Sedimentary evidence of Late Holocene human activity in the Pearl River delta, China

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
This study examines the sedimentary evidence of human activities during the last 4000 years in the Pearl River deltaic area. The analyses are focused on indentifying agricultural signatures present in the sedimentary record and establishing the timing of a change from a simple, rice-based agriculture to a more advanced, diverse agriculture. The examination is based on modern sediment and plant samples and a sediment core collected from the deltaic area. The analyses include particle size and diatom analysis to determine the environmental conditions that were associated with the period of human activities. Organic carbon isotope ratios and major metal elements reveal an expansion in commercial crop production and metal smelting in the Pearl River delta area about 2000 years ago.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2010, vol. 35, n°. 9, p. 1095-1102, nombre de pages : 8, Références bibliographiques : 29 ref.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley