Fengjie County Research Articles

Characteristics and mechanism of deep weathering of argillaceous limestones at Fengjie County, Three Gorges Region, Central China

The paper reports the ground conditions in the Sanmashan area where people were relocated as a consequence of the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Examination of the geology indicates the strong calcareous rocks were not only highly fractured to considerable depths but were also decalcified in the near surface layers. A combination of the highly fractured state and decalcified nature of the material resulted in significant changes in the bedrock parameters between the northern and southern parts of the study area; the southern area having been affected by the deep down-cutting of the Yangtze River, release of stress and the development of three large landslides.

Groundwater Dynamics Analysis of Sanmashan Side Slope in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China

Sanmashan side slope in the Three Gorges reservoir region is located in the center area of the Xincheng district, Fengjie county, China. Based on the analysis of hydrogeological structure of the studied area, one can conclude that a groundwater reservoir form near the side slope area after the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, which induces large groundwater pressure on the side slope. In particular, large hydrodynamic pressure will occur in the landslide mass under the condition of the reservoir water level descending significantly, which has bad effects on slope stability. Numerical simulation results show that the seepage force on landslide is 43 times of that under normal situation, as the reservoir water level declining dramatically from 175m to 145m. Thus, the influence of hydrodynamic pressure should be considered in the stability calculation.

120?150 ka human tooth and ivory engravings from Xinglongdong Cave, Three Gorges Region, South China

Rich paleoanthropological materials were unearthed in primary context from the Xinglongdong Cave in Fengjie County, Chongqing, South China, including a human tooth, numerous mammalian fossils, some stone artifacts and aStegodon tusk exhibiting intentional engravings. Based on biostratigraphic data and uranium series dating, the cave was utilized as a human shelter about 120000–150000 years ago. It is the first time that an archaicHomo sapiens fossil has been unearthed from the Three Gorges Region. Engravings on theStegodon tusk appear in groups, making up simple and abstract images. It is the earliest known engravings created by human beings; it exhibits great potential for the study of the origin of art and the development of ancient cultures in south China and bears important implications for the origin of modern humans in East Asia.