Dating Human Settlement in the East-Central Tibetan Plateau during the Late Holocene

Ren, Lele; Li, Haiming; Rhode, Dave; Flad, Rowan K.; Li, Guoqiang; Yang, Yayuan; Wang, ZhongXin; Cai, Linhai; Ren, Xiaoyan; Dong, Guanghui; Chen, Fahu

doi:10.1017/rdc.2017.117

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…On the northeastern Tibetan plateau the utilization of cold-tolerant barley, sheep and yak has enabled human year-round settlement over 3000 ma.s.l. since 3600 BP (Chen et al, 2015a; Dong et al, 2016a), and the emergence of nomadism enabled human expansion into the Yushu area of the central Tibetan plateau (Ren et al, 2018). On the Chinese central plateau, the traditional agriculture system based on the cultivation of millet, wheat, soybean and rice was established (Lee et al, 2007), and this has significantly improved human adaptability to cold climates in the late Holocene.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Guo

et al. 2019

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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Exploring prehistoric variation in human–environmental interaction is critical for understanding the historical patterns and mechanisms of long-term human–land evolution. In this paper we review the published radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) data from Late Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in China, analyze the spatial–temporal distribution of these sites, and compare it with the results of recent paleoclimatic and archaeological studies. We seek to study the trajectory and influencing factors of human–environmental interactions in late prehistoric China. We detect changing patterns in the relationship between humans and the environment during different phases of the prehistoric era in China. Climate change clearly affected the environment of hunter-gatherer groups between 50,000–10,000 BP (before present, defined as 1950AD), and variation in human population in Neolithic China (∼10,000–4000 BP) was likely influenced primarily by the development of agriculture, in addition to substantial climate events. The spatial scale of human settlements expanded in the Bronze Age (∼4000–2200 BP) in a period of cooling climate. During this time the impact of human activities on the environment increased significantly, primarily caused by technological innovations related to the onset of prehistoric transcontinental cultural exchange in Eurasia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Guo

et al. 2019

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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“…), while pastoralism appeared in the Inner Mongolia Plateau, Xinjiang and the central Tibetan Plateau in the first millennium bc (Wang ; Wang ; Ren et al . ). The trans‐Eurasian culture exchanges in the late prehistoric age facilitated technological innovations for subsistence and the transformation of economic patterns, while the trajectory of prehistoric economic change was affected by climate change and characteristics of the natural environment in different areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Economic Change in the Prehistoric Hexi Corridor (4800–2200 bp), North‐West China

et al. 2019

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It is widely known that the Hexi Corridor in North‐West China lies at a hub of trans‐Eurasian cultural exchange. Its role became increasingly important during the late prehistoric period, particularly as the ancient Silk Road began to be used. While the profound transformation of local cultural characteristics in the late Neolithic and the Bronze Age is well documented, the detailed economic dynamics of cultural evolution have not yet been clearly illustrated. In this paper, we report on significant new zooarchaeological and faunal isotopic data from the Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in the Hexi Corridor. The primary objective is to systematically reconstruct the prehistoric economic context of this area by combining these new data with previous archaeological studies and radiocarbon dates. We argue that the primary economic activities of local inhabitants changed dramatically in the prehistoric Hexi Corridor. This was marked by agricultural production at c.4800–4000 bp, agro‐pastoral production at c.4000–3000 bp and animal husbandry at c.3000–2200 bp, respectively. The major subsistence strategies of these three periods show considerable variation. It is very likely that these transformations of economic patterns in the prehistoric Hexi Corridor were primarily triggered by transcontinental cultural exchange and, to a lesser extent, by climate change.

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“…During the mid-late Bronze Age, the northeast QTP was occupied by people of the Xindian and Kayue cultures. The relatively cold and dry climate, dictated the people to undertake some changes concerning their means of sustenance (Jia, 2012;Dong et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2015;Ren et al, 2018). One such change to the farming practice was a shift from the monoculture of millet to developed multiple crops.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of Cultivated Land in the Northeast Margin of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and Anthropogenic Impacts on Palaeo-Environment During the Mid-Holocene

et al. 2021

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The study of past global change is paramount to comprehending the present and future, as well as to better understand the mechanisms and influences of human–land interactions in a given region. The northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau has complex natural environments, sensitive to global change, and renowned for its long history of human occupancy. This makes it an ideal region for the study of anthropogenic impacts on the paleo-natural environment. This paper reconstructed the prehistoric temporal and spatial distribution of cultivated lands on the northeast margin of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, and analyzed the Dianziping pollen assemblage to disclose the anthropogenic impacts on the paleo-environment. The results demonstrated that around 4.3–4.0 cal ka BP, the rapid development of the Majiayao culture boosted the population to approximately 39,200 people, over 460 km2 of the land area was converted to cropland, concomitantly, evidence of tree pollen decreased significantly. This marked the earliest identification of anthropogenic impacts on vegetation through agricultural activity in this region. At 4.0–3.6 cal ka BP, the population appeared to have diminished in conjunction with the cultivated land area. Nevertheless, forested areas continued to decrease, primarily due to adverse climatic conditions, but, anthropogenic activities played an undeniable role. Dianziping profile demonstrated the existence of natural forest in the Hehuang Valley during Qijia cultural Period. There was also evidence for the occurrence of regional fire events, suggesting large-scale burning of land cover in the area. This further illustrates anthropogenic impacts. At 3.6–2.6 cal ka BP, populations reached approximately 61,300 people, coinciding with the peak of cropland expansion. Consequently, more of the natural vegetation were converted to crops, and the superimposed influences of farming and grazing aggravated the process of deforestation and vegetation succession. Likewise, deforestation during the historical period can be explained, mostly by human driven causes with limited influence from climatic factors. The extensive exploitation of forest and expansion of cropland consequently resulted in extensive land deterioration, leaving the region with forest islands scattered in less populated, mountainous regions.

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Dating Human Settlement in the East-Central Tibetan Plateau during the Late Holocene

Cited by 10 publications

References 47 publications

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Evolution of human–environmental interactions in China from the Late Paleolithic to the Bronze Age

Economic Change in the Prehistoric Hexi Corridor (4800–2200 bp), North‐West China

Reconstruction of Cultivated Land in the Northeast Margin of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and Anthropogenic Impacts on Palaeo-Environment During the Mid-Holocene

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