Impact of Holocene climate change on the prehistoric cultures of Zhejiang region,East China

The temporal-spatial distribution features of prehistoric cultures since the Holocene in Zhejiang region were comparatively analyzed based on GIS spatial analysis. Results show that the prehistoric cultures expanded gradually in this region before 4000 cal. a BP. The notable expansions occurred twice, one in the Majiabang-Hemudu cultural period, the other in the Liangzhu cultural period. Meanwhile, the prehistoric cultures were disseminated from west to east coast along river valleys. After 4000 cal. a BP, as represented by the Maqiao Culture, the distributed area of each prehistoric culture contracted. This is obviously due to the termination of spreading trends to east coast, which was simultaneously accompanied by two different modes of production and economic transitions in the north and south Zhejiang region respectively. The distribution of prehistoric cultures was closely related with Holocene sea-level fluctuations, especially on the banks of Hangzhou Bay, where the distribution changes of prehistoric cultural sites were greatly affected by sea-level changes, with the closest relationships between them. After 7000 cal. a BP, the process of lowered sea-level and regression-epeirogenesis provided wider terrestrial living spaces for prehistoric inhabitants. Based on the comparative analyses of the changes of prehistoric cultures and the environmental evolution information recorded in the Qianmutian subalpine peat of Mt. Tianmu and muddy area on the inner shelf of the East China Sea, it is indicated that the changes of prehistoric cultures were synchronized with environmental changes in Zhejiang region. Before 4000 cal. a BP, the eastward expansion of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the background of the Holocene Optimum, and was the expansion and extension under the joint influences of agricultural civilization and maritime civilization. However, after 4000 cal. a BP, the geographical contraction of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the background of dry-cold climate trend and deterioration of coastal marine environment. It is evidenced from the above fact that the development, expansion and contraction of prehistoric cultures are positively correlated to environmental change. The change of the climatic environment is just the underlying reason for these changes and transitions of production modes and economic forms. Therefore, the climatic environment is the dominant factor of prehistoric culture vicissitudes in Zhejiang region, which has exerted great influence on distribution, dissemination, expansion and transmutation of the culture.     

全新世浙江地区气候变化对史前文化的影响(英文)

The temporal-spatial distribution features of prehistoric cultures since the Holocene in Zhejiang region were comparatively analyzed based on GIS spatial analysis. Results show that the prehistoric cultures expanded gradually in this region before 4000 cal. a BP. The notable expansions occurred twice, one in the Majiabang-Hemudu cultural period, the other in the Liangzhu cultural period. Meanwhile, the prehistoric cultures were disseminated from west to east coast along river valleys. After 4000 cal. a BP, as represented by the Maqiao Culture, the distributed area of each prehistoric culture contracted. This is obviously due to the termination of spreading trends to east coast, which was simultaneously accompanied by two different modes of production and economic transitions in the north and south Zhejiang region respectively. The distribution of prehistoric cultures was closely related with Holocene sea-level fluctuations, especially on the banks of Hangzhou Bay, where the distribution changes of prehistoric cultural sites were greatly affected by sea-level changes, with the closest relationships between them. After 7000 cal. a BP, the process of lowered sea-level and regression-epeirogenesis provided wider terrestrial living spaces for prehistoric inhabitants. Based on the comparative analyses of the changes of prehistoric cultures and the environmental evolution information recorded in the Qianmutian subalpine peat of Mt. Tianmu and muddy area on the inner shelf of the East China Sea, it is indicated that the changes of prehistoric cultures were synchronized with environmental changes in Zhejiang region. Before 4000 cal. a BP, the eastward expansion of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the background of the Holocene Optimum, and was the expansion and extension under the joint influences of agricultural civilization and maritime civilization. However, after 4000 cal. a BP, the geographical contraction of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the back-ground of dry-cold climate trend and deterioration of coastal marine environment. It is evidenced from the above fact that the development, expansion and contraction of prehistoric cultures are positively correlated to environmental change. The change of the climatic environment is just the underlying reason for these changes and transitions of production modes and economic forms. Therefore, the climatic environment is the dominant factor of prehistoric culture vicissitudes in Zhejiang region, which has exerted great influence on distribution, dissemination, expansion and transmutation of the culture.     

全新世以来浙江地区史前文化对环境变化的响应

对浙江地区史前文化的时空分布进行比较研究, 发现4000 cal. a BP前本区史前文化遗址在空间上不断扩大, 较为显著的扩大曾发生过两次, 一次发生在马家浜-河姆渡文化时期, 另一次发生在良渚文化时期;同时以河流谷地为通道, 史前文化从西向东不断向沿海扩展。4000 cal. a BP后, 以马桥文化为代表的各史前文化地域明显收缩, 东向沿海扩散的趋势终止, 同时伴随有南北两种不同模式的生产方式和经济形态转变。浙江地区史前文化分布与全新世海面波动有显著的关系, 尤其是杭州湾两岸的史前文化遗址分布与海面变化的关系最密切, 7000 cal. a BP 以来的低海面-海退成陆过程为史前居民提供了广阔的陆地生存空间。浙江地区史前文化变迁与环境变化在时相上具有一致性, 对比天目山千亩田泥炭和东海内陆架泥质沉积的环境演变记录表明, 4000 cal. a BP前浙江地区史前文化的东向地域扩展是在全新世气候适宜期背景下进行的, 是农业文明和海洋文明共同作用下的扩展和延伸;而4000cal. a BP后史前文化的地域收缩是在气候干冷和沿海海洋环境恶化的背景下发生的。以上初步证明浙江地区史前文化的发展、扩张和收缩与环境变化呈显著的正相关, 而气候环境变化正是引起上述这种变化以及生产方式和经济形态变化的深层次原因。因此, 气候环境成为浙江史前文化变迁的重要影响因子, 其对文化的分布、传播、扩展和演变等都产生了重要影响。     

毛乌素沙地东缘中全新世以来环境变化及其对文明演化的影响初探北大核心CSCD

毛乌素沙地全新世风成沉积为探讨气候变化与文明演化之间的关系提供了可能。本文通过对毛乌素沙地东缘全新世中晚期寨山剖面沉积物的磁学参数、色度、CaCO含量和粒度进行分析,重建了该区域环境变化历史,并初步探讨了环境变化对文明演化的影响。结果表明:该区域6 800-1 500 cal a BP分别经历了一次气候暖湿期(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)、一次气候相对暖干期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)和一次气候相对暖湿期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)。毛乌素沙地东缘仰韶文化(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)的大扩张与气候暖湿期具有一致性,遗址数量增加;仰韶晚期和龙山时期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)气候变化频繁,文化复杂多样,期间经历了仰韶文明的衰落和龙山文化的扩张,遗址数量逐渐增加;青铜铁器时代和秦汉时期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)各民族文化融合发展,人口活动频繁,经济文化都得到较好的发展,遗址不断增加,且数量较大。研究结果指示文明兴衰受环境演化影响,两者在时间上有较好的一致性,但短时期内文明演化对气候变化的响应有滞后性。     

江汉平原钟桥遗址地层揭示的史前洪水事件

通过野外考古调查研究,利用对钟桥遗址疑似古洪水层和研究区现代洪水沉积物的锆石微形态、粒度、磁化率、Rb/Sr等地球化学指标的比较、AMS¹⁴C技术和考古器物断代,发现钟桥遗址在4800~4597 cal. a BP、4479~4367 cal. a BP和4168~3850 cal. a BP分别经历了三次古洪水事件并相应堆积了古洪水沉积层;结合江汉平原及其周边地区众多遗址的古洪水沉积层时代对比证据,揭示了屈家岭文化中晚期（4900~4600 cal. a BP）和石家河文化末期至夏代（4100~3800 cal. a BP）两次大洪水事件在江汉平原地区非常普遍。对史前洪水发生环境背景的进一步分析,反映江汉平原在5000~4500 a BP及4000 a BP前后的时段气候表现得不稳定,古洪水事件与气候环境变化驱动的江汉平原湖群扩张存在一定的联系,并影响区域新石器文化兴衰过程。同时,其它证据也表明该区社会发展过程和环境变化过程特别是古水文过程的矛盾在石家河文化末期已特别突出,发现具有全球意义的4000 a BP前后气候异常引起的大洪水事件是江汉平原地区石家河文化消亡的重要环境因素;而石家河文化末期该区内部或同中原以及其它地区间的冲突,都加速了石家河文化的崩溃。这些研究成果,提供了可靠的大禹时代史前洪水证据来说明其对新石器文化兴衰的社会影响,对于揭示4000 a BP气候事件中区域气候水文变化的响应规律,亦具有重要的科学意义。     

太湖流域全新世气候-海面短期振荡事件及其对新石器文化的影响

太湖流域埋藏古树、泥炭、贝壳堤和新石器文化遗址,＾１４Ｃ年代频率变化揭示了全新世气候－海面波动与文明兴衰的时间耦合关系。本区降水量的明显增加始于８ｋａＢ．Ｐ．、７．５￣４ｋａＢ．Ｐ．总的看为高海面和新石器文化发展时期,但其间有相对的海面波动,即：７￣６．５ｋａＢ．Ｐ．为高海面期、６．３￣５．６ｋａＢ．Ｐ．为低海面期、４．５￣４ｋａＢ．Ｐ．为低海面期、３．８￣３．５ｋａＢ．Ｐ．为高海面期。从文化断层     

长江三峡考古遗址文化断层研究

长江三峡考古遗址的地理位置、14C 测年数据及考古学文化年代、地面高程、文化层的连续性、文化层的埋深和厚度、文化断层的埋深和厚度等统计数据综合分析的结果表明长江三峡地区新石器时代到历史时期考古遗址沉积地层中有5 期文化断层: (1) 城背溪文化末期到大溪文化初期(7200~6000a BP); (2) 大溪文化关庙山类型三期(5800~5500a BP); (3) 夏代 (4000~3500a BP); (4) 春秋晚期至战国时期(2500~2200a BP); (5) 宋代以来(960A.D.以来)。探讨文化断层与灾变事件发生之间的关系, 从而揭示三峡地区史前和历史时期环境演变过程及其与人类活动的影响。     

9.5–2.3 ka BP燕辽地区考古文化演变及其遗址的时空分布（英文）

With basic information from 8353 archaeological sites, this study describes a holistic spatial-temporal distribution pattern of archaeological sites of the prehistoric culture sequence from 9.5 ka BP (ka BP = thousands of years before 0 BP, where "0 BP" is defined as the year AD 1950) to 2.3 ka BP in the region that extends from the Yanshan Mountains to the Liaohe River Plain(i.e., the Yan-Liao region) in northern China. Based on spatial statistics analysis – including the spatial density of the sites and Geographic Information System nearest-neighbour analysis, combined with a review of environmental and climatic data – this paper analyses cultural evolution, the spatial-temporal features of the archaeological sites and human activities against the backdrop of climatic and environmental changes in this region. The results reveal that prehistoric cultural evolution in the Yan-Liao region is extensively influenced by climatic and environmental changes. The Xinglongwa, Zhaobaogou and Fuhe cultures, which primarily developed during a habitable period from 8.5 ka BP to 6.0 ka BP with strong summer monsoons, have similar maximum density values, spatial patterns and subsistence strategies dominated by hunting-gathering. Significant changes occurred in the Hongshan and Lower Xiajiadian cultures, with a significant increase in numbers and densities of sites and a slump in average nearest-neighbour ratio when the environment began to deteriorate starting in 6.0 ka BP. Additionally, with the onset of a weak summer monsoon and the predominance of primitive agriculture, sites of these two cultures present a different type of concentric circle-shaped pattern in space. As the environment continuously deteriorated with increasing aridity and the spread of steppe, more sites were distributed towards the south, and primitive agriculture was replaced by livestock husbandry in the Upper Xiajiadian culture. The most densely populated areas of the studied cultures are centralized within a limited area. The Laohahe River and Jiaolaihe River basins formed the core area in which most archaeological sites were distributed during the strong summer monsoon period and the first few thousand years of the weak summer monsoon period.     

香港岛水域全新统重矿物与硅藻记录及其古环境意义

通过对香港岛水域V10柱样中化石硅藻与重矿物的鉴定分析,结合14C年代数据,探讨了该区全新世环境的演变过程及硅藻组合和重矿物组成对海洋环境变化的响应。结果显示：全新世该水域硅藻始终以沿岸半咸水种占据绝对优势,其次为咸水种,基本不见淡水种;重矿物中自生黄铁矿和菱铁矿占有相当大的比例,共同反映该区自全新世以来为近岸低盐的海洋环境,沉积界面以强还原条件为主。受全球及区域气候变化影响,该区全新世气候与环境变化呈现出阶段性和复杂性：其中,约11 650―10 650 cal. a BP,气候由冰期的寒冷转向温凉,海平面上升;10 650―7 200 cal. a BP,气候温暖但可能较为干燥,海平面的变化仍主要受海侵的影响;7 200―6 000 cal. a BP,气候温暖湿润,夏季风降水大幅增加,海平面继续上升,到6 900 cal. a BP达到最高海平面;6 000 cal. a BP之后,夏季风减弱,海平面回落,气候可能又变为温干。     

渭河流域东部全新世环境演变与古文化发展的关系研究

 在对渭河流域东部全新世黄土剖面磁化率、粒度、Rb/Sr、CaCO3等气候指标测定分析的基础上,结合已测定的光释光（OSL）年龄和古文化研究的最新成果,探讨了该区环境演变与人类古文化演进的历史及其相互关系。研究发现,在9.34~6.77 ka BP全新世最适宜的气候条件下,在7.80~7.30 ka BP出现了老官台文化,之后发育了仰韶早期文化;在全新世中期6.77~5.48 ka BP干冷气候初期出现了仰韶文化最繁荣的庙底沟类型文化;中后期随资源环境的持续恶化,该区出现了仰韶文化衰落的西王村类型文化;在全新世中晚期的5.48~3.12 ka BP气候再次发生好转推动了该区龙山文化的发展;4.60~3.76 ka BP期间频繁发生的洪水事件可能进一步强化了人地关系,并进而推动了该区文化进入夏商人类文明时期;3.12 ka BP以来趋于干冷的气候在推动该区人类文明进一步发展的同时,人类活动对环境影响的强度和范围也日益加大。渭河流域古文化得以延续发展至今,一方面说明气候环境的变化并未超越先民适应能力的范围,另一方面也说明渭河流域具有先民维持生存和发展的优越资源环境条件。     

中全新世气候突变对青海东北部史前文化的影响

青海东北部自然环境对全球变化响应敏感,且本区史前文化发达、序列完整、遗迹丰富。因此本区是我国研究气候变化对史前文化影响的典型区域。利用气候和考古研究结果,采用GIS和数学分析方法,发现：4 kaBP本区气候向干冷化突变,齐家文化在3.9 kaBP突然衰弱,在干冷形势基本稳定的3.6 kaBP,出现辛店文化和卡约文化,遗址数猛增;齐家文化是农耕文化,辛店文化继承了齐家文化的生产活动,其地域范围缩小,向低海拔和向东部的低山丘陵、河谷、沟谷地带退缩;而卡约文化在适应气候突变后,改变了原有的生产方式,产生了一种新的经济方式--畜牧业,并向西和更高海拔的中山地、高山地等扩展,地域范围达到史前文化最大。因此气候突变,史前居民采取了不同的应对策略,进而形成不同的文化,气候突变是本区史前文化由单一向多元分异的重要驱动力,也是本区大型聚落难以维系,文明进程受挫的重要原因。     

Holocene environmental changes on the east coast of Korea

We present a record of Holocene environmental change on the east coast of Korea, inferred using pollen, carbon-isotopic composition (??¹³C), total organic carbon, total sulfur, carbon/nitrogen ratios, particle size analysis and major element geochemistry in a sediment core from Soonpogae Lagoon. A multi-proxy paleoenvironmental approach had not previously been applied in Korea and allowed us to reconstruct climate and vegetation change, sea-level rise, lagoon development, and human impact on the east coast of Korea over the last 8,000?years. Evidence from Soonpogae Lagoon supports the following three conclusions: (1) As a drying trend prevailed on the east coast of Korea after ~5,900?cal?yr BP, chemical weathering weakened and herbaceous plants became more important than during the previous humid phase (Holocene Climate Optimum), (2) Sea-level rise on the east coast slowed dramatically about 6,800?cal?yr BP, resulting in low rates of sedimentation in Soonpogae Lagoon, and (3) Soonpogae Lagoon was almost completely isolated from the sea by sand barriers when human impact intensified ~2,100 BP.     

闽江下游黄岐屿遗址的光释光测年

为了更好地理解闽江下游的连江县黄岐屿遗址的环境背景和考古年代,在已有AMS¹⁴C年代学研究的基础上,选择黄岐屿遗址的T2剖面进行年代学样品采样,在室内运用中颗粒石英的单片再生剂量法进行光释光年代学研究。结果表明：黄岐屿遗址地层的OSL埋藏年龄范围为8.5±0.5－4.4±0.2 ka,属于早－中全新世阶段的沉积/文化地层。其中2019118样品的年龄为4.4±0.2 ka,属于昙石山文化,与AMS¹⁴C年龄相当;2019117样品年龄为5.7±0.3 ka,可能存在年龄的高估;2019119样品的年龄为8.5±0.5 ka,受采样环境的影响,该地层的OSL埋藏年龄可能指示遗址底界的最大年龄。对比黄岐屿遗址所在的福州盆地地貌和环境演化过程以及区域史前人类活动发现,该遗址对应6 500－4 000 a B P的大暖期气候和相对高海面时期,该时期福州盆地发育了众多的同时期的史前遗存,区域内产生了繁荣的昙石山文化和昙石山下层文化。新石器时代末期4.2－4.0 ka气候突变的冷事件、4 000－3 000 a B P太平洋两岸热带－亚热带地区的气候环境的急剧变化以及北方吴越文化的侵入可能是造成该遗址缺失后续文化遗存的原因。     

岱海地区原始农业文化的兴衰与环境演变的关系

内蒙古中南部岱海地区考古学文化的发展受到环境条件的制约。原始农业文化的兴起与发展对应于全新世暖期的暖湿条件;农业文化的间断、南移与由农向牧的转变与4～35kaBP发生的变冷、变干的突变事件相对应;而原始农业文化阶段中间每一次文化的间断、侵入、融合总是可以在气候变化中找到相应的变化阶段,与短期寒冷事件的开始或结束对应。     

鄱阳湖流域史前人类遗址时空分布及其环境响应（英文）

The temporal-spatial geographic distribution of archaeological sites and its feature between 10.0–2.8 ka BP(ka BP= thousands of years before 0 BP, where "0 BP" is defined as the year AD 1950) were determined, based on GIS spatial analysis in the Poyang Lake Basin. The relationship between geographic distribution of sites of different periods under subsistence existence of ancient civilizations, climate and environmental change was investigated. The results revealed numerous archaeological sites of the Neolithic Age(10.0–3.6 ka BP). The sites were mainly located in the northern part of the Poyang Lake Basin, a hilly and mountainous area with many river terraces suitable for the development of human civilization. The number of archaeological sites rapidly increased during the Shang and Zhou dynasties(3.6–2.8 ka BP) and spread widely on the floodplains of the middle and lower reaches of Ganjiang River and onto the west, south, and southeast beach areas of the Poyang Lake. Holocene records of climate change suggested that it was possible that climate fluctuations had a great impact on human evolution in the study area. Before 3.6 ka BP, westward and northward expansion of Neolithic cultures in the Poyang Lake watershed occurred under the background of climate amelioration(becoming warmer and wetter). The ancient people lived in the hilly areas with high elevation. The simple mode of a fishing and gathering economy was mostly suited to this area in the early Neolithic Age. The scope of human activities was expanded and cultural diversity developed in the late Neolithic Age. However, with population growth and increasing survival pressure in a dry-cold climatic stage after 3.6 ka BP, this simple living mode had to be abandoned, and various forms of economy, the majority being agriculture, were developed on flood plains of the lower reaches of numerous rivers around Poyang Lake. This promoted flourishing of the Bronze culture of South China.     

The impacts of climate change on the Neolithic cultures of Gansu-Qinghai region during the late Holocene Megathermal

The Holocene Megathermal is divided into early, middle and late periods, each having different impacts on the Neolithic cultures due to their different climate changing trends. This study is based on a comparative analysis of the environmental evolution information recorded in the Qinghai Lake, the western edge of the Loess Plateau and Zoige and the spatial distribution of Neolithic sites of the Gansu-Qinghai region. Results show that the early and middle periods towards warm and humid promoted the development of Neolithic cultures with agriculture as the main sector in the Gansu-Qinghai region, furthermore a heyday of Yangshao Culture prosperity emerged. The Holocene entered the late period after the cold climate event at 5.9 ka BP in the Gansu-Qinghai region. Later the climate began to turn cold. However, at the 5.8–4.2 ka BP a relatively stable warm and humid climate created the conditions for the development of Majiayao Culture of the Neolithic Age in this region, thus the distribution of its cultural heritage sites expanded towards high altitudes and high latitudes. From 4.2 ka BP onwards, the climate became cold and dry, which had a significant influence on the Neolithic cultures of the Gansu-Qinghai region, leading to a dramatic change in the cultural characters and spatial distribution of Qijia Culture around 4.2 ka BP. After a nearly 300 years of cold and dry period, the unified Neolithic farming culture completely collapsed. Afterwards an industrial division of animal husbandry and farming and regional multiple cultures formed, and ultimately led to the end of primitive society and the starting of a civilized society.     

花海古湖泊外源碎屑矿物含量揭示的河西走廊早、中全新世降水变化

花海地区位于河西走廊的西段,在全新世早期和中期亚洲季风增强时,该区域降水是否很好地响应亚洲季风的变化,以及季风的水汽输送是否会影响到该区域是仍需继续探讨的问题.本文通过对花海古湖泊沉积物样品的矿物测定,分析了花海古湖泊早、中全新世湖相沉积阶段中外源碎屑矿物含量的变化,并以此重建了该区域早全新世(10.47～8.87 cal ka BP)和中全新世(8.87～5.5 cal ka BP)的降水变化.结果显示,早全新世时期花海湖泊外源碎屑矿物含量高于中全新世时期,表明了该区域早全新世时期的降水高于中全新世时期,反映了该区域早、中全新世千年尺度的降水变化响应了印度季风的强弱变化,降水量受到了印度季风强度的影响.在全新世中期,由于西风环流的增强,花海地区水汽输送可能受到了印度季风和西风环流的双重影响.但全新世最湿润期出现在中全新世,与早全新世降水强度高于中全新世的结果并不一致.这种差异可能主要是由于中全新世时期较低的湖面蒸发所造成的.     

The Holocene development of Kushu Lake on Rebun Island in Hokkaido, Japan

Diatom assemblages and sulfur content in sediments were analyzed to clarify changes in the sedimentary environment of Kushu Lake, a coastal lake on Rebun Island in Hokkaido, Japan. Salinity variations were assessed by means of a diatom-based index of paleosalinity and the sedimentary sulfur content. This paper discusses the Holocene development of the lake, in relation to Holocene relative sea-level change. For paleoenvironmental interpretation of the lake development, the rationale of the threshold method (Anundsen et al., 1994) was applied.At ca. 8000 yr BP, a coastal embayment (paleo-Kushu Bay) resulted from marine ingression. The threshold elevation at the mouth of the paleo-Kushu Bay kept pace with the rising sea-level, resulting in its enclosure at the culmination of Holocene marine transgression (ca. 6500–5000 yr BP). From predicted relative sea-level at ca. 6000 yr BP for Rebun Island (Nakada et al., 1991), the threshold may have been at least above –3 to –5 m altitude. A freshwater lake environment with strongly anoxic bottom conditions may have occurred from ca. 5500 to 5100 yr BP. After an important episode of marine ingression, the lake was isolated completely from the open sea at ca. 4900 yr BP. The diatom record suggests that the maximum lacustrine extent occurred at ca. 4900–3100 yr BP. Thereafter, water depth decreased at the lake margins.In Kushu Lake, the threshold elevation, due to a build-up of a coastal barrier, prevents us from determining the amplitude of sea-level changes, even though the age of isolation contacts corresponds to periods of regression and climatic deterioration. In spite of isostatic subsidence, the effective protection provided by the well-developed barrier did not allow registration of any relative sea-level fluctuations since its isolation.     

中原地区4 ka BP前后异常洪水事件的沉积证据

国内外考古学和第四纪地质学研究的大量证据表明,4000 a BP前后是史前洪水频发的时期,这次史前洪水事件的性质、规模、起因以及它对人类文化演进的影响一直是国际学术界关心的问题。我国有关4000 a BP前后史前洪水的研究始于20 世纪90 年代,在随后的十几年间,先后在青海喇家遗址、河南新寨遗址、锉李遗址、孟县遗址、山东尹家城遗址等处发现了这次洪水事件的地质和考古遗迹。这些古洪水遗迹的发现,受到国内外学者的高度重视。中原地区是华夏文明的发祥地,尽管这一地区4000 a BP前后洪水事件的遗迹已有发现,但数量偏少,研究程度不够深入,远不能满足人们对古洪水、古气候研究的需求,也不能满足对华夏文明起源研究的需求。为此,在过去工作基础上,结合最新的考古发掘,我们近年来继续在中原地区开展4000 a BP古洪水的研究,相继发现了多处这次洪水事件的地质和考古记录,其中以河南西部的偃师二里头遗址、河南北部的焦作西金城遗址和山西南部的绛县周家庄遗址最具代表性。这三处遗址分别位于不同的地貌部位,研究表明,以上三处出现的史前洪水,都与当时比较湿润的气候环境有关,同时,受地貌条件的影响,它们又具有不同的洪水过程,对人类的影响也存在一定的差异。     

甘肃中部4000年前环境变化与古文化变迁

通过对甘肃中部黄土剖面孢粉和其他环境代用指标的分析,表明距今4000年前后气候迅速干凉化。粒度、有机质、孢粉和软体动物指示距今4000年以前夏季风总体强盛,气候湿润, 距今4000年后夏季风强烈退缩, 气候迅速变干。距今4000年的干旱在我国北方有普遍表现。气候的干旱化及其引起的环境变化对齐家文化晚期的面貌造成了明显的影响,原始农业衰落,畜牧经济占据主要地位,并使得齐家文化和辛店、寺洼文化之间出现了断层。