Mid-Holocene climate change and its effect on prehistoric cultural evolution in eastern Qinghai Province, China

Abstract

We studied the mid-Holocene climate change in eastern Qinghai Province, China and its impact on the evolution of Majiayao (3980–2050 BC) and Qijia (2183–1635 BC) cultures, near the important Neolithic site of Changning. The investigation focused on analyses of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, ratios of elemental contents, and pollen assemblage from a loess-paleosol sequence. The results indicate that the climate was wet during 5830–4900 cal yr BP, which promoted the development of early-mid Majiayao culture in eastern Qinghai Province. However, 4900–4700 cal yr BP were drought years in the region, responsible for the decline and eastward movement of prehistoric culture during the period of transition from early-mid to late Majiayao culture. The climate turned wet again during 4700–3940 cal yr BP, which accelerated the spread of Qijia culture to the middle reaches of the Huangshui River, including the Changning site.

Non-linear regime shifts in Holocene Asian monsoon variability: potential impacts on cultural change and migratory patterns

“…Dry conditions between 4.9 and 4.7 ka BP resulted in a decline and eastward migration of this culture. A subsequent wetter climate from 4.7 to 3.9 ka BP supported an accelerated spread of the Qijia culture (Dong et al, 2012). Note that these transitions are not seen in our non-linear measures for the Chinese cave records (Fig.…”

The spatiotemporal pattern of the Majiayao cultural evolution and its relation to climate change and variety of subsistence strategy during late Neolithic period in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, northwest China

“…3). In east Qinghai Province, a drought event between 4900 and 4700 cal BP seems to have induced the eastward retraction of site location during the transition from the Majiayao to Banshan and Machang phases (Dong et al, 2012). The 4900e4400 cal BP event might have reduced rain-fed millet agricultural production, and reduced forest and hunting resources at high altitude areas, resulting in the contraction of the occupied area between the Majiayao and Banshan phases.…”

“…The area is also the transitional region between the Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau, and is sensitive to climate change. Many Neolithic and Bronze cultures (such as the famous Dadiwan culture) developed in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, the relationship between cultural evolution and climate change in the area during prehistoric period has been intensively discussed (An et al, 2004Hou et al, 2009;Wu et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2010;Dong et al, 2012). However, the spatiotemporal pattern of the evolution of a single prehistoric culture, and its relationship to climate change and subsistence strategy variety has been rarely studied.…”

Foothills and intermountain basins: Does China's Fertile Arc have ‘Hilly Flanks’?

“…Recent essays have helpfully placed subsistence transitions within the context of this geological and ecological mosaic, particularly in the north (e.g. Dong et al, 2012;Wagner et al, 2013;Zhuang and Kidder, 2014;Zhuang, 2015). Likewise, on a global scale, scholars have drawn our attention to the climatic context of north China and southwest Asia and the possible interaction between them (e.g.…”