Prehistoric Human Activities and its Environmental Background in Central China: A Case Study in Henan Province

Abstract:

Based on amount change and distribution density of the Neolithic sites in Henan Province, these sites are divided into three types: (1)the Growth type. This type is mainly located in Luoyang Basin where the landform was convenient for millet-farming and settlement-clustering. (2) the Atrophy type. It mainly sits in the Nanyang Basin in which was a transition zone for cultural exchange. And (3) is the Oscillation type. This type distributes around the area of Yinghe-Ruhe River downstream with low land and frequent floods, which affected the amounts of sites in respond to series climate fluctuations in the early and middle Holocene. Comparatively, the unique terrain environment and water networks in the Luoyang Basin heralded the earliest civilized fruit in China and to be the cradle of early cultural transmission.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 357-360)
• Pages: 448-452
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.357-360.448
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Zhong Xuan Li, Guo Xi Wu
• Keywords: Environmental Change, Neolithic Sites, Spatial Distribution

References

[1] Z. K. Xia, X. Y. Yang, M. L. Ye. The prehistory disaster recorded in the Lajia Site, Qinghai. Chinese Science Bulletin, vol 48(2003), pp.1200-1204(in Chinese).

DOI: 10.1007/bf03184071

[2] F. Q. Zhou. Preliminary study on flood level change of the Jingjiang River during the last 5ka. History Geography, ( 1986) pp.19-23.

[3] H. Deng, Y. Y. Chen, J. Y. Jia. Distribution change of the cultural sites in the mid-stream of the Yangtze River since 8. 5kaBP. Acta Geographica Sinica, vol 64(2009) pp.1113-1125(in Chinese).

[4] H. Z. Gao, C. Zhu, G. J. Cao. Environmental Archaeology on rise and fall of the ancient culture in the Yishuhe Basin of Shandong by 2000BC. Acta Geographica Sinica, vol 61(2006) pp.255-261(in Chinese).

[5] C. B. An, L. Wang, D. X. Ji, etc. Spatial-temporal changes and possible environmental force for the Neolithic culture in the Gansu and Qinghai region. Quaternary Sciences, vol 26(2006) pp.923-927(in Chinese).

[6] G. Y. Jin, D. S. Liu. The Cooling event and cultural changes in the Northern China in mid-Holocene. Chinese Science Bulletin, vol 46(2001) pp.1725-1729(in Chinese).

[7] Y. L. Wu. Origin and forming of the Zhongyuan Culture. In: S. L. Zhang eds. Proceedings of the Conference for the advance research of the Zhongyuan Culture. Beijing: Science Press(2006) (in Chinese).

[8] State Relics Bureau. China Relics Atals, Henan Fascicle. Beijing: China Map Press(1991) pp.28-40(in Chinese).

[9] S. L. Zhang, L. Zhang. Songshan Mt. and Songshan Cultural Cycle. In: S. L. Zhang eds. Proceedings of the Conference for the advance research of the Zhongyuan Culture. Beijing: Science Press(2006) pp.86-116(in Chinese).

[10] G. Bond, W. Showers, M. Cheseby, et al. A pervasive millennial-scale cycle in North Atlantic Holocene and glacial climates. Science, vol 278(1997) pp.1257-1266.

DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5341.1257

[11] D. S. Liu, Z. L. Ding. Advances of the loess research in China (vol 2), Paleo-climate and Global Changes. Quaternary Sciences, (1990) (in Chinese).

[12] Z. C. Kong, Palynological analysis on the Taosi Site in Shanxi. Archaeology, (1992) pp.72-79(in Chinese).

[13] L. Gyong-Ah, W. C. Gary, L. Liu, et al. Plants and people from the Early Neolithic to Shang periods in North China. Proceedings of National Academy of Science of USA, vol 97(2007) pp.1087-1092.