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›› 2012, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (02): 238-247.

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Relationship between the Holocene environmental change and ancient cultural evolution in the eastern Weihe River Basin

JIA Yaofeng1,2 ,PANG Jiangli2 ,HUANG Chunchang2 ,MAO Longjiang3 ,SHI Xingmin2   

  1. 1 School of Management,North University of Nationalities,Yinchuan 750021,Ningxia,China; 2 College of Tourism and Environment,Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, Shaanxi, China; 3 College of Atomospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology,Nanjing 210044,Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2011-08-11 Revised:2011-10-20 Online:2012-03-25
  • Contact: JIA Yaofeng E-mail:jiayf7779@yahoo.com.cn

Abstract: Based on systematic measurement and analysis of magnetic susceptibility, grain size, Rb/Sr ratio and CaCO3 for Laoguantai (LGT) profile in eastern Weihe River Basin, and combining the dated optical luminescence (OSL) ages and the latest achievements of ancient culture in this area, the paper investigate the histories of the environment change and ancient cultural evolution and their relationship during the Holocene. There bred the Laoguantai culture in about 7.80-7.30 ka BP in conditions of the Holocene climatic optimum (during 9.34-6.77 ka BP), and the early Yangshao culture developed subsequently. In the early middle Holocene of 6.77-5.48 ka BP, the most prosperous of the Miaodigou type of Yangshao culture emerged in conditions of dry and cold climate; and in the midlate period of 6.77-5.48 ka BP, with the continuing deterioration of the environment and resources, Yangshao culture decline occurred in the area and become the Xiwangcun type culture. In the midlate Holocene of 5.48-3.12 ka BP, recurrence of better climate to promote the development of Longshan Culture in the area; The frequent occurrence of flood events may further strengthen manland relationship during 4.60-3.76 ka BP, which promoted the ancient culture of the area into the human civilization period of the Xia and Shang. The dry and cold trends of climate in the area had tended to promote the further development of human civilization since 3.12 ka BP, consequently, the impact strength and range of human activities on environmental was growing. As mentioned above, the appropriate climate conditions corresponds with a culture of the origins and development, such as origin of Laoguantai Culture in the early Holocene, then the development and prosperity of Yangshao Culture and great development of Longshan Culture during the middlelate Holocene. Contrarily, the worsened climate conditions corresponds with a cultural decline and even break, such as a kind of decadent Yangshao Culture, Xiwangcun Culture due to the continue dry and cold climate during the later period of 6.77-5.48 ka BP. But if the worsened climate is in the scope of ancients to adjust and adopt, it would stimulates ancients to promote technologies for foods, as a result of the ancient cultures may be developed, such as a prosperous kind of Yangshao Culture, Miaodigou Culture due to the dry and cold climate during the early period of 6.77-5.48 ka BP. Meanwhile, the ancient culture can be developed by the ancients migrated within the region for better living conditions. As a typical example, ancients in the Zhou Dynasty had migrated several times since the early of 3.12 ka BP caused by the resource degradation, which contributed to the development of Chinese civilization to some extent. So successive development of ancient culture in Weihe River Basin indicates that climate change is not beyond the adaptation scope of our ancestors, and there has the superior resources and environmental conditions for ancestors to survive and develop in Weihe River Basin.

Key words: eastern Weihe River Basin, Holocene, loesspaleosol, environment change, neolithic culture

CLC Number: 

  • P534.63.2