The rise of urbanism and exchange network: reconstruction of a 4000-year local history of Xinjiang, northwestern China

Heritage Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Июль 12, 2024

Abstract Urbanization is one of the milestones in development human society. Many regions southern parts ‘the old world’ demonstrating an early emergence agriculture also witnessed flourishing some earliest cities. Recent, yet still sparse, archaeological evidence appears to indicate a relatively later time for urbanism central Eurasia. However, given its vital geographic location and cultural nexus between East West, more attention should be paid sedentary communities their cities oases amid vast droughty desert, particularly light rapidly increasing number publications on pastoralism related communication routes along mountain chains rivers. This study reveals trajectory urbanization role establishment exchange network Xinjiang’s oasis region via reconstruction chronological sequence local societal history Baiyang River Basin piedmont Eastern Tianshan Mountains. A thorough investigation refined radiocarbon dating programme was carried out coupled with information from historical documentation within Bayesian statistical framework. The results three pulses during: Early Iron Age, Tang–Yuan period, Qing Dynasty, respectively. Combining this other Xinjiang, we re-evaluate promotion trans-regional exchange.

Язык: Английский

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On the Exploration of Social Development during a Historical Period in the Eastern Tienshan Mountains via Archaeological and Geopolitical Perspectives

Land, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 11(9), С. 1416 - 1416

Опубликована: Авг. 28, 2022

Natural and social environment changes have played important roles in evolution different times spaces. Geopolitical change, particular, might play a decisive role during historical periods. The eastern Tienshan Mountains was transportation hub for communication between the East West, where natural is fragile has been complex period. However, geopolitical change its impact on local development remain unclear due to fragmented records limited studies. This study investigates spatiotemporal variations of military facilities Hami region, compares documents archaeological paleoclimate discuss period Mountains. A total 84 visible organic remains from 38 historic beacon towers 8 dak sites region Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China, were collected radiocarbon (14C) dates these ruins systematically determined with accelerator mass spectrometry. dating results show that mainly built two major periods: ca. 600–900 cal AD 1600–1950 AD, which roughly correspond Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) Qing (1636–1912 ancient China. Human settlement intensity high Han, Tang, dynasties, relatively low when area controlled by nomadic or regimes. suggests agricultural empires nomadic/local regimes adopted strategies regional management. Climate affected patterns, which, turn, profoundly influenced human activities over last millennia. reveals through large number reliable direct 14C dating, it remarkable differences under administrations, explores influence geopolitics climate multidisciplinary perspective.

Язык: Английский

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Simulation of exchange routes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau shows succession from the neolithic to the bronze age and strong control of the physical environment and production mode

Frontiers in Earth Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 10

Опубликована: Янв. 10, 2023

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is essential for converging eastern, western, and northern prehistoric cultural spheres of Asia Europe human adaptation to extreme environments. Reconstruction the location development exchange routes on underpins understanding response harsh environments interaction between three spheres. This study simulates Neolithic Bronze Ages, using elevation, slope, vegetation, rivers as cost data site points node data. A weighted network consisting nodes lines constructed within a cumulative cyclic connectivity model among nodes-the simulation abstracts path search problem this network. final simulated route road with lowest incremental cost. results give total length about 16,900 km, 15 main roads, Age approximately 16,300 18 roads. Pathway from shows an apparent successional relationship, spatial evolution marginal corridor hinterland. overlap highly archaeological evidence transmission corn millet agriculture wheat agriculture-domesticated animals-bronze metallurgy technology, indicating reliability results. Further analysis showed that unique physical geography QTP constrained formation routes. River valleys were commonly chosen acclimatize people high, cold, low oxygen levels Plateau. Scattered small agricultural bases, established in areas suitable planting, are basis intersecting Road also reflects clear differentiation agro-pastoral industry high altitudes related climate, ecological environment, elevation. Interaction nomadic populations crucial motivation forming developing

Язык: Английский

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Mountain valleys, alluvial fans and oases: Geomorphologic perspectives of the mixed agropastoral economy in Xinjiang (3000–200 BC)

Frontiers in Earth Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11

Опубликована: Фев. 14, 2023

Xinjiang serves as a hub for trans-Eurasian exchange. The hominids are supposed to be greatly influenced by the environment due fragile ecology and arid climate. As territory with most significant complex geomorphic units in Inner Asia, features diverse spectrum of forms, including mountains, basins, deserts, river valleys, oases. This paper presents systematic summary locations 127 Bronze Age early Iron (3000–200 BC) sites cemeteries their economic strategies, exploring different choices ancient humans who lived other units, how they adapted microenvironments. We have divided into five regions: Junggar Basin, Tarim Western Tianshan Mountains, middle Eastern Mountains. Our study shows that there were agropastoral modes geographical units. Roughly bounded economy northern was heavily based on animal husbandry, while oasis farming popular Southern reigon. From perspective geomorphology, situated mountain alluvial fans, oases regions surface water sources fine-textured soil cover. Sites near mountains more likely develop mixed pastoral-hunting economy, communities specific size build agricultural-pastoral economy. In large valleys or it is expected settlement clusters central settlements will grow, leading emergence social complexity. help understand “man-land” dynamics between 3000 200 BC Xinjiang.

Язык: Английский

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Phased human-nature interactions for the past 10 000 years in the Hexi Corridor, China

Environmental Research Letters, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 18(4), С. 044035 - 044035

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2023

Abstract Located in the eastern section of ancient Silk Road, Hexi Corridor is a crucial area where and western civilizations met. Previous studies mainly explore human-nature interactions at particular period, there lack phased interaction long time scales. Here we present relationships patterns between humans nature region over past 10 000 years distinguish stages mechanisms interaction, which can be divided into three periods region. 000–4000 BP period weak when human activities natural processes are primarily non-interactive. The evolution culture advances its way rather than by environmental changes, those early cultures do not strongly impact environment. During 4000–2000 BP, climate change becomes dominant factor adaptation, mitigation, migration region, extreme short-term changes often social system, intensifying on humans. Therefore, it strong (nature domination). From 2000 to 0 dominate manifested surface processes, lake evolution, regional water resource changes. At same time, backfire humans, causing series crises. Overall, (human We propose model, interaction—strong domination)—strong domination) validated other regions world for scale interactions.

Язык: Английский

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