Relationship between the temporal-spatial distribution of archaeological sites and natural environment from the Paleolithic Age to the Tang and Song Dynasties in the Three Gorges Reservoir of Chongqing area

Abstract

The temporal-spatial distribution features including time distribution, horizontal and vertical spatial distribution of archaeological sites from the Paleolithic Age to the Tang and Song Dynasties in the Three Gorges Reservoir of Chongqing area are analyzed based on GIS spatial analysis. The successive pollen record of deposited peat stratum since the Paleolithic Age in the Dajiuhu Basin of Shennongjia is used in combination with the research of the historical environmental evolution to reconstruct the Paleoenvironment in the Three Gorges Reservoir of Chongqing area. Through the comparison of the temporal-spatial distribution of the archaeological sites and the natural environment, the relation between the distribution of the archaeological sites and the natural environment evolution and disaster changes from the Neolithic Age to the Tang and Song Dynasties has been discussed. Study shows that 677 archaeological sites from the Paleolithic Age to the Tang and Song Dynasties in the Three Gorges Reservoir of Chongqing area increase gradually from west to east and from high land to low land. Most of the sites are distributed along the river and aggregated at the confluence. Obviously, the altitudes of archaeological sites in the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age are much higher than those of historical sites. The analysis suggests: (1) the human beings of every times would like to choose the first or the second river terrace as living sites which are nearer to the water source and are easier to withstand flood. The pre-historical sites of earlier ages are often located at the higher altitude place because of the tectonic uplift and downcutting of rivers since Holocene. (2) Due to the rugged terrain in Chongqing area, most of the sites are located along the river sides, for example, the wide river valley and terrace, which could provide wider living space caused by the lateral erosion and deposition of the river course. (3) The early residents mainly relied on fishing, hunting and agriculture, and the rugged terrain of the mountainous area restricted the development of farming. However, in the confluence region, the fertilized plain provided an ideal location for farming and fishing. (4) The temporal-spatial distribution of archeological sites in this area is significantly affected by the climate condition.