date back to 5-4 ka BP, are typical Neolithic sites located at the middle reaches of the Ganjiang River in Jiangxi Province.Due to the lack of systematic plant archaeological work, only rice straw and husk residues have been found in some archaeological sites in Jiangxi Province.Thirteen stone tools excavated from these sites were examined in this study.The results showed that among the plants utilized are Coix spp., Oryza spp., Vigna spp., plants from the tribe Triticeae, roots from some plants of Zingiberaceae, and other species of roots and tubers.More than 457 grains were retrieved from the 13 stone tools.The fact that Coix spp.were found in all stone tools suggests that these species were a major food source during the Neolithic era.In addition, 28 starch grains of Oryza spp.were found in 8 stone tools.The analysis also revealed that not only seeds of Gramineae but also those of Leguminosae, Zingiberaceae and other species of roots and tubers are among the plants utilized in the four Fanchengdui culture sites.These results indicate that ancient plant utilization was rather diverse, and this study elucidates the prehistoric agricultural systems of South China.

Relations between man and nature reflected by the evolution of the Neolithic production tools in the Three Gorges region of Yangtze River,China

The relations between man and nature reflected by evolution of Neolithic production tools in the Three Gorges region of Yangtze River is discussed in this paper.Our results show that there is a good correlation between the percentage vibration of cutting tool types and the environmental evolution indicated by the natural profile nearby.It is possible for ancestors from the Three Gorges region to learn the advantage of mortise and tenon in the early Neolithic Age because they used the stones as vital tools for processing woods.The hunting method in the early Neolithic is throwing,which was inherited in the mid-Neolithic Age when hunting with arrow and bow was developed.Fishing tools are found at the same period.Numbers of net sinkers and spinning wheels unearthed from the strata of the Western Zhou Dynasty from Zhongba Site reveal the fact of fishing with net,while a mass of fishbone pits indi- cate the powerful productivity brought by new production tools.Quantity of stone spades and stone hoes proves that cultivation agriculture by hoe is extremely attached importance by the ancestors in the Three Gorges region.Moreover,the developed agriculture in Daxi Culture at Zhongbao Island benefits from the landform,climate,traffic location,etc.Otherwise,the reason that the farming tools declined in the late Neolithic Age is related to the extreme flood during the early Xia Dynasty and the fishing hunting preference of some ancient settlements.This research shows that ancestors of the Three Gorges region during the Neolithic Age attached importance to fish hunting and cultivation, fought against the natural environment by production tools,constantly created and improved them, then comprehensively utilized them to evolve the relations between man and nature.

Discovery of rice phytoliths in the neolithic site at Jiahu of Henan Province and its significance

The neolithic ruins of rice cultivation play an important role in the study on origin,evolution and propagation of cultivated rice. There are more than one hundred neolithicsites in China. where the ruins of rice have been found. and 80 percent of them and allthe earlier ones (Hemudu and LuoJiajiao. about 7 ka B.P.: Pengtoushan. about 7.5—9 kaB. P.) are distributed over the areas of the Yangtze River. Are there the earlier. cultivatedrice in the areas of the Yellow River and Huaihe River? This problem has received

Climate background of the evolution from Paleolithic to Neolithic cultural transition during the last deglaciation in the middle reaches of the Yellow River

Shizitan in Jixian County, Shanxi Province, is a site of transitional period from Paleolithic to Neolithic. The dating and the sporopollen analysis show that the middle reaches of the Yellow River where the site is located had been maintaining a steppe environment during 35.1-9.4 kaBP, in which, 35.1-17 kaBP belonged to the last glacial. With cold and dry climate, this period featured a desert steppe environment. In the late of this period, the area had a cold and half-humid steppe environment. The 17.0-11.9 kaBP belonged to the early- and mid-period of the last deglaciation. Mild and half-arid steppe alternates with mild and half-arid steppe, with a small amount of deciduous broadleaf species. During the period of 11.9-10.5 kaBP, cold and dry glacial climate appeared once more, featuring a desert steppe environment. During 10.5-9.4 kaBP, it is mild and half-arid, and later transited toward warm and half-humid. The early phase of this period featured a steppe environment and the later transited into a

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

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.