Abstract
The Yangshao Culture (approx. 6.9–5.5 ka BP) and the Longshan Culture (approx. 4.6–4.0 ka BP) played important roles in Henan’s Neolithic Period. Due to spatial distribution of the Yangshao cultural sites, they had a river-oriented trend in comparison with those in the Longshan Period. Apart from terrain factors, distribution of the sites in both periods is subject to paleo-environmental changes. The Yangshao Culture originated in Holocene Optimum Period, and the Longshan Culture started in climatic fluctuations prior to Neolithic ending. But the latter owned more sites and wider scopes than the former did. Both the Cultures developed fast in rich rainfall and warm periods, and withered for abrupt cooling events in 5.4 ka BP and 4.0 ka BP respectively. Therefore, the sustainability of Henan’s Neolithic Cultures is not good as expected. Whilst, the ancient farming acted an irreplaceable part in distribution of human sites, and the need for farming space prompted human sites to expand from the western hilly areas towards the eastern plain of Henan. Moreover, the neighboring cultures poured into Henan and complicated the cultural patterns. Besides, characteristics of the sites in the Erlitou Period suggest that some social factors disturbed the spatial pattern at the end of Neolithic age in Henan.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bond G, Showers W, Cheseby M, 1997. A pervasive millennial-scale cycle in North Atlantic Holocene and glacial climates. Science, 278: 1257–1266.
Bond G, Kromer B, Beer J, 2001. Persistent solar influence on North Atlantic climate during the Holocene. Science, 294: 2130–2136.
Cao Wen, Xia Zhengkai, 2008. Measurement of the dissolvable salts in the mid-Holocene lake sediments of Mengjin, Henan. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 44(6): 933–937. (in Chinese)
Chu Kechen, 1973. A preliminary study on the climatic fluctuations during the last 5,000 years in China. Science in China (Series A), 16(2): 226–256.
Clark P U, Pisias N G, Stocker T F, 2002. The role of the thermohaline circulation in abrupt climate change. Nature, 415: 863–869.
Cullen H M, de Menocal P B, Hemming S, 2000. Climate change and the collapse of the Akkadian empire, Evidence from the deep sea. Geology, 28(4): 379–382
Deng Hui, Chen Yiyong, Jia Jingyu, 2009. Evolution of paleo-culture distribution in mid-stream plain of Yangtze River since 8500 aBP. Acta Geographica Sinica, 64(9): 1113–1125. (in Chinese)
Deo S G, Ghate S, Rajaguru S N, 2010. Holocene environmental changes and cultural patterns in coastal western India: A geoarchaeologcial perspective. Quaternary International, 229: 132–139.
Dong Guanghui, Xia Zhengkai, Liu Decheng et al., 2007. Influence of human activity during the period of cultural origin on soil chemical properties in Mengjin, Henan. Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Science Edition), 43(1): 6–10. (in Chinese)
Gao Huazhong Zhu Cheng, Xu Weifeng, 2007. Environmental change and cultural response around 4200 cal. yr BP in the Yishu River Basin, Shandong. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 17(3): 285–292.
Guo Zhiyong, Zhai Qiumin, Shen Juan, 2011. Paleo-climate change recorded by lake deposits in the Mianchi Basin of the middle reach of Yellow River. Quaternary Sciences, 31(1): 150–163. (in Chinese)
He Zhong, Huang Chunchang, Zhou Jie et al., 2010. Holocene loess and its deposition dynamics in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River. Journal of Desert Research, 30(4): 816–823. (in Chinese)
Henan Meteorological Bureau (HMB), 2011. http://www.henanqx.gov.cn/public/climate/16154.html.
Hou Guangliang, Liu Fenggui, 2004. Impact of climate changes on prehistoric cultures in East Qinghai. Acta Geographica Sinica, 59(6): 841–846. (in Chinese)
Kong Zhaochen, Liu Changjiang, 1996. Discovery of 8 kaBP rice remains unearthed in Jiahu of Wuyang County and its anthropological significance. Archaeology, (12): 78–83. (in Chinese)
Kong Zhaochen, Liu Changjiang, Zhang Juzhong, 1999. Discovery of plant remains in the Neolithic site at the Bancun site, Mianchi county, Henan Province and their significance in human environment. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 18(4): 291–295. (in Chinese)
Kong Zhaochen, Liu Changjiang, Zhang Juzhong, 2003. Plant remains of archaeological sites in China and primitive agriculture. Zhongyuan Cultural Relics, (2): 4–13. (in Chinese)
Li Shuicheng, 2002. Regional comparison, environment and evolution of settlements. Archaeology and Cultural Relics, (6): 33–38. (in Chinese)
Li Shengli, Huang Chunchang, Pang Jiangli, 2008. Records of Holocene sandstorm activity in the Yellow River floodplain. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 26(1): 144–150. (in Chinese)
Li Yiyin, Cui Haiting, Hu Jinming, 2002. Analysis for ecological background of ancient civilization in Xiliaohe river basin. Quaternary Sciences, 47(3): 466–474. (in Chinese)
Liang Liang, Xia Zhengkai, Liu Decheng, 2003. Reconstruction of the paleo-environment in Central North China During 5000 aBP to 4000 aBP, Evidence from Mollusks Fossil. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 39(4): 532–537. (in Chinese)
Liu Fenggui, Hou Guangliang, Zhang Yili, 2005. Impact of abrupt climate change on prehistoric culture in Northeast Qinghai. Acta Geographica Sinica, 60(5): 733–741. (in Chinese)
North Greenland Ice Core Project Members, 2004. High-resolution record of Northern Hemisphere climate extending into the last interglacial period. Nature, 431: 147–151
Shao Xiaohua, Wang Yongjin, Cheng Hai, 2006. Holocene monsoon change and the dry events recorded by stalagmite. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(1): 80-86.
Shi Yafeng, K ong Zhaochen, Wang Sumin, 1992. The Holocene megathermal climate in China and its characteristics. In: Shi afeng, Kong Zhaochen (eds.). Climate and Environment in Megathermal Period of Holocene in China. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 1–18. (in Chinese)
State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), 2009. An atlas of Chinese Cultural Relics in Henan Province. Beijing: Cultural Relics Press, 7–16. (in Chinese)
Wang Shaowu, Huang Jianbin, 2006. Drought-flood change and process of Chinese culture in the mid-Holocene. Advance of Natural Sciences, 16(10): 1238–1244. (in Chinese)
Wang Y, Cheng H, Edwards R L, 2005. The Holocene Asian Monsoon, links to solar changes and North Atlantic climate. Science, 308: 854–857.
Wu Li, Wang Xinyuan, Zhu Cheng et al., 2012a. Ancient culture decline after the Han Dynasty in the Chaohu Lake Basin, East China: A geoarchaeological perspective. Quaternary International, 275: 23–29.
Wu Li, Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui et al., 2012b. Response of prehistoric culture to climate environmental changes since Holocene in Zhejiang, East China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 67(7): 903–916. (in Chinese)
Wu Wenxiang, Hu Ying, Zhou Yang, 2009. Climate abrupt change and ancient cultural fall. Journal of Paleogeography, 11(4): 455–463. (in Chinese)
Wu Xihao, An Zhisheng, Wang Sumin et al., 1994. Time-spatial evolution of East Asia Monsoon in the Holocene Optimum period, China. Quaternary Sciences, (1): 24–37. (in Chinese)
Xu Hai, Hong Yetang, Lin Qinghua, 2002. Temperature change since last 6ka revealed by oxygen isotope of mud sediments. Chinese Science Bulletin, 47(15): 1181–1186.
Yao Tandong Shi Yafeng, 1992. Holocene climate changes recorded by the Dunde ice core in the Qilian Mountain. In: Shi Yafeng, Kong Zhaochen (eds.). Climate and Environment in Megathermal Period of Holocene in China. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 206–211. (in Chinese)
Yasuda Y, Fujiki T, Nasu H et al., 2004. Environmental archaeology at the Chengtoushan Site, Hunan Province China, and implications for the environmental change and the rise and fall of the Yangtze River civilization. Quaternary International, 123–125: 149–158.
Zhang Juzhong, 2006. Dynamic reflecting on lineage of Neolithic cultures in middle and lower reaches of Yellow River. Zhongyuan Cultural Relics, (6): 18–25. (in Chinese)
Zhang Juzhong, Yin Ruochun, Yang Yuzhang, 2003 Rice-farming archaeological investigation in mid-reaches of the Huaihe River. Agricultural Archaeology, (3): 84–91.
Zhang Xuelian, Qiu Shihua, Bo Guancheng, 2007. Analysis of human bone 13C, 15N in the Erlitou Site and Taosi Site. In: Institute of Archaeology, CASS. Science-Tech Archaeology (Edition II). Beijing: Science Press, 41–48. (in Chinese)
Zhao Zhijun, 2007. A study of agricultural economy during 2500B.C.–1500B.C. In: Institute of Archaeology, CASS. Sci-Tech Archaeology (Edition II). Beijing: Science Press, 1–11.
Zheng Chaogui, Zhu Cheng, Zhong Yishun et al., 2008. Relationship between natural environment and time-spatial distribution of the archaeological sites in the reservoir area of Chongqing from Paleolithic Age to the Tang-Song dynasty. Chinese Science Bulletin, 53(Suppl.1): 102–114.
Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui, Ma Chunmei, 2003. On the Holocene sea-level highstand along the Yangtze Delta and Ningshao Plain, East China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2003, 48(24): 2672–2683.
Zhu Cheng, Zheng Chaogui, Ma Chunmei et al., 2005. Identifying paleoflood deposits archived in Zhongba Site, the Three Gorges Reservoir region of the Yangtze River, China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50(21): 2493–2504.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41171163; No.40971115; Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, No.SKLLQG1208
Author: Li Zhongxuan, Associate Professor, specialized in physical geography.
Zhu Cheng, Professor
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Z., Zhu, C., Wu, G. et al. Spatial pattern and temporal trend of prehistoric human sites and its driving factors in Henan Province, Central China. J. Geogr. Sci. 25, 1109–1121 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-015-1222-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-015-1222-7