Abstract
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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bevan B W, Rooseveit A C, 2003. Geophysical exploration of Guajara, a prehistoric earth mound in Brail. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, 18(3): 287–331.
Binford, 1997. Climate variation and the rise and fall of an Anden Civilization. Quaternary Research, 47: 235–248.
Bureau of Geology and Mine Management of Anhui, 1987. Regional Geology Chorography of Anhui. Beijing: Geology Press. (in Chinese)
Group of Anhui Archaeology Institute of CSSA, 1993. Survey on Neolithic site in the northern Anhui. Archaeology, 11: 961–980. (in Chinese)
He Changfeng, 1989. Study on some problems about original culture of Anhui. Cultural Relic Research, 5: 93–100. (in Chinese)
He Changfeng, 1991. Survey on paleoculture site in Huainan city. Cultural Relic Research, 7: 274–280. (in Chinese)
Hou Guangliang, Liu Fenggui, 2004. Pre-history and climate change of eastern Qinghai. Acta Geographica Sinica, 59(6): 841–846. (in Chinese)
Jia Qingyuan, Zhang Jingguo, He Changfeng et al., 1993. Briefing on paleoculture site in Suxian, Lingbi and Sixian. Cultural Relic Research, 8: 104–110. (in Chinese)
Jin Quan, 1990. Quaternary of Huaibei Plain, Anhui. Beijing: Geology Press. (in Chinese)
Ling Shen, 1991. Character of coastal evolution in Holocene in the northern part of Jiangsu Province. Marine Sciences, 15(3): 21–22 (in Chinese)
Lu Wei, Wu Baolu, 1999. Relationship between the paleoculture and paleoclimate in middle of China in Neolithic Age. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 19(1): 69–72 (in Chinese)
Pang Jiangli, Huang Chunchang, 2003. A discussion on the relation between environment change and the Neolithic culture of Guanzhong area, China. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 23(4): 448–453. (in Chinese)
Shen Hongyuan, Zhu Cheng, Jia Yulian, 2004. The impact of geomorphology and environmental variance on the Neolithic culture evolution in Taihu Basin. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 24(5): 580–585. (in Chinese)
Shi Yafeng, 1992. The Climate and Environment of Holocene Megathermal in China. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 1–212. (in Chinese)
Shu Zhi, 1998. Summary of Neolithic age archaeology in Anhui. Huaxia Archaeology, 1998, (3): 62–69. (in Chinese)
The Chorography Compiling Commission of Anhui Province, 1998. Anhui Chorography: Relic. Beijing: Chronicles Press. (in Chinese)
The Cultural Chorography Compiling Commission of Lu’an City, 1993. Lu’an Cultural Chorography. Hefei: Huangshan Press, 10. (in Chinese)
Wang Shaowu, Gong Daoyi, 2000. Temperature of Holocene characteristic period in China. Progress in Natural Science, 10(4): 325–332. (in Chinese)
Wang Zhanghua, Chen Jie, 2004. Distribution of the Neolithic sites in the Changjiang coastal plains: Holocene transgression impact. Quaternary Sciences, 24(5): 237–245. (in Chinese)
Wu Jia’an, Liang Zhonghe, Wang Jihuai, 1993. Site and character of Neolithic culture in northem Anhui. Cultural Relic Research, 8: 17–27. (in Chinese)
Xia Zhengkai, Yang Xiaoyan, Ye Maolin, 2003. Pre-historic disasters at Lajia Site, Qinghai, China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 48(48): 1200–1204. (in Chinese)
Xu Hai, 2001. Study advance of Holocene climate change in China. Geology-Geochemistry, 29(2): 9–16. (in Chinese)
Xu Xin, Zhu Minglun, Lu Jitang et al., 1994. Environment and Influence of Quaternary in East of the Central Plains of China. Guiyang: Guizhou Science and Technology Press. (in Chinese)
Yan Wenming, 1989. Preliminary study on Neolithic culture developmental pedigree in Anhui. Cultural Relic Research, 5: 42–49. (in Chinese)
Yang Yifeng, 1990. Briefing on pre-Qing Dynasty culture site in Bengbu. Cultural Relic Research, 6: 124–134. (in Chinese)
Zhang Lansheng, Fan Xiuqi, Ren Guoyu, 1997. Environmental changes in the North China farming-grazing transitional zone. Earth Science Frontiers, 4(1–2): 127–136. (in Chinese)
Zhao Xitao, Tang Lingyu, Shen Caiming et al., 1994. Climate evolution and sea level change based on Qinfeng Section, Jianhu, Jiangsu. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 16(1): 78–88. (in Chinese)
Zhou Chongyun, 1999. Forming and development of pre-history culture in Huai River Basin. Journal of Anhui University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 23(5): 6–12. (in Chinese)
Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui, Ma Chunmei et al., 2003. On the Holocene sea-level highstand along the Yangtze Delta and Ningshao Plain, East China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 48(23): 2428–2438. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40271103; Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Provincial Education Department, No.2005KJ202/021
Author: Huang Run (1963-), Ph.D. and Associate Professor, specialized in environmental archaeology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huang, R., Zhu, C., Guan, Y. et al. Impact of Holocene environmental change on temporal-spatial distribution of Neolithic sites in Huaihe River Basin, Anhui Province. J GEOGR SCI 16, 199–208 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0208-x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0208-x