Abstract
Based on the samples collected from the west wall of the ABYT2004 at Yuhuicun Site in Bengbu, Anhui Province, the multi-environmental substitute indexes such as the grain-size, Rb/Sr, zircon crystal morphology and magnetic susceptibility were analyzed. The age of archaeological strata was determined by AMS14C dating. According to the results, combined with the information of the ancient human activities and the cultural heritage data obtained from the Longshan cultural archaeological strata, it can be concluded that (1) Before 4500 aBP, the climate was humid and water level was high in the Huaihe River and its tributaries, the drainage basin and its surrounding areas were even flooded, so the site area was submerged and there were no human activities around the site. (2) About 4500 aBP, the climate began to become drier and water level of the Huaihe River and its tributaries began to decline, thus floodplain gradually appeared, Yuhuicun Site and Longshan Culture began to appear. (3) Around 4100 aBP, the climate was humid and rainfall was abundant, which resulted in frequent flood disasters in the whole Huaihe River Basin. (4) After 4100 aBP, the climate gradually transited to be cold and dry, agricultural production was constrained to reduce the food source, Yuhuicun Site was almost abandoned. (5) The environmental information in sedimentary strata and historical records based on ancient books agree with each other. In addition, Yuhuicun Site was related to Dayu Zhishui (Yu the Great in taming the floods) in ancient books.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
An Chengbang, Feng Zhaodong, Tang Lingyu, 2003. Environmental changes and cultural transition at 4 cal. kaBP in central Gansu. Acta Geographica Sinica, 58(5): 743–748. (in Chinese)
An Z S, Porter S C, Kutzbach J E et al., 2000. Asynchronous Holocene optimum of the East Asian monsoon. Quaternary Science Reviews, 19(8): 743–762.
Bond G, Showers W, Cheseby M et al., 1997. A pervasive millennial-scale cycle in North Atlantic Holocene and glacial climates. Science, 278: 1257–1266.
Chen Guisheng, 2002. The exploratory research of the essay on Yuhui and Tushan Mountain. The Research on Ming and Qing Dynasties Novels, 3: 230–237. (in Chinese)
Chen Jing’an, Wan Guojiang, Zhang Feng et al., 2004. Environmental records of lacustrine sediments in different time scales: Sediment grain size as an example. Science in China (Series D), 34(10): 954–960. (in Chinese)
Dalfes N, Kukla G, Weiss H et al., 1997. Third Millennium B. C. Climatic Change and Old World Collapse. NATO ASI Series 1–49. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1–723.
Deng Chenglong, Yuan Baoyin, Hu Shouyun et al., 2000. A review in environmental magnetism. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 20(2): 93–101. (in Chinese)
Gao Huazhong, Zhu Cheng, Cao Guangjie, 2006. Environmental change and cultural response around 2000 BC in the Yishu River Basin, Shandong. Acta Geographica Sinica, 61(3): 255–261.
Hong Y T, Hong B, Lin Q H et al., 2003. Correlation between Indian Ocean summer monsoon and North Atlantic climate during the Holocene. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 211(3/4): 371–380.
Hu Shouyun, Wang Sumin, Appel E et al., 1998. Environmental magnetism in magnetic susceptibility of Hulun Lake sediments. Science in China (Series D), 28(4): 334–339. (in Chinese)
Huang Run, Zhu Cheng, Wang Shengtang, 2007. Magnetic susceptibility and Rb/Sr ratio of peat stratum in Tiantangzhai and its significance of palaeoclimate. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 27(3): 385–389. (in Chinese)
Huang Run, Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui et al., 2005. Distribution of Neolithic sites and environmental change in Huaihe River Basin, Anhui Province. Acta Geographica Sinica, 60(9): 742–750.
Jiang Qinhua, Song Yuqin, Li Yadong et al., 1998. Environmental archaeology of Longshan Period at Yangzhuang Site, Zhumadian, Henan Province. Archaeology and Cultural Relics, (2): 34–40. (in Chinese)
Jin Guiyun, Liu Tungsheng, 2001. Cold event and the ancient culture changes during the mid-Holocene in the north of northern China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 46(20): 1725–1730. (in Chinese)
Jin Guiyun, Yu Haiguang, Luan Fengshi et al., 2006. Climate significance of wood samples from Liangchengzhen Longshan Culture Site (4600–4000 aB.P.), Rizhao, Shandong. Quarternary Sciences, 26(4): 571–579. (in Chinese)
Jin Song’an, Zhao Xinping, 1994. Historical position and the cause of fading with Longshan Culture, Shandong. Journal of Zhengzhou University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition, 4: 1–7. (in Chinese)
Li Yaguang, 2003. It’s a new hope of the history of Chinese civilization with Dayu’s flood control. Collected Papers of History Studies, 3: 84–88. (in Chinese)
Ma Chunmei, Zhu Cheng, Zhu Guangyao et al., 2006. Magnetic susceptibility and elemental geochemistry analysis of the archaeological stratigraphy at the Yuchisi Site, Anhui. Journal of Stratigraphy, 30(2): 124–130. (in Chinese)
Mo Duowen, Wang Hui, Li Shuicheng, 2003. Effects of Holocene environmental changes on the development of archaeological cultures in different regions of North China. Quaternary Sciences, 23(2): 200–210. (in Chinese)
Shi Yafeng, Kong Zhaochen, Wang Sumin et al., 1992. Basic features of climates and environments during Holocene Megathermal in China. Shi Yafeng (ed.). The Climates and Environments of Holocene Megathermal in China. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 1–18. (in Chinese)
Sun Xiongwei, Xia Zhengkai, 2005. Paleoenvironment changes since mid-Holocene revealed by a palynological sequence from Sihenan Profile in Luoyang, Henan Province. Universitatis Pekinensis (Acta Scientiarum Naturalium), 41(2): 289–294. (in Chinese)
The Geology Team of Chengdu College of Geology, 1978. Sediment Grain Size Analysis and Its Application. Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 55–66. (in Chinese)
Wang Jihuai, 2001. Primary discussion on the settlement of Yuchisi Site. Archaeology and Cultural Relics, 4: 20–28. (in Chinese)
Wang Jihuai, Zhao Lanhui, 2008. The harvest and Academic significance of Yuhuicun Site excavation. Southeast Culture, 201(1): 20–25. (in Chinese)
Wang Xinyuan, Zhang Guangsheng, Wu Li et al., 2008. Environmental changes during early-middle Holocene from the sediment record of the Chaohu Lake, Anhui Province. Chinese Science Bulletin, 53(suppl. I): 153–160.
Weiss H, Courty M A, Wetterstrom W et al., 1993. The genesis and collapse of third millennium North Mesopotamian civilization. Science, 261(20): 995–1004.
Wu Wenxiang, Ge Quansheng, 2005. The possibility of occurring of the extraordinary floods on the eve of establishment of the Xia Dynasty and the historical truth of Dayu’s successful regulating of floodwaters. Quaternary Sciences, 25(6): 741–749. (in Chinese)
Wu Wenxiang, Liu Tungsheng, 2001. 4000 aB.P. events and its implications for the origin of ancient Chinese civilization. Quaternary Sciences, 21(5): 443–451. (in Chinese)
Wu Wenxiang, Liu Tungsheng, 2004. Variations in East Asia Monsoon around 4000 aBP and the collapse of Neolithic cultures around Central Plain. Quaternary Sciences, 24(3): 278–284. (in Chinese)
Xia Zhengkai, Chen Fuyou, Chen Ge et al., 2001. The environment setting in the transition from the Paleolithic Period to the Neolithic Age in the Nihewan basin, China. Science in China (Series D), 31(5): 393–399. (in Chinese)
Xu Maoquan, Li Chao, 2003. Characteristics of heavy minerals composition and distribution in sediment from Jiulong River Estuary. Marine Science Bulletin, 22(4): 32–40. (in Chinese)
Xu Xin, He Caihua, Shen Zhida et al., 1992. Research Methods of the Quaternary Environment. Guiyang: Guizhou Science and Technology Press, 1–377. (in Chinese)
Yang Dayuan, Wang Yunfei, 1995. On change of geographic environment and flood damage along the Huaihe River Basin during the last 2000 years. Journal of Lake Sciences, 7(1): 1–7. (in Chinese)
Yang Yubin, Sun Guangqing, 2006. Ancient culture in Huaihe River Basin and Chinese civilization. Dong Yue Tribune, 27(2): 49–53. (in Chinese)
Yao Tandong, Thompson L G, 1992. The temperature fluctuation during 5 kaBP recorded by Dunde ice core. Science in China (Series B), 10: 1089–1093. (in Chinese)
Zhang Dian, Zhan Zhiyong, Lin Chusheng et al., 2004. The impact of climatic change on wars, convulsions and dynasty supersessions in China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 49(23): 2467–2474.
Zhang Qiang, Zhu Cheng, Jiang Fengqing et al., 2001. Environmental archaeological exploration in Zhangjiawan Site, Chongqing since 2 kaBP. Acta Geographica Sinica, 56(3): 353–362. (in Chinese)
Zhang Yulan, Zhang Minbin, Song Jian et al., 2003. Development of ancestors’ cultivation revealed in phytolith assemblages from Guangfulin relics. Chinese Science Bulletin, 48(1): 96–99. (in Chinese)
Zhu Cheng, Song Jian, You Kunyuan et al., 1996. Study of the causes of cultural fault of Maqiao site, Shanghai. Chinese Science Bulletin, 41(2): 148–152. (in Chinese)
Zhu Cheng, Yu Shiyong, Lu Chuncheng, 1997. The study of Holocene environmental archaeology and extreme flood disaster in the three gorges of the Changjiang River and the Jianghan Plain. Acta Geographica Sinica, 52(3): 268–278. (in Chinese)
Zhu Cheng, Zhang Qiang, Zhang Yun et al., 2003. Relationship between human and nature in the north part of the Yangtze Delta since the Holocene. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 23(6): 705–712. (in Chinese)
Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui, Ma Chunmei et al., 2003. New idea on the high sea level since 10 kaB.P. in the Changjiang Delta and Ningshao plains. Chinese Science Bulletin, 48(23): 2428–2438.
Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui, Ma Chunmei et al., 2005. The study on ancient flood sediment at central dam ruins in the reservoir area of Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50(20): 2240–2250.
Zhu Guangyao, Zhu Cheng, Ling Shanjin et al., 2005. Spatial-temporal distribution of Neolithic and Xia-Shang-Zhou dynasties sites and relationship between human and environment in Anhui Province. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 25(3): 346–352. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40971115; No.40701190; National Key Technology R&D Program, No.2006BAK21B02; The Key Subject Foundation of Human Geography in West Anhui University
Author: Zhang Guangsheng (1975–), Ph.D Candidate, specialized in geomorphology and Quaternary geology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, G., Zhu, C., Wang, J. et al. Environmental archaeology on Longshan Culture (4500–4000 aBP) at Yuhuicun Site in Bengbu, Anhui Province. J. Geogr. Sci. 20, 455–468 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-010-0455-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-010-0455-8