Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China
The Huangshan site in Nanyang, situated at the junction of the Nanyang Basin and the Jianghan Plain, represents a critical region for understanding the northward expansion of rice farming in China. Due to the scarcity of suitable organic material, the dating of the channel section at Huangshan relie...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Hao Lu Jun Chai Jun-Cai Ma Kun Liang |
| author_facet | Hao Lu Jun Chai Jun-Cai Ma Kun Liang |
| author_sort | Hao Lu |
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| description | The Huangshan site in Nanyang, situated at the junction of the Nanyang Basin and the Jianghan Plain, represents a critical region for understanding the northward expansion of rice farming in China. Due to the scarcity of suitable organic material, the dating of the channel section at Huangshan relies primarily on cultural relics. By employing grain-size analysis, pollen analysis, and phytolith analysis on sediment samples from the site’s river section, we established a comprehensive framework of hydrology, climate, vegetation, and agricultural activities during the Yangshao to Qujialing periods (ca. 7000–4600 BP). The findings indicate a relative decline in temperature during the Yangshao period, followed by a return to warm and humid conditions during the Qujialing period, which coincided with the peak intensity of rice farming. The continuous expansion of rice farming at the Huangshan site during prehistoric times is likely linked to the northward spread of Qujialing culture. The large-scale production of rice not only provided an economic foundation for the growth of the Huangshan settlement but also facilitated its development into a regional hub for jade production and trade. This study offers new environmental archaeological insights into the interactions between the middle Yangtze River region and the Central Plains during the late Neolithic period. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cb175ebc2dc4e05b74bd18536889770 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0cb175ebc2dc4e05b74bd185368897702025-08-20T03:24:36ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082025-06-018623210.3390/heritage8060232Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central ChinaHao Lu0Jun Chai1Jun-Cai Ma2Kun Liang3School of History, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Cultural Heritage, Beijing City University, No. 26 Yangzhen Section, Muyan Road, Shunyi District, Beijing 101309, ChinaHenan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, No. 9 Longhai North Third Street, Guancheng Hui District, Zhengzhou 450000, ChinaNanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 39 East Beijing Road, Nanjing 210008, ChinaThe Huangshan site in Nanyang, situated at the junction of the Nanyang Basin and the Jianghan Plain, represents a critical region for understanding the northward expansion of rice farming in China. Due to the scarcity of suitable organic material, the dating of the channel section at Huangshan relies primarily on cultural relics. By employing grain-size analysis, pollen analysis, and phytolith analysis on sediment samples from the site’s river section, we established a comprehensive framework of hydrology, climate, vegetation, and agricultural activities during the Yangshao to Qujialing periods (ca. 7000–4600 BP). The findings indicate a relative decline in temperature during the Yangshao period, followed by a return to warm and humid conditions during the Qujialing period, which coincided with the peak intensity of rice farming. The continuous expansion of rice farming at the Huangshan site during prehistoric times is likely linked to the northward spread of Qujialing culture. The large-scale production of rice not only provided an economic foundation for the growth of the Huangshan settlement but also facilitated its development into a regional hub for jade production and trade. This study offers new environmental archaeological insights into the interactions between the middle Yangtze River region and the Central Plains during the late Neolithic period.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/6/232Huangshan sitegrain-size analysispollen analysisphytolith analysisrice farmingQujialing culture |
| spellingShingle | Hao Lu Jun Chai Jun-Cai Ma Kun Liang Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China Heritage Huangshan site grain-size analysis pollen analysis phytolith analysis rice farming Qujialing culture |
| title | Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China |
| title_full | Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China |
| title_fullStr | Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China |
| title_short | Paleoenvironmental Analysis and Rice Farming at the Huangshan Site, Central China |
| title_sort | paleoenvironmental analysis and rice farming at the huangshan site central china |
| topic | Huangshan site grain-size analysis pollen analysis phytolith analysis rice farming Qujialing culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/6/232 |
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