Role of climate in the rise and fall of Neolithic cultures on the Yangtze Delta

Abstract

Climatic changes in the Yangtze Delta have played an important role in the emergence, persistence and collapse of civilization. Archaeological excavations in the region over many years have demonstrated that there are several layers of fine sand or organic mud that interrupt the consecutive culture strata in a number of Neolithic culture sites. Continuous biostratigraphical and sedimentological records from the Maqiao cultural site, Shanghai, suggest that the fine sand and organic mud units resulted from expansion of water bodies both by sea-level fluctuations and from increased flooding during cold and humid episodes of Holocene climates. The absence of human settlement from 7240 BP to 5320 BP in the region was mainly caused by higher sea levels resulting from a warm and humid climate. The Neolithic cultures developed under conditions of lower and more stable sea level as well as warmer and dryer climates between about 4410 BP and 3250 BP. A flood-induced lake expansion interrupted the civilization in the region at about 4200 BP. Later, higher water tables and expansion of lakes between 3250 BP and AD 618 under a cold and moist climate temporarily terminated settlement on the delta. Later, during the Tang Dynasty, beginning at about AD 618, the region again became suitable for human settlement under conditions of more favourable climate and lower water tables.

Non-linear regime shifts in Holocene Asian monsoon variability: potential impacts on cultural change and migratory patterns

“…4.0 ka BP by the less developed Yueshi culture. In the lower Yangtze River valley (Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces), the Liangzhu culture (5.3-4.2 ka BP) collapsed after about 4.3 ka BP (Stanley et al, 1999;Yu et al, 2000;Li et al, 2010). In a similar way, the Shijiahe culture (4.6-4.2 ka BP) in the middle Yangtze River valley (Liangzhu area of Hubei and Hunan provinces) declined and finally vanished between about 4.2 and 4.0 ka BP (Wu and Liu, 2004;Li et al, 2010;Yasuda et al, 2004).…”

Holocene-aged sedimentary records of environmental changes and early agriculture in the lower Yangtze, China

“…Processing of samples for pollen and micro-charcoal analyses followed standard preparation techniques, as (Yu et al, 2003;Zhang et al, 2005); (2) Cauduntou (Okuda et al, 2003); (3) Zk01 (Shu et al, 2007); (4) HQ98 (Yi et al, 2003(Yi et al, , 2006; (5) ZX-1 Tao et al, 2006); (6) Maqiao (Yu et al, 2000); (7) CM97 (Yi et al, 2003(Yi et al, , 2006; (8) Qidong (Liu et al, 1992). The area shaded darker grey represents land of higher elevation.…”

“…The lower Yangtze is thought to have been first settled by humans ca 7000 BP (Lu, 1999;Yu et al, 2000), possibly earlier, and the occurrence around that time of Oryza sp. phytoliths, Oryza comp.…”

“…Rapidly rising RSL during the earlyto-mid Holocene, possibly surpassing current height according to simulations of a geophysical model, together with a dense network of channels and tidal creeks (Yan and Huang, 1987;Li et al, 2002), higher monsoonal rainfall, the occasional typhoon and tidal surge and relatively low levels of sediment accretion because of a largely forested catchment would have led to the frequent inundation of low-lying parts of the delta plain (Hori et al, 2002). In addition to a temporal trend of improved technologies, increased agricultural production and pronounced social stratification (Chang, 1986;Shao, 2005;Cao et al, 2006), Neolithic settlements on the delta are characterised by alterations in their pattern of distribution (Stanley and Chen, 1996;Stanley et al, 1999;Yu et al, 2000), and presumably this dynamism in settlement pattern was in part because of rising water tables and an increased risk of flooding Zong, 2004). Increased frequency and severity of flooding could have disrupted settlement and food production at Guangfulin ca 2400 BP, and frequent flooding by brackish water from around the same time may explain a continued importance of wild rice around Qingpu (and quite possibly around the other sites too).…”

Ecology and hydrology of early rice farming: geoarchaeological and palaeo-ecological evidence from the Late Holocene paddy field site at Maoshan, the Lower Yangtze

“…This indicates that these locations were on low topography and subject to long inundations. The Middle to Late Holocene climate in the Yangtze Delta and nearby regions was humid and wet as consistently shown by several pollen and geochemical studies (Atahan et al 2008;Tao et al 2006;Yi et al 2003;Yu et al 2000). This climate condition promoted the expansion of 'subtropical evergreendeciduous broadleaved forests' (Yi et al 2003) between c. 7600 and 4800 cal.…”