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The possible climate impact on the collapse of an ancient urban city in Mu Us Desert, China

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Abstract

Tongwan City is one of the most famous and best-researched archaeological sites in China. By using palaeoclimatology proxy records from China over the last 2,000 years and archaeological/historical documents, we analyse the possible effect of climate on the collapse of Tongwan City, an ancient urban city of the Daxia state (AD 407–427). During Tongwan City’s existence (AD 413–994), two severe cold and drought stages were recorded by both natural proxy data and the synthesis compiled from the historical documents. The first cold and drought stage occurred at about AD 420–550, with the lowest point centred at about AD 500. The second cold and drought stage occurred at about AD 780–950. These periods correspond to the times of climate deterioration, especially weak summer monsoons, which eventually resulted in the intensive desertification and collapse of Tongwan City.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Major Project of Chinese National Programs for Fundamental Research and Development (Grant No.2010CB950100), the Project of the West Light from Chinese Academy of Sciences (2008YB01), and the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant NO. KZZD-EW-04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Historical Environment and Socio-Economic Development in Northwest China, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, Shaanxi, China

    Jianxin Cui

  2. State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi’an, 710075, Shaanxi, China

    Hong Chang

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  1. Jianxin Cui
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  2. Hong Chang
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Correspondence to Hong Chang.

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Cui, J., Chang, H. The possible climate impact on the collapse of an ancient urban city in Mu Us Desert, China. Reg Environ Change 13, 353–364 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-012-0345-y

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