Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multi-proxy evidence of environmental change related to collapse of the Liangzhu Culture in the Yangtze Delta, China

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Liangzhu Culture (5300–4300 cal. a BP) has been regarded as the culmination of the Neolithic Age in the Yangtze Delta and as an archaic state. However, the reason behind the collapse of the Liangzhu Culture remains controversial. Some scholars attributed it to social conflicts or foreign invasions, while others suggested that environmental deterioration, such as cold episodes, inundation and palaeo-typhoon events, disrupted the civilization. Notably, the yellowish silty sediments widely overlying the Liangzhu group sites have been presumed to be one of the vital clues to resolving these issues. The process and cause of their formation are key to understanding the decline in the Liangzhu Culture. In this study, two typical profiles composed of the Liangzhu cultural layer and yellowish silty sediments were collected in Liangzhu Ancient City. Multiple proxies, including pollen, phytoliths and diatoms, along with radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating and synthesized geochemical evidence from different sediments, were applied to reconstruct ecological and hydrological changes and discuss their linkage to cultural collapse. The regional ecology was typical freshwater wetlands during 4800–4400 cal. a BP, which facilitated rice farming and large-scale architectural engineering in Liangzhu Ancient City. Evidence from microfossils and dating of the yellowish silty sediments indicated that Liangzhu Ancient City was significantly affected by seawater after abandonment during 4300–3400 cal. a BP. Furthermore, geochemical evidence, including trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, suggested that the primary provenance of the yellowish silt was a mixture of sediments from the Qiantang River, East China Sea, Yangtze River and Yellow River, which had been transported to Liangzhu Ancient City by the Yellow Sea Coastal Current and a marine transgression. Therefore, based on evidence from archaeological sites and numerical simulation in the Yangtze Delta, it was supposed that the short-term accelerated relative sea-level rise at approximately 4400 cal. a BP caused a marine transgression around Taihu Lake, formed a large range of yellowish silty sediments, destroyed rice farming production, and ultimately led to the collapse of the Liangzhu Culture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An C B, Tang L Y, Barton L, Chen F H. 2005. Climate change and cultural response around 4000 cal yr B.P. in the western part of Chinese Loess Plateau. Quat Res, 63: 347–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronk Ramsey C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon, 51: 337–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T, Ryves D B, Wang Z H, Lewis J P, Yu X N. 2018. Mid- to late Holocene geomorphological and hydrological changes in the south Taihu area of the Yangtze delta plain, China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 498: 127–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z Y, Wang Z H, Schneiderman J, Tao J, Cai Y L. 2005. Holocene climate fluctuations in the Yangtze delta of eastern China and the Neolithic response. Holocene, 15: 915–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullen H M, deMenocal P B, Hemming S, Hemming G, Brown F H, Guilderson T, Sirocko F. 2000. Climate change and the collapse of the Akkadian empire: Evidence from the deep sea. Geology, 28: 379–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit Y, Hodell D A, Petrie C A. 2014. Abrupt weakening of the summer monsoon in northwest India 4100 yr ago. Geology, 42: 339–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dou Y G, Yang S Y, Lim D I, Jung H S. 2015. Provenance discrimination of last deglacial and Holocene sediments in the southwest of Cheju Island, East China Sea. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 422: 25–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallet S, Jahn B, Van Vliet Lanoë B, Dia A, Rossello E. 1998. Loess geochemistry and its implications for particle origin and composition of the upper continental crust. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 156: 157–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm E C. 1991. Tilia and Tiliagraph. Springfield: Illinois State Museum

    Google Scholar 

  • Grousset F E, Biscaye P E. 2005. Tracing dust sources and transport patterns using Sr, Nd and Pb isotopes. Chem Geol, 222: 149–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Hao Q Z, Qiao Y S, Wang L, Peng S Z, Li N, Gao X B, Fu Y, Xu B, Gu Z Y. 2019. Geochemical evidence for provenance diversity of loess in southern China and its implications for glacial aridification of the northern subtropical region. Quat Sci Rev, 212: 149–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao Q Z, Guo Z T, Qiao Y S, Xu B, Oldfield F. 2010. Geochemical evidence for the provenance of middle Pleistocene loess deposits in southern China. Quat Sci Rev, 29: 3317–3326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He K Y, Lu H Y, Zheng Y F, Zhang J P, Xu D K, Huan X J, Wang J H, Lei S. 2018. Middle-Holocene sea-level fluctuations interrupted the developing Hemudu culture in the lower Yangtze River, China. Quat Sci Rev, 188: 90–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang C C, Pang J, Zha X, Su H, Jia Y. 2011. Extraordinary floods related to the climatic event at 4200 a BP on the Qishuihe River, middle reaches of the Yellow River, China. Quat Sci Rev, 30: 460–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang X R, Zheng H B, Hu Z J, Yang Q, Sun G P, Ling G J, Zhou Y S, Cheng Y, Cao Y T, Wang P. 2019. The changes of hydrological environment recorded in the section of Tianluoshan Site in Zhejiang Province (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 64: 963–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Innes J B, Zong Y Q, Wang Z H, Chen Z Y. 2014. Climatic and palaeoecological changes during the mid- to Late Holocene transition in eastern China: High-resolution pollen and non-pollen palynomorph analysis at Pingwang, Yangtze coastal lowlands. Quat Sci Rev, 99: 164–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji X. 2016. The geochemistry and provenance of the sediments of Liangzhu sites and their implications on the collapse of Liangzhu civilization (in Chinese). Dissertation for Master’s Degree. Nanjing: Nanjing University. 1–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji X, Wu W H, Chen M H, Wang N Y, Liu B, Xu S J, Yang J D. 2016. Sr-Nd isotopic compositions and provenance of materials at Liangzhu Culture sites: Implications for the lost ancient civilization (in Chinese). Geol J China Univ, 22: 631–637

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin Y X, Mo D W, Li Y Y, Ding P, Zong Y Q, Zhuang Y J. 2018. Ecology and hydrology of early rice farming: Geoarchaeological and palaeoecological evidence from the Late Holocene paddy field site at Maoshan, the Lower Yangtze. Archaeol Anthropol Sci, 11: 1851–1863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juggins S. 2007. C2: Software for Ecological and Palaeoecological Data Analysis and Visualisation (User Guide Version 1.5). Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University. 1–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Kajita H, Kawahata H, Wang K, Zheng H, Yang S, Ohkouchi N, Utsunomiya M, Zhou B, Zheng B. 2018. Extraordinary cold episodes during the mid-Holocene in the Yangtze delta: Interruption of the earliest rice cultivating civilization. Quat Sci Rev, 201: 418–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krom M D, Stanley J D, Cliff R A, Woodward J C. 2002. Nile River sediment fluctuations over the past 7000 yr and their key role in sapropel development. Geology, 30: 71–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambeck K, Rouby H, Purcell A, Sun Y, Sambridge M. 2014. Sea level and global ice volumes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 111: 15296–15303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C. 2013. Research on the environmental archaeology of the Yujiashan site in Hangjiahu Plain (in Chinese). Dissertation for Master’s Degree. Shanghai: East China Normal University. 1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y Y, Wu J, Hou S F, Shi C X, Mo D W, Liu B, Zhou L P. 2010. Palaeoecological records of environmental change and cultural development from the Liangzhu and Qujialing archaeological sites in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Quat Int, 227: 29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Wang N Y, Chen M H, Wu X H, Mo D W, Liu J G, Xu S J, Zhuang Y J. 2017. Earliest hydraulic enterprise in China, 5100 years ago. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 114: 13637–13642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F G, Feng Z D. 2012. A dramatic climatic transition at ∼4000 cal. yr BP and its cultural responses in Chinese cultural domains. Holocene, 22: 1181–1197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Saito Y, Kong X H, Wang H, Xiang L H, Wen C, Nakashima R. 2010. Sedimentary record of environmental evolution off the Yangtze River estuary, East China Sea, during the last ∼13000 years, with special reference to the influence of the Yellow River on the Yangtze River delta during the last 600 years. Quat Sci Rev, 29: 2424–2438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Wu B, Liu Y, You Q M, Wang Q X. 2011. Preliminary studies on diatoms from chongming east beach (in Chinese). Plant Sci J, 29: 570–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Li M T, Sun Q L, Chen Z Y. 2014. Palaeoclimatic and environmental changes since the mid-Holocene in the Hangzhou Bay and their possible impacts on the evolution of Liangzhu Culture (in Chinese). J Lake Sci, 26: 322–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Sun Q L, Thomas I, Zhang L, Finlayson B, Zhang W G, Chen J, Chen Z Y. 2015. Middle Holocene coastal environment and the rise of the Liangzhu City complex on the Yangtze delta, China. Quat Res, 84: 326–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long T W, Qin J G, Atahan P, Mooney S, Taylor D. 2014. Rising waters: New geoarchaeological evidence of inundation and early agriculture from former settlement sites on the southern Yangtze Delta, China. Holocene, 24: 546–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu H Y, Wu N Q, Yang X D, Jiang H, Liu K, Liu T S. 2006. Phytoliths as quantitative indicators for the reconstruction of past environmental conditions in China I: Phytolith-based transfer functions. Quat Sci Rev, 25: 945–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLennan S M, Hemming S, McDaniel D K, Hanson G N. 1993. Geochemical approaches to sedimentation, provenance and tectonics. In: Johnsson M J, Basu A, eds. Processes Controlling the Composition of Clastic Sediments. Colorado: Boulder. 21–40

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzner A J, Switzer A D, Horton B P, Ashe E, Qiu Q, Hill D F, Bradley S L, Kopp R E, Hill E M, Majewski J M, Natawidjaja D H, Suwargadi B W. 2017. Half-metre sea-level fluctuations on centennial timescales from mid-Holocene corals of Southeast Asia. Nat Commun, 8: 14387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng X W, Du D W, Wu J L. 2001. Quantitative pattern of mixed surface sediments from the middle Okinawa Trough into their end-members using Sr-Nd isotope (in Chinese). Oceanol Limnol Sin, 32: 319–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Mo D W, Jin Y X, Shi C X. 2019. Research report on Liangzhu site and regional environmental archaeology (in Chinese). In: Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, eds. Report of the Group Sites at Liangzhu, Volume VII: A Comprehensive Study of Liangzhu Ancient City. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. 378–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore P D, Webb J A, Collison M E. 1991. Pollen Analysis. Oxford, U.K: Blackwell Scientific Publications

    Google Scholar 

  • Nian X M, Zhang W G, Wang Z H, Sun Q L, Chen Z Y. 2021. Inter-comparison of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages between different fractions of Holocene deposits from the Yangtze delta and its environmental implications. Mar Geol, 432: 106401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin L. 2019. The formation of Liangzhu site (Ancient City)—Preliminary study of chronology (in Chinese). In: Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, eds. Report of the Group Sites at Liangzhu, Volume VII: A Comprehensive Study of Liangzhu Ancient City. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. 335–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Railsback L B, Liang F, Brook G A, Voarintsoa N R G, Sletten H R, Marais E, Hardt B, Cheng H, Edwards R L. 2018. The timing, two-pulsed nature, and variable climatic expression of the 4.2 ka event: A review and new high-resolution stalagmite data from Namibia. Quat Sci Rev, 186: 78–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimer P J, Austin W E N, Bard E, Bayliss A, Blackwell P G, Bronk Ramsey C, Butzin M, Cheng H, Edwards R L, Friedrich M, Grootes P M, Guilderson T P, Hajdas I, Heaton T J, Hogg A G, Hughen K A, Kromer B, Manning S W, Muscheler R, Palmer J G, Pearson C, van der Plicht J, Reimer R W, Richards D A, Scott E M, Southon J R, Turney C S M, Wacker L, Adolphi F, Büntgen U, Capano M, Fahrni S M, Fogtmann-Schulz A, Friedrich R, Köhler P, Kudsk S, Miyake F, Olsen J, Reinig F, Sakamoto M, Sookdeo A, Talamo S. 2020. The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere radiocarbon age calibration curve (0–55 cal ka BP). Radiocarbon, 62: 725–757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renfrew C, Liu B. 2018. The emergence of complex society in China: The case of Liangzhu. Antiquity, 92: 975–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi C X, Mo D W, Hai L C, Liu B, Jiang M L, Li M S. 2011. The relationship between environmental evolution and human activities in Liangzhu Sites Group, Zhejiang Province, China (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 18: 347–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Song J. 2004. Viewing the decay of early civilization around Taihu Lake from the remains of Guangfulin (in Chinese). In: Museum S, eds. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Progress of Civilization in the Lower Yangtze River. Shanghai: Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Press. 160–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Song X Y. 2012. Research on the yellowish silt sediments of Late Liangzhu Culture in the Southwest Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou Plain (in Chinese). Dissertation for Master’s Degree. Shanghai: East China Normal University. 1–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley D J, Chen Z Y, Song J. 1999. Inundation, sea-level rise and transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age cultures, Yangtze Delta, China. Geoarchaeology, 14: 15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley J D, Krom M D, Cliff R A, Woodward J C. 2003. Short contribution: Nile flow failure at the end of the Old Kingdom, Egypt: Strontium isotopic and petrologic evidence. Geoarchaeology, 18: 395–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staubwasser M, Sirocko F, Grootes P M, Segl M. 2003. Climate change at the 4.2 ka BP termination of the Indus valley civilization and Holocene south Asian monsoon variability. Geophys Res Lett, 30: 1425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun J M. 2002. Provenance of loess material and formation of loess deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 203: 845–859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Q L, Liu Y, Wünnemann B, Peng Y J, Jiang X Z, Deng L J, Chen J, Li M T, Chen Z Y. 2019. Climate as a factor for Neolithic cultural collapses approximately 4000 years BP in China. Earth-Sci Rev, 197: 102915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang L Y, Mao L M, Shu J W, Li C H, Shen C M, Zhou Z Z. 2016. Handbook of Quaternary Pollen and Spores in China (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 601

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor S R, McLennan S M. 1985. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. Oxford: Blackwell

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Zhang W G, Nian X M, Roberts A P, Zhao X, Shang Y, Ge C, Dong Y. 2020. Magnetic evidence for Yellow River sediment in the late Holocene deposit of the Yangtze River Delta, China. Mar Geol, 427: 106274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F Q, Chien N F, Zhang Y L, Yang H Q. 1995. Pollen Flora of China (in Chinese). 2nd ed. Beijing: Science Press. 461

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Ge J Z, Kilbourne K H, Wang Z H. 2020. Numerical simulation of mid-Holocene tidal regime and storm-tide inundation in the south Yangtze coastal plain, East China. Mar Geol, 423: 106134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X C, Mo D W, Li C H, Yu S Y, Xue B, Liu B, Wang H, Shi C X. 2017. Environmental changes and human activities at a fortified site of the Liangzhu culture in eastern China: Evidence from pollen and charcoal records. Quat Int, 438: 189–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y J, Cheng H, Edwards R L, He Y Q, Kong X G, An Z S, Wu J Y, Kelly M J, Dykoski C A, Li X D. 2005. The Holocene Asian monsoon: Links to solar changes and North Atlantic climate. Science, 308: 854–857

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z H, Ryves D B, Lei S, Nian X M, Lv Y, Tang L, Wang L, Wang J H, Chen J. 2018. Middle Holocene marine flooding and human response in the south Yangtze coastal plain, East China. Quat Sci Rev, 187: 80–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss H. 2016. Global megadrought, societal collapse and resilience at 4.2–3.9 ka BP across the Mediterranean and west Asia. PAGES Mag, 24: 62–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss H, Courty M A, Wetterstrom W, Guichard F, Senior L, Meadow R, Curnow A. 1993. The genesis and collapse of third millennium north Mesopotamian civilization. Science, 261: 995–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu L, Zhu C, Ma C M, Li F, Meng H P, Liu H, Li L Y, Wang X C, Sun W, Song Y G. 2017. Mid-Holocene palaeoflood events recorded at the Zhongqiao Neolithic cultural site in the Jianghan Plain, middle Yangtze River Valley, China. Quat Sci Rev, 173: 145–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W X, Liu T S. 2004. Possible role of the “Holocene Event 3” on the collapse of Neolithic Cultures around the Central Plain of China. Quat Int, 117: 153–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao J L, Zhang S R, Fan J W, Wen R L, Xu Q H, Inouchi Y, Nakamura T. 2019. The 4.2 ka event and its resulting cultural interruption in the Daihai Lake basin at the East Asian summer monsoon margin. Quat Int, 527: 87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S X, Zheng Z, Huang K Y, Zong Y Q, Wang J H, Xu Q H, Rolett B V, Li J. 2012. Modern pollen assemblages from cultivated rice fields and rice pollen morphology: Application to a study of ancient land use and agriculture in the Pearl River Delta, China. Holocene, 22: 1393–1404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S Y, Jiang S Y, Ling H F, Xia X P, Sun M, Wang D J. 2007. Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of the Changjiang sediments: Implications for tracing sediment sources. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 50: 1556–1565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S Y, Wang Z B, Dou Y G, Shi X F. 2014. A review of sedimentation since the Last Glacial Maximum on the continental shelf of eastern China. In: Chiocci F L, Chivas A R, eds. Continental Shelves of the World: Their Evolution During the Last Glacio-Eustatic Cycle. London: Geological Society. 293–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu S Y, Zhu C, Song J, Qu W Z. 2000. Role of climate in the rise and fall of Neolithic cultures on the Yangtze delta. Boreas, 29: 157–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Chen Z Y, Liu Y, Wu J P. 2014. The emergence of the ancient city Liangzhu with large-scale hydrological development in the Yangtze delta and its bearings on environmental geography (in Chinese). Sci Sin Terr, 44: 957–966

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Qin X, Liu J, Sun C, Mu Y, Gao J, Guo W, An S, Lu C. 2016. Geochemistry of sediments from the Huaibei Plain (east China): Implications for provenance, weathering, and invasion of the Yellow River into the Huaihe River. J Asian Earth Sci, 121: 72–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y L. 2007. Causes of Liangzhu Culture disappearance from micropaleontology (in Chinese). Sci Geogr Sin, 27: 376–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H. 1999. Some particularities of Liangzhu Culture: On the Cause of the Decline of a Chinese prehistoric civilization (in Chinese). In: Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, eds. Research on Liangzhu Culture: International Symposium to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Discovery of Liangzhu Culture. Beijing: Science Press. 104–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y. 2002. Preliminary Investigation on the settlement pattern of Liangzhu sites in Yuhang (in Chinese). Cultural Relics, 10: 47–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y. 2012. Investigations on the archaeological ensemble of heritage sites at Linping, Yuhang, Zhejiang (in Chinese). Southeast Culture, 3: 31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z. 2010. New data and new issues for the study of origin of rice agriculture in China. Archaeol Anthropol Sci, 2: 99–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. 2005. Report of the Group Sites at Liangzhu, Volume III: Liangzhu Site Group (in Chinese). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. 441

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. 2019. Report of the Group Sites at Liangzhu, Volume VII: A Comprehensive Study of Liangzhu Ancient City (in Chinese). Beijing: Cultural Relics Press. 482

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H B, Zhou Y S, Yang Q, Hu Z J, Ling G J, Zhang J Z, Gu C G, Wang Y Y, Cao Y T, Huang X R, Cheng Y, Zhang X Y, Wu W X. 2018. Spatial and temporal distribution of Neolithic sites in coastal China: Sea level changes, geomorphic evolution and human adaption. Sci China Earth Sci, 61: 123–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L. 2017. Isotopic tracing on the source of loess in East China (in Chinese). Master. Nanjing: Nanjing University. 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y F, Sun G P, Chen X G. 2011. Response of rice cultivation to fluctuating sea level during the Mid-Holocene. Chin Sci Bull, 57: 370–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu C, Cheng P, Lu C C, Wang W. 1996. Palaecoastline evolution law of Yangtze River Delta and coastal area of north Jiansu Province since 7000 aBP (in Chinese). Sci Geogr Sin, 16: 207–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Zong Y, Horton B P. 1998. Diatom zones across intertidal flats and coastal saltmarshes in Britain. Diatom Res, 13: 375–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zong Y, Innes J B, Wang Z, Chen Z. 2011. Mid-Holocene coastal hydrology and salinity changes in the east Taihu area of the lower Yangtze wetlands, China. Quat Res, 76: 69–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Liping ZHOU for the assistance in OSL dating. We are grateful to constructive comments and suggestions from the anonymous reviewers. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41830322 and 41902187), the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB26000000) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2020M670444).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Keyang He, Houyuan Lu & Jiangping Zhang

  2. Innovation Academy for Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Houyuan Lu & Jiangping Zhang

  3. Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Houyuan Lu & Jiangping Zhang

  4. College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Houyuan Lu

  5. Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Guoping Sun, Xiang Ji, Yonglei Wang, Kaikai Yan, Bin Liu & Ningyuan Wang

  6. State Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China

    Xinxin Zuo

Authors
  1. Keyang He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Houyuan Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guoping Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiang Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yonglei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kaikai Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xinxin Zuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jiangping Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Bin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ningyuan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Keyang He or Houyuan Lu.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

He, K., Lu, H., Sun, G. et al. Multi-proxy evidence of environmental change related to collapse of the Liangzhu Culture in the Yangtze Delta, China. Sci. China Earth Sci. 64, 890–905 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9767-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9767-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation