Environmental archaeology of the dachang region in the Daning Valley, the Three Gorges reservoir region of the Yangtze River, China

Abstract

Environmental archaeology of archaeological sites on both sides of the Dachang section in the Daning River, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, shows that riverbed evolution has a great influence on the distribution of archaeological sites during the prehistorical and historical period, and it restricts human activity and the development of ancient culture. Field investigation, dating data, paleocurrent analysis of 100 gravels on the riverbed and archaeological excavation reveal that the riverbed of the Dachang section developed in the Shuangyantang region during the early stage, after about 30 kaBP it shifted westward gradually and reached the present place. Along with the westward shift, the focus of ancient culture changed for several times. In the Western Zhou Dynasty’s period, the east riverbank of the Daning River was the main residential area. During the Han Dynasty, along with the westward shift, the living space of ancient people was no longer confined to the east riverbank and the focus of culture moved westward. Then the Zhangjiawan site became the main dwelling district. In the late Han Dynasty, the villages were flooded and the ancients had to immigrate to a high place. Tombs of the Han and the Jin Dynasties outcropped on the flood plain of the east bank because their surface sediments were eroded by several flood events and the westward shift of the riverbed.