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Relation between human existence and environment viewing from the distribution of prehistoric archaeological sites in the Three Gorges reservoir region of the Yangtze River, China

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Based on archaeological research findings in the Three Gorges region as well as the distribution of prehistoric sites in this area, the following conclusion can be derived: the unique physical and geographical conditions and variations in the Three Gorges region make local people of different ages seek their survival and development in the favorable environment along the riverbanks. Environment evolution has direct impact on the selection of location for survival. The increase of sites quantity reflects the favorable natural environment, but the decrease just reflects the consequence of such natural disasters as flood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

    DongSheng Zhao & Tao Shui

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  1. DongSheng Zhao
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  2. Tao Shui
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Correspondence to DongSheng Zhao.

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Supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 90411015), the University Doctoral Foundation (Grant No. 20050284011), Foundation of Important Basic Research at Nanjing University (Grant No. 0209005206), Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology from the Institute of Earth Environment, CAS (Grant No. SKLLQG0503), the Physical Geography of “985” Items and the Test Foundation of Modern Analyses Center of Nanjing University (Grant No. 0209001309)

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Zhao, D., Shui, T. Relation between human existence and environment viewing from the distribution of prehistoric archaeological sites in the Three Gorges reservoir region of the Yangtze River, China. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53 (Suppl 1), 129–139 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-5004-9

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