Neolithic Culture Research Articles

Проблема этнической интерпретации археологических культур и этногенез абхазо-адыгов

The article considers the problems of ethnic interpretation of archaeological cultures. The status of the concept of “archaeological culture” and the issue of the relationship between archaeological cultures and ethnic communities are analyzed because of both established theoretical approaches and modern ones. The system of ancient cultures of the Central and Western Caucasus is studied, which most adequately reflects the ethnic map of the Early Bronze Age. The problems of ethno-genesis and early stages of the ethnic history of the Abkhaz-Adyghe are considered in close con-nection with the archaeological cultures: Maikop and dolmen. This study addresses the issues of attributing archaeological cultures to specific ethnic groups, highlighting the deep roots of Ab-khaz-Adyghe genesis and history, tracing them back not only to the Bronze Age but also to pre-ceding eras. Various approaches and directions are analyzed, revealing the features of the origin and development of the Maikop and dolmen cultures, attention is focused on the presence of a large amount of scientific and factual material indicating the genetic and ethnocultural relation-ship of the bearers of the Early and Middle Bronze Age cultures with the proto-Abkhaz ethnic massif.

Carpii şi cultura „carpică” între tradiţia antică şi literatura istorico-arheologică contemporană

The article aims to synthesize the research related to the Carpi – a group of populations identified by both the ancient and modern research in the regions east of roman Province Dacia. It highlights three chronological horizons of sources, of which only one can be directly linked to the Carpi – the one from the 3rd century. The study also analyses the current state of the art related to the Poienești-Vârteșcoiu archaeological culture, known as „the Carpic culture”. It briefly presents the information that contributed to the definition of this archaeological culture. Finally, the author concludes that there is a lack of reliable scientific evidence to identify the so called „Carpic culture” (Poienești-Vârteșcoiu culture) with the Carpi mentioned by the literary sources.

Митохондриальная гаплогруппа A8b и миграции древнего населения в Приохотье

Studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism provide information about episodes of population genetic history at various time scales, from tens of thousands to several hundred years ago. To date, it has been established that the gene pools of the Siberia's indigenous peoples contain virtually no traces of the oldest Upper Paleolithic inhabitants. The present study demonstrates that one such relic is mitochondrial haplogroup A8b, which is distributed at a low frequency in certain contemporary indigenous populations of Priokhotye. These include the Itelmens and the Koryaks of Kamchatka, the Ainu of Hokkaido, and also representatives of the Okhotsk archaeological culture distributed in Hokkaido, in Sakhalin, and in the Kuril Islands. The phylogenetic analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes belonging to haplogroup A8 revealed that the divergence of A8b occurred in the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 16-17 thousand yrs. B.P. It seems probable that A8b haplotypes were among the "Beringian" set of mtDNA lineages that have survived to the present days in the Priokhotye population. It is also assumed that haplogroup A8b carriers spread in the Sea of Okhotsk region from Kamchatka through the Kuril Islands to Hokkaido and Sakhalin in the last few millennia.

Family relations of Moche elite burials on the North Coast of Peru (~500 CE): Analyses of the Señora de Cao and relatives

The Moche archaeological culture flourished along Peru’s North Coast between the 4th and 10th centuries CE and was characterized by a complex social hierarchy dominated by political and religious elites. Previous archaeological evidence suggests kinship was a key factor in maintaining political authority within Moche society. To test this hypothesis, we applied archaeological, genetic, and isotopic methods to examine familial relationships between six individuals, including the prominent Señora de Cao ( ~500 CE ), buried together in a pyramid-like, painted temple, Huaca Cao Viejo, in the Chicama Valley, Peru. Our findings reveal that all six individuals were biologically related, with varying degrees of kinship. The Señora de Cao was interred with a sacrificed juvenile, identified as a possible niece, and at least one, and potentially two siblings and a grandparent in separate tombs nearby. One of the male siblings was accompanied in death by his sacrificed son. Isotopic analysis indicates that while most individuals had diets rich in maize and animal protein and spent their childhoods in or near the Chicama Valley, the sacrificed juvenile accompanying the Señora had a distinct diet and geographic origin. These results demonstrate that Moche elites were interred with family members, including some raised far from their parental homes. This supports the hypothesis that kinship was central to transmitting status and authority. Moreover, sacrificing family members to accompany deceased elites underscores the significance of ritual sacrifice in reinforcing familial ties and linking the deceased to both ancestors and the divine.

RITUAL OF HUMAN SACRIFICE IN AZERBAIJAN BURIALS DURING THE LATE BRONZE – EARLY IRON AGES

Burial customs such as inhumation and cremation were studied in a large number of kurgans, stone-box and earthen graves belonging to Khojaly-Gadabay, Nakhchivan and Talish - Mughan archaeological cultures in Azerbaijan, as well as cenotaph and skeletonless graves were studied. The dead were buried in different directions, situations, alone, in pairs, or collectively. The custom of human sacrifice in the territory of Azerbaijan was observed in the Boyuk Borsunlu, Akhmakhi, Baimsarov, Dovshanli, Garabulag, Sarichoban kurgans, Ganja and Goygol kurgans, as well as Veri, Joni, Chilakhana, Shir-shir and other stone box graves. Besides the main corpse, the sacrifices who will accompany him to the hereafter, are also buried. One of the facts proving the sacrifice of foreign slaves is the anthropological features of the sacrifices in the Akhmakhi kurgans number 1 and 2. Another interesting fact is that in such graves, the main corpse was usually buried in an extended position, while the accompanying corpses were buried in a seated position. These monuments, which date back to the end of the 2nd millennium and the beginning of the 1st millennium B.C., give an idea of not only the religious outlook, socio-economic situation, but also the military situation of the people of that time.

Reconstruction of the Proto-Afrasian Cultural Vocabulary of the 11th–10th Millennia BCE: Terms for Watercraft and Metals (An Experience in Systematic Assessment of Available Etymologies and Reconstructions)

The content of the article, as well as of my previous publication in Etnograficheskoe Obozrenie, is the reconstruction of the Proto-Afrasian cultural vocabulary, which is a unique source of information on the ancient history of the West Asian-North African-Mediterranean area of the Late Mesolithic-Early Neolithic period, not yet properly appreciated by archaeologists and prehistorians. In this case, we are talking about two groups of terms – for watercraft and for metals (including their processing and products from them) and about the proto-language period of the early Afrasians and their closest descendants – North Afrasians (who spoke a common ancestor language of Semitic, Egyptian, Libyo-Berber and Chadic), whom the author identifies with the creators of the Natufian and Post-Natufian archaeological cultures of the Levant. These proto-languages began to split successively into dialects, which grew into the known (and possibly some extinct and unknown to us) linguistic taxa in the last third of the 11th millennium BCE (namely, Proto-Afrasian, which includes, beside the above-mentioned languages, the South Afrasian – Cushito-Omotic branch) – the first third of the 10th millennium BCE (Proto-North Afrasian). Presented in the article are the etymologies of the reconstructed Proto-Afrasian terms: ten relating to watercraft and navigation, and ten relating to metals. The article has an additional purpose of evaluating and rating the results obtained.

QANIXÇAY (ALAZAN) ARXEOLOJİ MƏDƏNİYYƏTİ

One of the important and insufficiently resolved issues in modern Azerbaijani historiography and archeology is the archaeological culture of Ganikhchay (Alazan). The relevance of the article is to solve the tasks set for the solution of this problem. For the first time in the article, material culture findings representing the archaeological culture of Ganikhchay (Alazan) were studied, different and new scientific conclusions were obtained. The application of these results, which constitute the scientific innovation of the article, in secondary and higher educational institutions is one of the important requirements of today. As a result of the article, it was once again emphasized that these materials are important to be applied in the teaching process, and it was recommended to cover them in relevant publications. In a number of state-level events, including in the field of tourism, the opinion that museum materials are important has been expressed.

Genesis and functions of the Late Bronze Age ash heaps in the Southern Trans-Urals in the context of new interdisciplinary research

In this article, we discuss the results of the study of ash heaps typical for the steppe belt of the Urals, Ka-zakhstan and Siberia. These are specific objects adjacent to settlements of the Middle and Late Bronze Age, their cultural layer contains archaeological finds and consists of loose soil similar in appearance to ash. However, de-bates about their nature and purpose use mainly archaeological arguments and very rarely involve interdiscipli-nary data. The study is focused on two ash heaps at the Bronze Age settlements in the Southern Trans-Urals — Streletskoye-1 and Chernorechye 2 (Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia). Both are located on the bank cliff, between the dwelling pits and the river; the time of their existence mainly belongs to the Alakul archaeological culture (18th–16th centuries BC). The stratigraphy and granulometric composition of soil samples, composition of ar-chaeobotanical remains, palynological, microbiomorphic, and soil-microbiological analyses, and assessment of biomarkers content have been carried out. It has been concluded that, according to a number of characteristics, ash heaps have a non-uniform nature of formation and differ both between themselves and in comparison with the previously studied ash heap at the fortified settlement of Stepnoye. The lower part of the ash heap of Streletskoye-1 is the soil accumulated during digging of semi-dwellings. The main volume of ash heaps layers was the result of plant biomass decomposition, but there are also markers of animal origin — keratin, cholesterol. No signs of ma-nure were found in the samples. The use of ash and combustion products has not been confirmed at these newly examined sites, as well as at the ash heap of Stepnoye. Both ash heaps were formed in more hydromorphic con-ditions than the Stepnoye. Taking into account the archaeological context of the ash heaps, it has been sug-gested that in ancient times these structures near settlements were mainly used to store hay for livestock, and occasionally as a place for butchering animal carcasses and processing bones for bone-carving. The wintering of livestock, some of which were kept in settlements, created the need for fodder to keep the animals alive. Despite many supplementary functions of ash heaps, which were used as working or dumping areas, this is perhaps the first time in the archaeological record that evidence has been found for haymaking and hay storage in the vicinity of pastoral settlements. Interdisciplinary research on the properties of ash heaps is a relatively new field, but it has already yielded interesting results that allow reasoned assumptions to be made about the construction and function of these sites.

Cultural identification of the upper Ob population of the early iron age based on the materials of archaeology and anthropology (Bystrov necropolis)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the interpretation of the cultural affiliation of the population in modern anthropological publications of the materials of the big necropolis, located in the Iskitims district of Novosibirsk region (Bystrovka-1,2,3). The duration and comprehesivity (archaeological, anthropological and natural science research) of the study of this archaeological heritage site allows us to consider it as a standard monument on the ancient history of the Upper Ob population of the Early Iron Age. The complex organization of the necrosphere of the Bystrovka necropolis, the relative duration of functioning and multiculturalism of burial rites (of the population of the Berezovsky historical stage of the Early Iron Age of the Upper Ob, as well as representatives of the Kulai and Sargat cultural traditions) allow us to consider in detail the issues of correlation in the format of archaeological culture and anthropological attribution.

Early Neolithic plant exploitation in north-western China: archaeobotanical evidence from Beiliu

China was a centre for early plant domestication, millets in the north and rice in the south, with both crops then spreading widely. The Laoguantai Culture (c. 8000–7000 BP) of the middle Yellow River region encompasses a crucial stage in the transition from hunting and gathering to farming, yet its subsistence basis is poorly understood. The authors present archaeobotanical data from the site of Beiliu indicating that farmers exploited a variety of wild and cultivated plants. The predominance of broomcorn millet accords with other Neolithic cultures in northern China but the presence of rice—some of the earliest directly dated examples—opens questions about the integration of rice cultivation into local subsistence strategies.

Миграции в позднем неолите-энеолите Волго-Уралья: археология, хронология, климат

The Volga-Ural region draws attention of experts because of the Khvalynian Eneolithic spreading across this territory. Archaeologists consider autochthonous, migration and combined hypotheses for this culture. The findings of anthropological and paleogenetic analyses support the combined hypotheses. The components that comprise the basis of the Khvalynian tribes are determined in this region. The investigations in the field of natural sciences establish two components including the northern and southern hunters. Archaeologists face the problem of cultural attribution of these subjects. Analysis of ceramics and stone tools allow us to consider the following. Due to the deterioration of climatic conditions, the carriers of the earlier stage of Nizhnedonskaya culture moved to the Northern Cis-Caspian region. There is no evidence of cattle breeding among carriers of this culture. They possessed such innovations as comb ornamentation of wares, bifacial processing of heads and replaceable blade tool-making technique. Interaction with the local Late Neolithic (Tenteksor) culture led to the Cis-Caspian culture emerging in the last quarter of the 6th millennium BC. The substrate base is characterised with motifs and compositions of pottery ornamentation that will become typical for the migrants. There is no evidence of a production economy in the Tenteksor culture. In the Cis-Caspian culture, some early features of cattle breeding are found. Therefore, the Cis-Caspian culture people can be attributed as southern hunters. Driven by aridization, they moved to the border of the steppe and forest-steppe of the Low Volga region. Contacts between these tribes and the local Neolithic Srednevolzhskaya culture led to the Samarskaya culture forming. The superstrate component gave this culture vessels with collars, bifacial heads and their shapes, and replaceable blade stone tool-making technique. These tribes can be considered northern hunters. It needs to be taken into consideration that the Srednevolzhskaya culture goes back to the earlier Elshanka culture, therefore, this component has a stable local tradition. Caucasian elements in the Neolithic and Eneolithic materials are not found. The new data allow us to claim the climatic factors to drive the migration processes rather than the type of economy. The climatic conditions drove cultural groups in the Khvalynian culture period as well.

Влияние процедуры радиоуглеродного датирования на содержательные интерпретации (Неплюевский могильник бронзового века в Зауралье)

When findings of radiocarbon dating differ from method to method, researchers deal with this issue in absolutely different ways. This study is a case that compares two dating series of one Late Bronze kurgan. This kurgan is one of the Srubnaya-Alakul antiquities in the South Transurals. Even though the researched material is the same (human bone collagen), the scope of findings is comparable (19 LSC dates and 29 AMS dates) and the same individuals (n = 14) were dated repeatedly, the differences are still significant. In addition, every series in particular does not show any signs of static emissions. Bayesian modelling of the monocultural kurgan chronology (single-phase model) allows to determine boundaries of the intervals and assess durations for each series. LSC series covers the period between 20th and the mid-18th century BC (up to 167 years long), while AMS series covers the period between the mid-19th and the early 17th century BC (up to 34 years long). Most cases showed statistically different dates for the same individuals studied with different technologies. AMS version of the kurgan chronology conforms better to the previously determined parameters of the Alakul culture. The kurgan’s short chronology is also confirmed by only three generations of kin determined through DNA tests. It means this part of the necropolis could not function too long. Before we reveal the reasons of systematic discrepancies in different date series, it is not practical to consolidate them as it would affect reliability of conclusions both in the general chronology of the archaeological culture and in recovering the ‘history of life’ for a particular site.

Изображения водоплавающих птиц в металлической пластике Балезинского могильника VI–VII вв.

The article publishes new finds of metal jewelry depicting waterfowls (ducks). They were found in the burials of an early site of the Polomsky archaeological culture in the Cheptsa River basin. The jewelry is made in different stylistic traditions and attributes to a narrow chronological period (6th–7th century). Considering the peculiarities of the new burial ground funeral rite, items sets and equivalents, the author examines if this category of artifacts can help solve issues of the northern Udmurtia population origins in the early medieval period. The ornithomorphic hollow pendants of the Balezinsky burial ground belong to two stylistic traditions. One of them is western (Volga-Vyatka), the other one is eastern (Upper Kama). The closest equivalents to the Balezinsky jewelry are found in the Vyatka region and the Middle Volga area. They bear the syncretic image of a duck-horse. Another image is a duck-elk. It defines the eastern (late Kharino) impulse. The burial sets with zoomorphic hollow pendants include items typical for women’s embellishments dated the 6th–7th centuries. They were found both in the cemeteries of Western Cis-Ural (Verkh-Saya, Birsk, Petropavlovo) and in necropolises of the Kontsovsky – Tat-Boyarsky – Shor-Unzhinsky – Komintern II circle. Both groups of ornithomorphs in the Cheptsa River basin are associated with the migrations of various ethnocultural groups – carriers of different worldview systems. Their advance into the upper reaches of the Cheptsa River first laid from the south, from the Volga and Lower Kama, along the Vyatka; then it ran through the taiga regions of the Upper Kama region.

Tenth-century Hoard from the village of Korobkino in Kursk Province

In 1915, near the village of Korobkino, Kursk Province, a hoard of seven silver bracelets and a solid dating from 923–924 was found. The article determines its place in the historical and cultural context of both the region and Eastern Europe as a whole. It has been established that these decorations are not characteristic of the Romny antiquities. It is evident from the design of bracelets with tied ends and the use of thick wire, polyhedral in section. Gold coins were found mainly on the territory of Rus. The solid from Korobkino is the only find in the vast area of the Romny archaeological culture, which fact emphasizes the peculiarity of the complex. The author suggests dating the hoard within the second–third quarters of the 10th century AD. In general, its composition demonstrates the synthesis of northern (Scandinavia) and southern (Byzantium) contacts of the population of the emerging Rus culture. The owner of the hoard was related to the druzhina (prince’s retinue) layer of society. No other traces of such a distinct “Russian presence” concentrated in one complex have been found in the Severian land so far.

Reconstructing Holocene centennial cooling events: synthesized temperature changes, chronology, and forcing in the Northern Hemisphere

Numerous studies, spanning experimental, instrumental, historical, and modeled approaches, have delved into understanding climate change across the Holocene era and millennial-scale occurrences. However, the chronology and causes of centennial-scale climate events during the Holocene remain controversial. In this study, we overviewed 10 of the best-resolved and most accurately dated records detailing climate change in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) over the Holocene, obtained from different proxies across different climatic zones, and constructed a stack of temperature changes in the NH. Based on the constructed stack, we identified and categorized 15 notable Holocene centennial cooling events (HCCEs) in the NH (period with temperature decreases). To test the chronological validity of the constructed HCCEs, we compared them with the most accurately dated and highly resolved climate records during the last 3 kyr, which have been extensively investigated by the scientific community. Based on the close alignment of the outlined HCCEs with temperature records, we suggest that other HCCEs also match centennial climate cooling events over the last 10 kyr. To understand the origins of the established HCCEs, we compared them with potential climate influencing factors: total solar irradiance (TSI), explosive volcanic activity, Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC)-limited slowdowns, Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) fluctuations, and El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO variability. Early Holocene HCCE 5, terminated by a prominent 8.2-ka cold event, was likely driven by the superposition of the AMOC limited slowdown, TSI minimum, and volcanic activity. The Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) happened between HCCEs 5 and 4a and was interrupted by HCCE 4c and 4b, coeval, with a significant southward shift of the ITCZ, likely related to cooling in the tropical zone. However, the sequence of HCCEs 3b, 3a, and 2b (over 4.53–3.42 BP), accompanied by small changes in the TSI, was likely forced by an increase in ENSO variability, leading to remarkable changes in the tropical processes and a southward shift of the ITCZ, coeval with the collapse of the Chinese Neolithic cultures and onset of the Holocene Neoglacial. Subsequent HCCEs 2a–0a were likely forced by the TSI minimum combined with the influence of ENSO and volcanism over the last 2 ka.

The spatiotemporal distribution and environmental suitability evaluation of Neolithic settlements in the Western Guanzhong Basin of China

Illustrating the relationship between past settlement changes and human-land could help us to understand the complex interactions among climate, human activities, and the environment. Based on archeological literature and fieldworks, this paper combines dating techniques and GIS analysis to explore the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and human diffusion of Neolithic settlements in the Western Guanzhong Basin (WGB), and to quantitatively analyzes the relationship between human activities and natural geographic factors by index model. The results show that: (1) There was a continuity of Neolithic cultures in the WGB and the absolute chronological sequence of human activities ranges from 7500 to 3900 a BP; (2) The distribution of settlements tends to be on river terraces and Loess tableland, and with the evolution of Neolithic cultures, human activities shifted from near-water to far-water distributions and expanded to areas of high gradient. The center of activity of the settlement spreads from a single nucleus (the Wei River) to multiple nuclei (the Wei River, the Qian Rivers, and the Qishui River) and back to a single nucleus on the northern bank of the Wei River in the area of present Qishan-Fufeng, laying the foundation for the development and strength of the Western Zhou Dynasty Cultures in this area; (3) The suitability level of the natural geographic environment in the WGB gradually decreased from the Wei River to the north and south, and settlements were mainly distributed in the highly and moderately suitable zones; (4) It was found that as early as the Neolithic period, mankind had already grasped certain laws of nature, and the spatial distribution of settlements reflected mankind’s awareness of disaster avoidance and “compromise and reconciliation.”

Subsistence economy in the eastern Ordos Plateau, China during the late Warring States Period (c. 221 BCE) by stable isotope analysis

This case study presents stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic results of 40 human bones (δ13C value range: −9.7 ‰ ∼ −7.7 ‰, mean ± SD value: −8.6 ± 0.4 ‰; δ15N value range: 6.7 ‰ ∼ 10.0 ‰, mean ± SD value: 8.3 ± 0.7 ‰) from the Chuanzhang cemetery in the eastern Ordos Plateau, China during the late Warring States Period (c. 221 BCE), which indicate that the past populations mainly relied on C4-based food. Despite different archaeological cultures, all past populations in the Chuanzhang cemetery had a similar dietary pattern and subsistence economy. Based on archaeological and historical analysis, people in the Chuanzhang cemetery made their living mainly by millet-based agriculture, supplemented by animal husbandry. Comparing isotopic data published from adjacent and contemporary cemeteries, we can conclude that millet-based agriculture was a consistency and dominated subsistence economy in central-south, Inner Mongolia, which also provided a solid material foundation for the central plains government to control the eastern Ordos Plateau during the late Warring States Period.

Cataloguing and mapping the Linear Band Pottery sites in Ukraine

Linearbandkeramik (LBK) is the most well-studied Neolithic culture in Central Europe. However, the easternmost part of its area is less known to European researchers. Addressing this gap, information on 175 reliable and 95 questionable LBK sites and six sub-Neolithic sites with LBK pottery in Ukraine has been collected, verified, and systematized. The precise mapping of these sites provided in this paper allows future analysis of their spatial distribution. Accurate contouring of the eastern boundary of the LBK area has revealed the exploitation and exchange of flint, graphite, and salt as a possible driving force of the first farmers’ mobility in the region.

Anthropology and Genetics of the Tolyonsky Burial Ground № 93. Udmurtia, Polomskaya Archaeological Culture

The problems of the relationship between the cultures of the Volga-Kama region in general and the formation of the Udmurt ethnos involve scientists of various specializations. The main task of this work is to 0make a comprehensive description of the burial from the Tolyonsky burial ground located on the territory of the Debessky district of Udmurtia on the right bank of the Cheptsy river. Excavations were carried out by V.A. Semenov in 1980s. Archaeological and anthropological material is stored in the Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Idnakar» named after M.G. Ivanova of the Udmurt Republic and attracted the attention of scientists in connection with the implementation of the grant. The absolute radiocarbon dating of the sample was obtained: 1440 ± 69 years. The studied individual was distinguished by brachycephaly, large latitudinal dimensions of a face and a protruding nose shape. A scientific restoration of the appearance by the method of M.M. Gerasimov was carried out, contour and graphic portraits (full face and profile) were presented. Taking into account the results of genetic analysis, a watercolor artistic portrait was made. For the first time, comprehensive paleogenetic studies have been carried out on a representative of the Polomsky archaeological culture. The Y-chromosomal haplogroup N1a1a1a2b (B181) and the mitochondrial haplogroup U4 have been established with high reliability. The identified haplogroups in individual No. 93 from the Tolyonsky burial ground along the male and female lines are geographically confined to the Central Volga-Ural region, which is consistent with the results of anthropological and archaeological research. With a probability of more than 97%, the color of the iris of the eyes is predicted to be blue in this individual.

Holocene paleoenvironment of the Nihewan Basin, China, inferred from high-resolution luminescence dating and a multiproxy analysis of gully sediments

As a pivotal region for studying early human occupation in East Asia, the Nihewan Basin has witnessed numerous studies on Paleolithic sites and associated paleoenvironmental records. However, little attention has been given to the Holocene period, despite the basin being a crossroads for the exchange of NE China Neolithic cultures. In the central part of the Nihewan Basin, we found a gully sediment section with a thickness of ∼9 m, which exhibits clear parallel bedding throughout. The section is composed of ten sediment layers (Layers 10–1 from bottom to top), from which three distinct dark-colored soil layers (Layers 8, 4 and 2) and two erosion surfaces (between Layers 10 and 9, and Layers 2 and 1) were identified. Forty-four sediment samples from the section were optically dated, and the obtained ages were refined using Bayesian statistical modeling. The age-depth relationship and sedimentary characteristics suggest that the sedimentation process of Layers 9–2 was continuous. To reconstruct the paleoenvironment, the grain-size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, and pollen content of the sediments were analyzed. The three soil layers exhibit high magnetic susceptibility values. Based on these climatic proxies, five climate stages were recognized. From ∼12.7 to ∼6.8 ka, the climate in the basin region was cold and dry. The period between ∼6.8 and ∼5.4 ka was marked by optimal climate conditions that led to soil formation. Subsequently, the climate was colder and drier during the period of ∼5.4 – ∼4.0 ka, and transitioned to warm and wet conditions again from ∼4.0 to ∼2.7 ka. Another stage of soil formation occurred between ∼2.7 and ∼1.7 ka, during which the climate was predominantly warm and humid, albeit punctuated by a brief interval of colder and drier conditions. These climate variations coincided with cultural evolution stages within the basin, highlighting a close relationship between environmental change and human adaptation.