Geographic distribution of archaeological sites and their response to climate and environmental change between 10.0–2.8 ka BP in the Poyang Lake Basin, China

Abstract

The temporal-spatial geographic distribution of archaeological sites and its feature between 10.0-2.8 ka BP (ka BP= thousands of years before 0 BP, where "0 BP" is defined as the year AD 1950) were determined, based on GIS spatial analysis in the Poyang Lake Basin. The relationship between geographic distribution of sites of different periods under subsistence existence of ancient civilizations, climate and environmental change was investigated. The results revealed numerous archaeological sites of the Neolithic Age (10.0-3.6 ka BP). The sites were mainly located in the northern part of the Poyang Lake Basin, a hilly and mountainous area with many river terraces suitable for the development of human civilization. The number of archaeological sites rapidly increased during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (3.6-2.8 ka BP) and spread widely on the floodplains of the middle and lower reaches of Ganjiang River and onto the west, south, and southeast beach areas of the Poyang Lake. Holocene records of climate change suggested that it was possible that climate fluctuations had a great impact on human evolution in the study area. Before 3.6 ka BP, westward and northward expansion of Neolithic cultures in the Poyang Lake watershed occurred under the background of climate amelioration (becoming warmer and wetter). The ancient people lived in the hilly areas with high elevation. The simple mode of a fishing and gathering economy was mostly suited to this area in the early Neolithic Age. The scope of human activities was expanded and cultural diversity developed in the late Neolithic Age. However, with population growth and increasing survival pressure in a dry-cold climatic stage after 3.6 ka BP, this sim-604 Journal of Geographical Sciences ple living mode had to be abandoned, and various forms of economy, the majority being agriculture, were developed on flood plains of the lower reaches of numerous rivers around Poyang Lake. This promoted flourishing of the Bronze culture of South China.

Response of carbon cycle to drier conditions in the mid-Holocene in central China

“…During 6.7–3.4 ky, IRM soft-flux exhibits lower values, suggesting drier conditions 10 . A synthesis of paleoenvironmental investigations in the Poyang Basin, central China, also demonstrates drier conditions during 6.0–3.6 ka 42 . Modeling further supports the conclusion that drier conditions prevailed in central China during the mid-Holocene 43 , 44 .…”

Possible El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related lacustrine facies developed in southern Lake Poyang during the late Holocene: Evidence from spore-pollen records

“…a BP) was the first wet period which is consistent with the enhanced ENSO activities (Liu et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2014b) and lacustrine facies (lighter δ 13 C org values) in the southern Poyang Lake (Ma et al, 2004); meanwhile, the two sites (Heshang Cave and Dajiuhu Peatland) in the central China all witnessed a gradual rising precipitation and relatively high water condition (Xie et al, 2013; Zhu et al, 2017b), which is responsible for the extensive distribution of archaeological sites of Shang and Zhou dynasties (3600–2800 cal. a BP) on river terraces and hilly landscape in the mid-lower reaches of the Gan, Xiu, Fu and Xin Rivers around the Lake Poyang (Xu et al, 2016).…”

History of Mid- and Late Holocene Palaeofloods in the Yangtze Coastal Lowlands, East China: Evaluation of Non-Pollen Palynomorph Evidence, Review and Synthesis

“…The main focus of this paper is the fluvial flood history of the lower Yangtze, and especially the delta lowlands around lake Taihu, but for comparative purposes it is important also to consider the flood history of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze valley and its tributary headwaters, and also because increased river flow and discharge in those areas of the catchment will have had an input into the situation downstream. Now much reclaimed for agriculture [7,386], the major lakes and other wetlands in the mid-Yangtze area, particularly Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, would have expanded and provided accommodation space for floodwater and sediment from upstream [8,134,360,376,[387][388][389][390][391][392], but a considerable amount would still have entered the lower Yangtze valley, adding to overbank flooding and sedimentation in the study area. Records of major floods in the upper and mid-Yangtze region and in tributary headwaters are listed in Table 4.…”