Holocene Climate Evolution and Neolithic Cultural Evolution Recorded in the Loess Profile in Central Shandong Province, China

Abstract

The ZQSC loess-paleosol profile was selected to investigate the environmental evolution and its correlation with the development of the Neolithic culture since Holocene in central Shandong Province of China. In the study, grain size, chromaticity, and magnetic parameters were considered as reliable proxies in reconstructing paleoclimate. Besides, the sedimentary age was obtained by ¹⁴C dating in Beta laboratory in 2017. The result indicated that the Holocene climate evolution can be divided into three stages: 1) The early Holocene (about 11.5-8.5 ka B.P.). In this period, the climate conditions of the late Last Glaciation were extended, characterized by a dry and cold climate. 2) The middle Holocene (about 8.5-3 ka B.P.). This stage is climatically suitable with the best condition of warmth and humidity. Besides, small fluctuations also existed, in the period of the 4.62-3.784 ka B.P., the climate event was occurred. Besides, numerous pottery shards were discovered in paleosol, corresponding to the occurrence of the transition from the prosperous Longshan culture to the sluggish YueShi culture, potentially related to the sudden temperature drop and the ancient flood event. 3) The late Holocene (about 3.0 ka B.P.-present). The climate condition of this stage was deteriorating steadily. In this period, the 2.948 ka B.P. climate event and buried pottery revealed a great correspondence with the dry and cold events of the Middle Western Zhou Dynasty.