Mid-Holocene palaeoflood events recorded at the Zhongqiao Neolithic cultural site in the Jianghan Plain, middle Yangtze River Valley, China

Wu, Li; Zhu, Cheng; Ma, Chao; Li, Feng; Meng, Huaping; Liu, Hui; Li, Linying; Wang, Xiaocui; Sun, Wei; Song, Yougui

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.08.018

Cited by 55 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…The comparison between reconstructed extreme rainfall events based on grain size Component 3 in peat cores from Changbai Mountains (This study) and previous published paleo-flood records in China. (a) paleofloods in Beijing Plain (Yuan et al, 2002); (b) paleoflood records inferred from archaeological sites in the Three Gorges area and the Jianghan Plain (Zhu et al, 1997); (c) paleoflood records inferred from Zhongqiao archaeological sites of the Jianghan Plain (Wu et al, 2015); (d) paleoflood records inferred from Maqiao archaeological sites, Eastern China (Zhang et al, 2002).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As Component 3 (>497.8 μm population), the coarsest component in peat samples, was conveyed in saltation and bed-load mode by strong surface runoff under severe rainfall, the occurrence of C3 can be used for extreme rainfall events reconstruction (Fig.9). In order to test our reconstruction results, here we made a comparison between previous paleo-flood records (which were related to high-intensity rainfalls) at archaeological sites in the Yangtze River basin and the Yellow River basin (Yuan et al, 2002;Zhu et al, 1997;Wu et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2002) and our reconstructed extreme rainfall events. It can be seen in Fig.…”

Section: Global Responses and Paleo-climate Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Records of East Asian monsoon activities in Northeastern China since 15.6 ka, based on grain size analysis of peaty sediments in the Changbai Mountains

Chambers

Yang

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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Peatlands provide a widespread terrestrial archive for Holocene study. However, little is known about the grain-size characteristics of peaty sediments and their environmental significance. In order to study these phenomena in detail, two sections from the Hani and Gushantun peatlands in the Changbai Mountain Area were cored and sub-sampled. Based on reliable calibrated AMS 14 C ages, we established grain size variations in the peat cores since 15.6 ka cal. BP. Our results showed that the peaty sediments in the Changbai Mountains are mainly composed of silt. Moreover, the grain size component, which is related to paleoclimate variables, can be classified into three groups based on the "Grain size class vs. standard deviation" method. These sensitive grain size components are <37.0 μm (Component 1 or C1), 37.0-497.8 μm (Component 2 or C2) and >497.8 μm (Component 3 or C3). C1 comprises the finest silt in the peaty sediment and is mainly conveyed by the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM), whereas C2 is transported into the peatland by surface runoff related to the enhancement of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). C3 is conveyed in saltation and bed-load mode by strong surface runoff linked to high-energy flow caused by a strong EASM, and perhaps is an indicator of extreme rainfall events in the Changbai Mountains. Our results suggest that the study region was dominated by a cold/dry environment during the late-glacial period under a strong EAWM. However, there was a marked climatic shift from an EAWM-dominated cold/dry climate to an EASM-dominated more mesic environment during the early Holocene. Increased percentage of C2 in peat cores during the Holocene Optimum (9.0-4.5 ka) indicates abundant rainfall in the study region (even with extreme rainfall events) as a result of a significant enhancement of the EASM. Weak monsoon events occurred at 10.5 ka, 9.2 ka, 8.2 ka, 7.2 ka, 6.2ka, 5.5 ka and 4.2 ka shown by sharp decreases in C2, agreeing with the stalagmite δ 18 O records in China. The results obtained from environmentally sensitive grain-size component records are largely consistent with other palaeoenvironmental records in the East Asian monsoon area, substantiating the regional climate patterns and monsoon evolution since late-glacial time. Because intensity of the East Asian monsoon is likely responsible for the grain-size change in the peat samples, the grain size components in peat samples may be used for reconstructions of past environmental conditions and of variability in the East Asian monsoon.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Global Responses and Paleo-climate Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Records of East Asian monsoon activities in Northeastern China since 15.6 ka, based on grain size analysis of peaty sediments in the Changbai Mountains

Chambers

Yang

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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“…The abrupt climate change associated with the 4.2 ka BP event has been proposed to have contributed to the collapses of Neolithic cultures in China (Jin and Liu, 2002;Huang et al, 2010Huang et al, , 2011Zhang et al, 2010;Liu and Feng, 2012;Wu et al, 2017). Most of these studies imply a temperature drop Figure 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…in continental China at about 4.2 ka BP (Yao and Thompson, 1992;Jin and Liu, 2002;Zhou et al, 2002;Zhong et al, 2017;Xu et al, 2006;Yao et al, 2017), but changes in the spatial distribution of precipitation are also discussed (Tan et al, 2008(Tan et al, , 2018aHuang et al, 2010Huang et al, , 2011Wu et al, 2017). For example, a grain-size record from Daihai Lake, north China, suggests a decrease in monsoon precipitation between 4.4 and 3.1 ka BP with a very dry interval between 4.4 and 4.2 ka BP (Peng et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydroclimatic variations in southeastern China during the 4.2 ka event reflected by stalagmite records

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Although the collapses of several Neolithic cultures in China are considered to have been associated with abrupt climate change during the 4.2 ka BP event (4.2–3.9 ka BP), the timing and nature of this event and the spatial distribution of precipitation between northern and southern China are still controversial. The hydroclimate of this event in southeastern China is still poorly known, except for a few published records from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In this study, a high-resolution record of monsoon precipitation between 5.3 and 3.57 ka BP based on a stalagmite from Shennong Cave, Jiangxi Province, southeast China, is presented. Coherent variations in δ18O and δ13C reveal that the climate in this part of China was dominantly wet between 5.3 and 4.5 ka BP and mostly dry between 4.5 and 3.57 ka BP, interrupted by a wet interval (4.2–3.9 ka BP). A comparison with other records from monsoonal China suggests that summer monsoon precipitation decreased in northern China but increased in southern China during the 4.2 ka BP event. We propose that the weakened East Asian summer monsoon controlled by the reduced Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation resulted in this contrasting distribution of monsoon precipitation between northern and southern China. During the 4.2 ka BP event the rain belt remained longer at its southern position, giving rise to a pronounced humidity gradient between northern and southern China.

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“…The end of the Shijiahe culture corresponded with a period of climate deterioration and monsoon weakening, resulting in long-term drought [30]. Other studies indicated that there were significant flood events [31] and climate change during this time period [27]. Despite intensive palaeo-environmental research and associated archaeological studies over the last 30 years, our understanding of the decline of this once flourishing ancient city remains incomplete.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Neolithic phytolith and charcoal records of human activities and vegetation change in Shijiahe culture, Tanjialing site, China

Zhu

Mei

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

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There is significant archaeological evidence marking the collapse of the Shijiahe culture in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China during the late Neolithic Period. However, the causes for this cultural collapse remain unclear. Our sedimentary records from a 3.3 m long profile and 76 phytolith and charcoal samples from the Tanjialing archaeological sites provide records of interactions between an ancient culture and vegetation change. During the early Shijiahe culture (c, 4850–4400 cal BP), the climate was warm and humid. Fire was intensively used to clear the vegetation. In the mid-period of the Shijiahe culture (c, 4400–4200 cal BP), the climate became slightly dry-cold and this was accompanied by decreasing water, leading to settlements. From c, 4200 cal BP, severe drought eroded the economic foundation of rice-cultivation. These conditions forced people to abandon the Shijiahe ancient city to find water in other regions, leading to the collapse of the Shijiahe culture.

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Mid-Holocene palaeoflood events recorded at the Zhongqiao Neolithic cultural site in the Jianghan Plain, middle Yangtze River Valley, China

Cited by 55 publications

References 69 publications

Records of East Asian monsoon activities in Northeastern China since 15.6 ka, based on grain size analysis of peaty sediments in the Changbai Mountains

Records of East Asian monsoon activities in Northeastern China since 15.6 ka, based on grain size analysis of peaty sediments in the Changbai Mountains

Hydroclimatic variations in southeastern China during the 4.2 ka event reflected by stalagmite records

Late Neolithic phytolith and charcoal records of human activities and vegetation change in Shijiahe culture, Tanjialing site, China

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