Abstract
China has three great topographic zones (Fig. 19.1). The first, in the eastern part of the mainland, contains plains ranging from a few tens of meters to ca. 100 m in elevation and hills and low mountains ranging from hundreds of meters to ca. 1000 m asl. The first zone passes gradually westwards into the second, which is characterized primarily by hills and mountains over 1000 m high and by deep river valleys. The third topographic zone is the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateaus with average altitude over 4000 m asl.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
An, CB, Tang, LY, Loukas, B, Chen, FH (2005) Climate change and cultural response around 4000 cal yr BP in the western part of Chinese Loess Plateau. Quaternary Research 63:347–352
Archaeological Team of Gansu Province (1986) Excavation brief report of the Dadiwan No. 901 Room site, Qin'an, Gansu. Cultural Relics 2:1–12
Baoding Institute of Cultural Relics, Department of Archaeology, Peking University (1992) Brief report of excavation on the Nanzhuangtou site in Xushui Country, Hebei Province. Archaeology 11:961–970
Chen Z, Wang Z, Schneiderman J, et al. (2005) Holocene climate fluctuations in the Yangtze delta of eastern China and the Neolithic response. The Holocene 15:915–924
Cui HT, Kong ZC (1992) Primary climate change analysis of Megathermal Maximum in central and eastern region of Inner-Mongolia. In: Shi YF, Kong ZC (eds) Climate and environment of Holocene in China. Ocean Press, Beijing, pp 72–79
Erlitou Working Team (2003) Achievement in palace excavation of the Erlitou site. Communication of Ancient Civilization of China 5:50–53
Fang H (2003) The decline reason of Yueshi Culture. Literature History and Philosophy 3:139–144
Feng ZD, An CB, Wang HB (2006) Holocene climatic and environmental changes in the arid and semi-arid areas of China: a review. The Holocene 16:119–130
Gansu Provincial Museum, Qin'an Cultural Centers, Dadiwan Excavation Team (1981) Early Neolithic remains of the Dadiwan site, Qin’an, Gansu. Cultural Relics 4:1–8
Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology (2006) Excavation Brief Report of the Dadiwan Neolithic site, Qin'an. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 945 pp
Gao GR (2000) The Pre-Qin Archaeological collection of Haidai Region. Science Press, Beijing, 341 pp
Gao GR, Luan FS (2004) Dawenkou Culture. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 205 pp
Gao GR, Shao WP (2005) Haidai Culture and Qilu Civilization. Jiangsu Education Press, Nanjing, 744 pp
Gong QM (2002), Yangshao Culture, Cultural Relics Press. Beijing, 239 pp
Guiyang Institute of Geo-Chemistry (1977) Natural environment change in the southern part of Liaoning Province. Science in China 6:605–614
Guo F (1992) Prediction of settlements size and population growth trend: study on population at different stages of neolithic cultures in the Middle Yangtze River Region. Relics From South 1:55–60
Guo L (2003) Conflict and war: from Daxi to Shijiahe. In: Committee of State Council, State Cultural Relic Bureau (eds) Three Gorges Project Construction. Academic Papers on Heritage and Archaeological Research in Three Gorges. Science Press, Beijing, pp 137–156
Guo SB (1985) The original agriculture remains of the Chegushan site. Hunan. Agricultural Archaeology 2:86–89
Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (1983) Excavation on the Wangchenggang site, Dengfeng. Cultural Relics 8:8–20
Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (1992) Excavation on the Haojiatai site, Yanshi. Huaxia Archaeology 3:71–100
Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (2002) Brief report of excavation on the Guchengzhai site of Longshan Culture, Xinmi, Henan. Huaxia Archaeology 2:53–82
Hunan Provincial Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics (2006) Pengtoushan and Bashidang. Science Press, Beijing, 734 pp
Hunan Provincial Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics (2007) Chengtoushan in Lixian – Excavation report of a Neolithic Site. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 809 pp
Institute of Archaeology, CASS (1988) The Sanlihe site of Jiao County. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 201 pp
Jiang LP, Sheng DP (2007) The Shangshan site and Shangshan Culture. In: Mo DW, Cao JY, Zheng WH, et al. (eds) Research of Environmental Archaeology (Volume 4). Peking University Press, Beijing, pp 25–42
Jiang WD (2007), Sanctity and Refinement, Zhejiang Photography Press, Hangzhou, 293 pp
Jiao J (2007) A 5600-year-old wooden well in Zhejiang Province. Journal of Hydrogeology of China 15:1021–1029
Kong ZC, Du NQ, Liu GM (1991) The Preliminary Study of Environmental Archaeology 8000a-2400a BP in Chifeng City, Inner-Mongolia. In: Zhou KS (ed) Researches of Environmental Archaeology (Volume 1). Science Press, Beijing, pp 112–119
Kong ZC, Du NQ, Shan FS, et al. (1990) Holocene vegetation change and climate analysis around Qinghai Lake: the palynological data analysis in QH85-14C Bore. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology (China) 10 (3):79–96
Li XQ, Dodson J, Zhou J, Zhou XY (2009) Increases of population and expansion of rice agriculture in Asia, and anthropogenic methane emissions since 5000 BP. Quaternary International 202:41–50
Li YM (2003), Peiligang culture, Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 211 pp
Liaoning Institute of Archaeology (1997), Jade of Hongshan Culture. Cultural Relic Press, Beijing, pp a-52, b-71, c-69, d-51, e-53, f-50
Liu HW (2008) The germination of jade carving remains of Liangzhu Culture. Archaeology and Cultural Relics 1:29–34
Liu J (2006) Hemudu Culture. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 192 pp
Liu L (2004) The Chinese Neolithic –Trajectories to Early States. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 310 pp
Lu HY (1989) The spore-pollen assemblages in the sediments in the southern Bohai sea since the late Pleistocene and its palaeoenvironment analysis. Journal of Oceanography of Huanghai and Bohai Seas 7:11–26
Lu HY, Zhang JP (2008) Neolithic culture evolution and Holocene climate change in the Guanzhong Basin, Shaanxi, China. Quaternary Sciences 28:1050–1060
Lu HY, Zhang JP, Liu KB, et al. (2009) Earliest domestication of common millet (Panicum miliaceum) in East Asia extended to 10,000 years ago, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106:7367–7372
Luan FS (1997) The Archaeological Research on Haidai Region. In: Luan FS (ed) The Archaeological Research on Haidai Region. Shandong University Press, Jinan, pp 318–347
Mo DW, Li F, Li SC, Kong ZC (1996) A preliminary study on the paleoenvironment of the Middle Holocene in the Hulu River region in Gansu Province and its effects on human activity. Acta Geographica Sinica 51:59–69
Mo Duowen, Yang Xiaoyan, Wang Hui (2002) Study on the environmental background of the Niuheliang site, Hongshan Culture, and the relationship between ancient man and environment. Quaternary Sciences 22:174–181
Morris C, Overpeck JT, Cole JE (2003) A synthesis of abrupt changes in the Asian summer monsoon since the last deglaciation. The Holocene 13:465–476
Participants of the Training Course for Excavation Managers (1999) Excavation of a city in Yangshao Period in the Xishan site, Zhengzhou City. Cultural Relics 7:4–15
Puyang Wenguan Hui (1988) Brief report of excavation on the Xishuipo site, Puyang, Henan Province, Cultural Relics 3:1–6
Shandong Administration of Relics (1974) The Dawenkou site. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 164 pp
Shandong Fieldwork Team, Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Museum of Teng County, Shandong (1984) The excavation report in the Bexin site in Teng County, Shandong. Journal of Archaeology 2:159–191
Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (1989) The clearing of burials of Longshan Culture in Xizhufeng, Linqu. In: Zhang XH (ed) Archaeology in Haidai Region(Volume 1). Shandong University Press, Jinan, pp 219–224
Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology (1999) 50th Anniversary of Archaeology Research in Shaanxi Province. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 1264 pp
Shi YF, Kong ZC, Wang SM, et al. (1992) The basic features of climate and environment in China during Holocene Megathermal period. In: Shi YF, Kong ZC (eds) The climate and the environment during Holocene Megathermal period in China. Ocean Press, Beijing, pp 1–18
Song YQ (2002) The Simple Comment on the Man-land Relationship of the Origin of Chinese Civilization. Science Press, Beijing, 227 pp
Su BQ (1988) The New Dawn of Chinese Civilization. Southeast Culture 5:1–7
Sun JZ, Ke MH, Sun XR, et al. (1991) Holocene paleoenvironment in Loess Plateau. In: Sun JZ, Zhao JB (eds) Quaternary in Loess Plateau. Science Press, Beijing, pp 186–205
Tang LY, An CB (2007) Sporopollen record of vegetation change and drought events in Longzhong Loess Plateau Holocene. Progress in Natural Sciences 17:1371–1382
Tang LY, Shen CM (1992) The vegetation and climate during Holocene Megathermal period in northern Jiangsu. In: Shi YF, Kong ZC (eds) The climate and environment during Holocene Megathermal period in China. Ocean Press, Beijing, pp 80–93
Tarasov P, Jin GY, Wagner M (2006) Mid-Holocene environmental and human dynamics in northeastern China reconstructed from pollen and archaeological data. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 241:284–300
The Inner Mongolia Work Team of Institute of Archaeology CASS (2004) The excavation on the Xinglonggou site in the year of 2002-2003, Chifeng City, Inner-Mongolia. Archaeology 7:3–8
The Radiocarbon Laboratory of Peking University (1996) The Carbon 14 dating report. Cultural Relics 6:91–95
Tian GL (2004) The Origin of Civilization of Western Liao River Region in Northeastern China. Chinese Publishing House, Beijing, 290 pp
Tong GB, Zhang JP, Yan FH, Mai XX (1991) Sporo-pollen sequence and division of climatic period in the eastern North China plain since late Pleistocene. Seismology and Geology, 13:259–265
Tong WH (1984) Agricultural remains and its correlative problems in the Cishan site. Archaeology 1:194–207
Wang J, Lu HY, Shen CM (1990) Factor interpretation method and quantitative analysis of climatic changes over the last 12000 years in China. In: Liu C, Zhao SQ, Zhang PY, Shi PJ (eds) Global Changes and Environmental Evolution in China. Proceedings of Section III, Regional Conference on Asian Pacific Countries of IGU, The Inner Mongolia Press of Science and Technology, Hohhot, CN, pp 62–68
Wang SM (2006) Preliminary studies on prehistorical social complex evolvement in Taihu Lake Area. Southeast Culture 3:10–16
Wang YJ, Cheng H, Edwards RL, et al. (2008) Millennial- and orbital-scale changes in the East Asian monsoon over the past 224,000 years. Nature, 451:1090–1093
Wang ZL (1995) Application of opal phytolith analysis in the Yuchisi site, Mengcheng, Anhui. Archaeology 1:88–90
Wu J, Chen M, Liu C (2009) Astronomical function and date of the Taosi observatory. Science in China Series G: Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy 52(1):151–158
Xia ZK, Deng H, Wu HL (2000) Geomorphologic Background of the Prehistoric Cultural Evolution in the Xilamulun River Basin, Inner-Mongolia. Acta Geographica Sinica 55:329–336
Xie DJ (2002) Prehistoric archaeology of Gansu-Qinghai region. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 258 pp
Xie XG (2007) Research on Xiangfen Taosi site, Science Press, Beijing, 724 pp
Xu H, Du JP (2005), Research on Yanshi Erlitou site, Science Press, Beijing, 852 pp
Xue ZQ (2008) Discussion on the position and function of the Xinglongwa culture in the origin of the Chinese culture. Journal of Dalian University 29(5):11–15
Yan WM (1986) The Lepan site in Zhangqiu County from Dawenkou Culture to Shang Dynasty. In: Chinese Society of Archaeology (ed) The Archaeological Almanac of China. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, CN, pp 136
Yan WM (2000) Agricultural Occurrence and Origin of Civilization. Science Press, Beijing, 338 pp
Yuan J (2001) Origin of domestic animals during neolithic period in China. Cultural Relics 5:51–58
Zhang J, Harbottle G, Wang C, Kong Z (1999) Oldest playable musical instruments found at Jiahu early Neolithic site in China. Nature 401(6751):366–368
Zhang WX, Yuan JR (1998) A Preliminary study on the ancient rice excavated from Yuchanyan, Daoxian, Hunan Province. Acta Agronomic Sinica 24:416–420
Zhang XH (1993) The Chengziya site and Chinese Civilization. In: Zhang XH (ed) Academic Papers on Archaeological Research for 60th Anniversary of Excavation on the Chengziya site. Qilu Book House Press, Jinan, pp 13–25
Zhang XQ (1992) Outline of Neolithic Cultures in the Middle Yangtze River. Hubei Science and Technology Press, Wuhan, 326 pp
Zhang ZB, Wang D, Ding JX (1981) Natural environment change around Beijing City 13000 a BP. Scientia Geological Sinica 3:259–268
Zhang ZH (2004) Neolithic Culture in Lower Yangtze River. Hubei Education Press, Wuhan, 268 pp
Zhao BC, Wang ZH, Chen ZY, WuG (2007) Climate, vegetation and geomorphology evolution since 8 ka BP recorded by sediments from dish-like depression of Taihu Lake Plain. Journal of Palaeogeography 3:321–330
Zhao H (2006a) The prehistoric basis of China: the central region of China(Zhongyuan) as the center of the historical trend. Cultural Relics 8:50–54
Zhao H (2006b) The dawn of Chinese civilization. In: Yan WM, Li L (ed) The history of Chinese civilization (1). Peking University Press, pp 31–94
Zhao ZJ (2005) Botanical archaeology and recent developments. Archaeology 7:42-50
Zhao ZJ, Piperno D (2000) Late Pleistocene/Holocene environments in the middle reaches of Yangtze River Valley, China and rice (Oryza sativa L.) domestication: the phytolith evidence. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal 15:203–222
Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, The Xiaoshan Museum (2004) Kuahuqiao. Cultural Relics Press, Beijing, 379 pp
Zhoukou Relics Office (1983) Brief report of excavation on Pingliangtai City of Longshan Culture, Huaiyang, Henan Province. Cultural Relics 3:21–36
Zong Y (2004) Mid-Holocene sea-level highstand along the Southeast Coast of China. Quaternary International 117:55–67
Zong, Y, Chen, Z, Innes, JB, et al. (2007) Fire and flood management of coastal swamp enabled first rice paddy cultivation in east China. Nature 449:459–463
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mo, D., Zhao, Z., Xu, J., Li, M. (2010). Holocene Environmental Changes and the Evolution of the Neolithic Cultures in China. In: Martini, I., Chesworth, W. (eds) Landscapes and Societies. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9413-1_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9413-1_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9412-4
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9413-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)