Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:45:52.139Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Migration patterns of Neolithic settlements on the abandoned Yellow and Yangtze River deltas of China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Zhongyuan Chen ,
Yongqiang Zong ,
Zhanghua Wang ,
Hui Wang  and
Jing Chen
Zhongyuan Chen*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory for Estaurine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
Yongqiang Zong
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
Zhanghua Wang
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory for Estaurine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
Hui Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
Jing Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address:Z.Chen@ecnu.edu.cn (Z. Chen).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Archaeological records of the Neolithic settlements on the eastern China coast between 35°N and 30°N, an area covering the abandoned Yellow River and the Yangtze River delta plains, reveal that Neolithic people moved from the Yellow River basin onto the northern coast for fishing, hunting and dry-land agriculture ~ 7000 yr ago. Marine transgression interrupted their activities on the low-lying (2–5 m in elevation) coastal wetlands between 6000 and 5000 yr ago, after which they reclaimed their land near the river mouths. Their migration routes on the southern Yangtze delta plain indicate another scenario: early Neolithic communities moved onto the plain for wet-rice cultivation. Despite relative sea-level rise from 7000 to 4000 yr ago, a large number of settlements were established on the lowlands between the eastern Chenier Ridges and the western Taihu Lake depression. The Chenier Ridges, with ~ 1.0 m higher topography than the adjacent coastal area, played a role in sheltering the Neolithic people. Subsequently, settlements waned considerably, possibly due to further marine inundation combined with cold climate. The present study shows that migration patterns of the Neolithic settlements are closely associated with a gradually rising sea level between 7000 and 4000 yr ago.

Keywords

Cultural developmentNeolithic settlementsSea-level changeEast ChinaAbandoned Yellow River deltaYangtze River delta
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 70 , Issue 2 , September 2008 , pp. 301 - 314
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

An, Z.M., (1981). The Neolithic age of China.. Archaeology 3, 252–260. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
An, Z., Porter, S.C., Kutzbach, J.E., Wu, X., Wang, S., Liu, X., Li, X., Zhou, W., (2000). Asynchronous Holocene optimum of the East Asian monsoon.. Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 743–762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chang, K.C., (1986). The Archaeology of Ancient China.. 4th ed.Yale University Press, New Haven. 483 pp.Google Scholar
Chen, J.Y., Shen, H.T., Yun, C.X., (1988). Processes of Dynamics of the Yangtze River Estuary.. Technological Publisher, Shanghai. 454 pp. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Chen, Z., Stanley, D.J., (1993). Yangtze delta, eastern China: 2: Late Quaternary subsidence and deformation.. Marine Geology 112, 13–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Z., Stanley, D.J., (1995). Quaternary subsidence and river channel migration in the Yangtze delta plain, Eastern China.. Journal of Coastal Research 11, (3) 927–945.Google Scholar
Chen, Z., Stanley, D.J., (1998). Rising sea level on Eastern China's Yangtze delta.. Journal of Coastal Research 14, (1) 360–366.Google Scholar
Chen, Z., Song, B.P., Wang, Z.H., Cai, Y.L., (2000). Late Quaternary evolution of the subaqueous Yangtze delta: stratigraphy, sedimentation, palynology and deformation.. Marine Geology 162, 423–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Z., Wang, Z.H., Schneiderman, J., Tao, J., Cai, Y.L., (2005). Holocene climate fluctuations in the Yangtze delta of eastern China and the Neolithic response.. The Holocene 15, 915–924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CPAM, City of Shanghai (1962). Reconnaissance at Kuang-fu-lin, Sung Chiang County, Shanghai.. Archaeology 73, (9) 465–469. (in Chinese); (S-66).Google Scholar
CPAM, Changshu City (1984). Liangzhu cultural sites, Changshu, Jiangsu Province.. Cultural Relics 333, (2) 12–16. (in Chinese); (S-47–48, S-51).Google Scholar
CPAM, City of Shanghai (1989). Excavation of the Jinshangfen site at Qingpu, Shanghai.. Archaeology 262, (7) 577–590. (in Chinese); (S-43).Google Scholar
CPAM, Wu County (1986). Gaojinshan and Chataodian Neolithic site, Wu County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 7, 661–662. (in Chinese); (S-57).Google Scholar
CPAM, Wu County (1989). Investigation of Yueqi Zhangmucun site, Wu County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 257, (2) 118–122. (in Chinese); (S-63).Google Scholar
CPAM, Wujiang County, Suzhou Museum (1990). Excavation of the Neolithic village sites at longnan in Wujiangxian, Jiangsu Province (I, II).. Cultural Relics 410, (7) 1–27. (in Chinese). (S-40).Google Scholar
Cultural Center of Wujin and the Museum of Changzhou (1979). Reconnaissance and trial diggings of Neolithic sites at Panjiatung, Wujin, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 164, (5) 404–407. (in Chinese); (S-1).Google Scholar
Dodson, J.R., Taylor, D., Ono, Y., Wang, P., (2004). Climate, human, and natural systems of the PEP II transect.. Quaternary International 118–119, 3–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fouache, E., (2003). The Mediterranean world environment and history.. IAG Working Group on Geo-archaeology Symposium Proceedings. Elsevier, 485.Google Scholar
He-Mu-Du Archaeological Team (1980). Second report on the He-Mu-Du site excavation.. Wenwu 12, 1–15. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Hori, K., Saito, Y., Zhao, Q., Cheng, X., Wang, P., Sato, Y., Li, C., (2001). Sedimentary facies of the tide-dominated paleo-Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary during the last transgression.. Marine Geology 177, 331–351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, X.X., Liang, Y.L., (1984). Palaeo-geographical environment of the Ancient Qingdun Man in Jiangsu.. Acta Geographica Sinica 39, 97–103. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Huang, X.P., Zhang, M.H., (1982). Comprehensive explanation of paleoculture in Shanghai region.. Special Publication of 30th Anniversary for Shanghai Museum Foundation. Shanghai Ancient Book Press, Shanghai., pp. 211–227. (in Chinese). (S-5, S-9, S-36, S-38, S-44, S-61–62, S-67–69, S-72).Google Scholar
Kang, J., (1959). Findings of Neolithic relics in Dianshan Lake, Shanghai.. Archaeology 6, 314–315. (in Chinese); (S–65).Google Scholar
Lambeck, K., (1996). Shoreline reconstructions of the Persian Gulf Since the last glacial maximum.. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 142, 43–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, C., Chen, Q., Zhang, J., Yang, S., Fan, D., (2000). Stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental changes in the Yangtze delta during the late Quaternary.. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18, 453–469.Google Scholar
Li, C., Zhang, J., Fan, D., Deng, B., (2001). Holocene regression and the tidal radial sand ridge system formation in the Jiangsu coastal zone, east China.. Marine Geology 173, 97–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lianyungang Museum (1988). First excavation at the Neolithic site of Dayishan, Guanyun, Jiangsu Province.. Southeast Culture 2, 37–45. (in Chinese); (N–13).Google Scholar
Ling, S., (1988). South migration of Huanghe and the change of shoreline in Subei.. Marine Sciences 5, 54–58. (in Chinese); (N-16).Google Scholar
Ling, S., (1989). Change of land and sea in Yangcheng area since Holocene.. Donghai Marine Science 7, 12–19. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Municipal Museum of Shanghai (1985). Excavation of the Tangmiaocun site at Songjiang, Shanghai.. Archaeology 214, (7) 584–594. (in Chinese); (S-39).Google Scholar
Nanking Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Taihu Basin Management Bureau, Ministry of Water Resources (1991). Atlas of Natural Resources of the Taihu Basin.. Science Press, Beijing. 60 pp. (in Chinese and English).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1958). Short report of tomb excavation at Qingliangang site, Huaian County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology Communication 10, 45–50. (in Chinese); (N-18).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1960). Excavation and investigation at the Neolithic site of Jinpingshan, Xinhailian County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 3, 21–24. (in Chinese); (N-8).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1962). Neolithic and Han's site and tomb in Ganyu, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 3, 129–131. (in Chinese); (N-34-36).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1964a). Archaeological investigation in Pihai County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 1, 19–25. (in Chinese); (N-1, N-5–6, N-11, N-33).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1964b). Archaeological investigation at Sheyang lake region.. Archaeology 1, 26–30. (in Chinese); (N-25).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1982). Excavation of a Neolithic site at Yuecheng, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 182, (5) 463–473. (in Chinese); (S-4).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1983a). A Neolithic site at Qingdun, in Haian County, Jiangsu Province.. The Chinese Journal of Archaeology 2, 147–190. (in Chinese); (N-31).Google Scholar
Nanking Musuem (1983b). Excavation of Guidun Site, Jiangsu Province.. (internal report, in Chinese); (N–32).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1984). Excavation of the Sidun site at Changzhou in Jiangsu Province in 1982.. Archaeology 197, (2) 109–129. (in Chinese); (S-16).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum and Kunshan Cultural Center (1984). Excavation of Zhuodun site, Kunshan, Jiangsu province.. Cultural Relics 333, 6–11. (in Chinese); (S-3).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum and Donghai Library (1986). Miaodun site and tomb in Donghai, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 12, 1073–1078. 9 (in Chinese); (N-38).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (1992). Excavation at the Neolithic site of Wanbei, Shuyang, Jiangsu Province.. Southeast Culture 1, 124–133. (in Chinese); (N-12).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum (2001). Lianyungang cultural relic management committee, Lianyungang Museum. Excavations at Tenghualuo site, Lianyungang, Jiangsu.. Southeast Culture 1, 35–39. (in Chinese); (N-37).Google Scholar
Nanking Museum and Lianyungang Museum (2004). Excavation at Chaoyang site, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province.. Southeast Culture 2, 32–48. (in Chinese); (N-3).Google Scholar
Ren, M.E., (1986). Yellow River sediment discharge and its impact on sedimentation of Bohai and Huanghai.. Scientia Geographica Sinica 6, (1) 1–11. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Shi, Y.F., Kong, Z.Z., Wang, S.M., Tang, L.Y., Wang, F.B., Zhao, X.T., Zhang, P.Y., Shi, S.H., (1993). Mid-Holocene climates and environments in China.. Global and Planetary Change 7, 219–233.Google Scholar
Song, J., (1999). The development and interruption of Liangzhu culture.. Zhejiang Cultural Relic and Archaeology Institute ed. Study on Liangzhu Culture — Paper Collection of International Conference: Memory for the Discovery of Liangzhu Culture for 60 years 1999, Science Press, Beijing., pp. 86–103. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Stanley, D.J., Chen, Z., (1996). Neolithic settlement distributions as a function of sea level-controlled topography in the Yangtze delta, China.. Geology 12, 1083–1086.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanley, D.J., Galili, E., (1996). Sediment dispersal along northern Israel coast during the early Holocene: geological and archaeological evidence.. Marine Geology 130, 11–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanley, D.J., Warne, A.G., (1994). Worldwide initiation of Holocene marine deltas by deceleration of sea level rise.. Science 265, 228–231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Straus, L.G., (2002). Last glacial human settlement in Eastern Cantabria (Northern Spain).. Journal of Archaeological Science 29, 1403–1414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, S.C., Huang, Y.P., (1993). The Taihu Lake.. China Ocean Press, Beijing. (in Chinese, with English summary); (S-50, S-60).Google Scholar
The archaeological team of Kiangsu Province (1961a). Neolithic, Shang and Han sites in Xinhailian and Donghai Counties, in Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 6, 319–320. (in Chinese); (N-2, N-7).Google Scholar
The archaeological team of Kiangsu Province (1961b). Investigation of Neolithic sites in Dacun, Xinhailian County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 6, 321–323. (in Chinese); (N-4).Google Scholar
The archaeological team of Kiangsu Province (1962). Excavations at the Neolithic site of Liulin, P'ei hsien, Kiangsu.. The Chinese Journal of Archaeology 1, 81–102. (in Chinese); (N-9).Google Scholar
The CPAM of Zhejiang Province and Museum of Zhejiang Province (1978). First Report on He-Mu-Du Site Excavation.. Journal of Archaeology 1, 39–94. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
The CPAM of Shanghai (2002). Maqiao, Report on Excavation between 1993 and 1997.. Shanghai Fine Arts Publisher, Shanghai. 410 pp. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
The CPAM of Zhejiang Province (1961). Excavation on Majiabang Neolithic Site, Jiaxin, Zhejiang Province.. Archaeology 345–354. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Veski, S., Heinsalu, A., Klassen, V., Kriiska, A., Lougas, L., Poska, A., Saluaar, U., (2005). Early Holocene coastal settlements and palaeoenvironment on the shore of the Bultic Sea at Purnu, Southwestern Estonia.. Quaternary International 130, (1) 75–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Z.Y., (1982). Characteristics of relict sand in the western South-Yellow-Sea and its genesis.. Quaternary Geology 2, (3) 63–70. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Wang, J., Chen, X., Zhu, X., Liu, J., Chang, W.Y.B., (2001). Taihu Lake, lower Yangtze drainage basin: evolution, sedimentation rate and the sea level.. Geomorphology 41, 183–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, D., Miao, Z., (1987). Brief investigation report of Neolithic site of Shazhou County, Jiangsu Province.. Archaeology 241, (1) 2–10. (in Chinese); (S-15, S-17–20).Google Scholar
Wu, S.J., (1973). Important cultural relics found during Cultural Revolution, Jiangsu Province.. Wen Wu 4, 2–4. (in Chinese); (N-39).Google Scholar
Wu, S., (1978). Excavation of the Neolithic site at Yu-tunin Ch'ang-chou, Kiangsu Province.. Archaeology 157, (4) 223–240. (in Chinese); (S-2).Google Scholar
Wu, W.T., (1983). Holocene paleogeography along the Hangzhou Bay as constructed on the basis of Neolithic cultural remains.. Acta Geographica Sinica 38, 113–126. (in Chinese, with English summary); (S-7–8, S-10–12, S-45–46, S-56, S-73–74).Google Scholar
Wu, J.M., (1988). The distribution and change of the circumstance of prehistoric sites in the Islet in Yangtze River.. Culture of Southeast China 6, 16–36. (in Chinese); (S-42).Google Scholar
Wu, B., (1996). Study on historical geographic system in Subei plain.. East China Normal University Press, Shanghai. 178 pp. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Wu, W., Liu, T.S., (2004). Possible rate of the “Holocene event 3” on the collapse of Neolithic cultures around the central plain of China.. Quaternary International 117, 153–166.Google Scholar
Xinyi Working Team of Nanking Museum (1956). Neolithic sites of Huating, Xinyi County.. Cultural Relic Consulting Literature 7, 23–26. (in Chinese); (N-10).Google Scholar
Yan, Q.S., Xu, S.Y., (1987). The Recent Yangtze Delta Deposits.. East China Normal Press, Shanghai. 437 pp. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Yin, H.Z., Zhang, Z.X., (1962). Some new thoughts to Neolithic culture in Taihu Lake region, Kiangsu Province.. Archaeology 66, (3) 147–157. (in Chinese); (S-6, S-13–14, S-21–35, S-37, S-41, S-49, S-52–55, S-58–59, S-64, S-70–71).Google Scholar
Yin, H.Z., Zhang, Z.X., (1964). Archaeological investigation around Hongze Lake.. Archaeology 5, 220–226. (in Chinese); (N-26–29, N-46–50).Google Scholar
Yin, H.Z., Zhao, Q.F., (1963). Archaeological investigation at Huaiyin region.. Archaeology 1, 1–8. (in Chinese); (N-14–15, N-17, N-19–24, N-40–45).Google Scholar
Zhao, X., (1989). Cheniers in China: an overview.. Marine Geology 90, 311–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, X.T., Geng, X.S., Zhang, J.W., (1979). The sea-level changes of eastern China in the past 20 000 years.. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 1, (2) 269–281.Google Scholar
Zhao, X., Wu, X., (1991). Pollen assemblages and palaeo-environment from Qingfeng profile of Jianhu, Jiangsu.. Haiyang Kexue 4, 57–61. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Zhao, X.T., Zhang, J.W., (1982). Basic characteristics of the Holocene sea level changes along the coastal area in China.. Liu, Dong-sheng Quaternary Geology and Environment of China China Ocean Press, Beijing., pp. 155–169.Google Scholar
Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and Xiaoshan Museum (2004). Kua-Hu-Qiao: Archaeological Report of Puyang River valley I.. Cultural Relics Publishing House, Beijing. 379 pp. (in Chinese, with English summary).Google Scholar
Zhu, C.H., Zhao, N.X., Zhang, Q., (2000). Environmental archaeology on the Longqiuzhuang Neolithic site, Gaoyou, Jiangsu Province.. Journal of Nanjing University (Natural Sciences) 36, 286–291. (in Chinese); (N-30).Google Scholar
Zong, Y., (2004). Mid-Holocene sea-level highstand along the southeast coast of China.. Quaternary International 117, 55–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zong, Y., Chen, Z., Innes, J.B., Chen, C., Wang, Z., Wang, H., (2007). Fire and flood management of coastal swamp enabled first rice paddy cultivation in east China.. Nature 449, 10.1038/nature06135 27 September 2007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed