Holocene environmental change and its impacts on human settlement in the Shanghai Area, East China

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

WU, L.

College of Territorial Resources and Tourism, Anhui Normal Univ., Wuhu, Chine

School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Chine

ZHU, C.

School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Chine

ZHENG, C.

Geographic Information and Tourism College, Univ., Chuzhou, Chine

LI, F.

School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Chine

WANG, X.

College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai Univ., Nanjing, Chine

LI, L.

Center for Archaeological Science, Sichuan Univ., Chengdu, Chine

SUN, W.

School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Chine

Description :
A relative sea-level curve of the Shanghai Area was derived from dated shell ridges and peat, and correlates well with the reconstructed sea-level curves of the Yangtze Delta and East China. The development of human settlements was interrupted at least 4 times in the Shanghai Area, matching 4 periods of high sea-level, peat accumulation, and increase in shell ridges, after which Neolithic communities moved onto the plain and reclaimed their lowlands for rice cultivation. The Chenier Ridges played an important role in sheltering the Neolithic settlers. The collapse of Liangzhu Culture about 4000 cal. yr BP was followed by the less-developed Maqiao Culture. These studies suggest that extreme environmental and hydrological conditions such as terrestrial inundation caused by sea-level rise and heavy rainfall, contributed to the cessation of paddy exploitation and to the social stress that led to the Liangzhu Culture demise.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2014, vol. 114, p. 78-89, nombre de pages : 12, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais