Winter-to-summer seasonal migration of microlithic human activities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Guangliang Hou,Zhuoma Lancuo,Yongming Xiao,Jingyi Gao,Changjun Xu,Linhai Cai,Youcheng Chen,Yuanhong He

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68518-w

Abstract

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has become a valuable site for investigation of adaptive regimes of prehistoric humans to extreme environments. At present most studies have focused solely on a single site. Using a more integrated approach that covers the complete scope of the plateau is needed to better understand the expansion logic of prehistoric humans moving towards the plateau. Here, we conducted accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dating of two microlithic sites. Canxiongashuo (CXGS) and Shalongka (SLK), which are located at the inner and marginal areas of the QTP, respectively. By using geographic information system, literature, and natural environmental factors, we constructed a model for the relationship between traveling distance and time, and we also used these factors to construct a plateau environmental index. The results indicated that the ages of the CXGS and SLK sites are 8.4–7.5 cal. ka BP and 8.4–6.2 cal. ka BP, respectively. Combining the archaeological evidence and literature, hunter-gatherers may have seasonal migration activities at low altitude in winter and high altitude in summer in order to make full use of natural resources. Our model of relationship between traveling distance and time shows that hunter-gatherers in CXGS site was active on the plateau all year-round at approximately 8.3 cal. ka BP. According to EI and archaeological remains, we propose that SLK site was a winter camp of prehistoric hunter-gatherers. Taken together, we determined 8.4–6.0 cal. ka BP as a transitional period from the Paleolithic to Neolithic Ages, and winter camps of hunter-gatherers evolved into settlements in the Neolithic Age.

Highlights

There has been an increasing attention on the study of the activity patterns of hunter-gatherers during the transitional period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages[1,2,3], and it is generally considered that prehistoric human during that time are high in mobility
The accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating results of CXGS section indicates stratigraphic deposition since the early-late Holocene, but the calibration ages of charcoal were notably inverted in 95–70 cm depth, which is common in the stratum affected by human activities
We found a sedimentary layer mixed with proluvial and fluvial deposits in SLK section, the more obvious feature is that the Yangshao culture layer superimposed on the microlith culture layer, and the column holes representing human settlement behavior were found in the microlith culture layer (Fig. 1b), indicating that SLK site is probably evolved from the winter camp of microlithic hunter-gatherers to the settlement of Neolithic Age, and its potential distribution area is probably the suitable area for winter activities based on the plateau environmental index (EI)

Summary

Introduction

There has been an increasing attention on the study of the activity patterns of hunter-gatherers during the transitional period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages[1,2,3], and it is generally considered that prehistoric human during that time are high in mobility. Research shows that microlithic technologies were used by prehistoric h umans[3], who mainly hunted small- and medium-sized mammals, such as antelope, deer, and marmot, which had dominated the plateau during that period[16,17] These hunter-gatherer activities had two characteristics: first, that their activities were relatively scattered, with long distances and frequent migrations; second, their camps were characterized by seasonality and randomness. There were additional sites with rich remains and multiple functions, such as those at the Heima River, Yantaidong, Jiangxigou 2, and Layihai, which may have been repeatedly and seasonally used for a long time as the sites had properties of central c amps[18,19] These findings suggest that large groups of hunter-gathers often came to Qinghai Lake Basin for long-term or seasonal living.

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Conclusion