STUDY ON FOREST RESOURCES UTILIZATION AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT INDICATED BY THE CHARCOAL REMAINS OF HONGSHAN CULTURE PERIOD SITES IN WESTERN LIAONING PROVINCE
The western Liaoning region(41°～45°N,117°～124°E)constitutes a pivotal area for investigating the origins of Chinese civilization and the early processes of cultural development.The Hongshan culture,dated to the late Neolithic period(6.5～5.0 ka BP),represents a significant archaeological culture in the western Liaoning region.Excavations at Hongshan sites have yielded a plethora of exquisite jade artifacts,pottery,stone tools,and extensive sacrificial remains.This study aims to elucidate the ecological and climatic conditions surrounding Hongshan sites and explore how the ancient inhabitants utilized plant resources to support their livelihoods.Utilizing metallographic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy,we analyzed 940 charcoal specimens(＞2 mm)collected through flotation from 4 key archaeological sites of Weijiawopu(42°08'N,118°57'E),Caitaopo(42°50'N,119° 13'E),Xinglonggou Ⅱ(42°22'N,120°40'E),and Niuheliang Ⅰ(41°20'N,119° 30'E)during Hongshan Culture Period.The identified charred wood samples,comprising 12 genera,include QuercusL.,Ulmus L.,CeltisL.,Prunus L.,Acer L.,Phellodendron Rupr.,Tilia L.,Fraxinus L.,Juglans L.,Pinus L.,Salix L.,and Platycladus L.Statistical analysis reveals that Quercus L.dominates at 67.98％,followed by Acer L.at 12.77％and Pinus L.at 10.1％,with other tree species showing lower proportions.Our findings indicate that the surroundings of the sites were characterized by the presence of fruit trees such as apricot,peach,and walnut.The region featured warm temperate deciduous broadleaf forests dominated by Quercus L.,alongside other broadleaf trees including Ulmus L.,Acer L and Celtis L.Additionally,mountainous areas likely hosted temperate mixed forests composed of Pinus L.,Platycladus L.,Phellodendron Rupr.,Tilia L.,and Fraxinus L.Climate reconstruction using coexistence ecological factor methods suggests a warmer and more humid environment around the sites.The average annual temperature during the Hongshan Culture period was 2.2～14.2 ℃,the annual precipitation was 392～976 mm,and the humidity index was-40.9～66.0;The current annual precipitation in the western Liaoning region is 300～620mm,with the average annual temperature of 4～6 ℃ during the Hongshan period compared to the present day.Up to 430 pieces of charcoal were found 3 archaeological sites's house except Niuheliang Ⅰ,of which 311 were of the genus Quercus L.,and the predominant use of Quercus L.wood for building houses purposes is evident.As inferred from the recovered charcoal at the Niuheliang Ⅰ's stylobate,the result support the hypothesis that Quercus L.wood were potentially employed during sacrificial activities.In addition to charred fruit pits,the excavation of charred seeds from Quercus L.,Prunus L.,Ulmus L.,Celtis L.,Juglans L.,and Pinus L.further corroborates the hypothesis that early inhabitants collected and utilized nuts and seeds from these species,enriching our understanding of the diverse range and extent of plant resources exploited by ancient people.This study contributes novel insights into the utilization of forest resources by the Hongshan inhabitants,shedding light on the ecological environment and livelihood strategies of the period.
the western Liaoning ProvinceHongshan Culturecharcoal analysisforest resource utilizationlivelihood patternspaleoecology
万方数据
维普
