The Baodun Culture (4600–3700 a BP) is currently the earliest archeological culture found at the Chengdu Plain in southwestern China. Archeological evidence has shown that the Baodun Culture likely originated from the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, with two possible routes for human migration into the lower Chengdu Plain proposed: (1) At about 5000 a BP, favorable climatic conditions in the upper reaches of the Minjiang stimulated the growth of populations and the development of agriculture in the region. Due to this shift, some groups expanded from the upper Minjiang River to sites in the northern area of the Chengdu Plain, such as the Guiyuanqiao site; (2) during 4800–4300 a BP, a drying event occurred in the upper regions of the river valley causing a reduction in agricultural harvests and the migration of populations into sites – including the Baodun site – from this area of the Minjiang to the southwest piedmont of the Chengdu Plain. A multi-facetted study of the T3321 profile at Baodun site, including pollens, grain size, and geochemistry, demonstrates that after 6000 a BP, the climate of the Chengdu Plain shifted from cool, toward warmer and dryer conditions. However, as the Chengdu Plain is located in an alluvial fan, hydrothermal conditions here are still generally better than those in the upper reaches of Minjiang River. A change in the proportion of Concentricystes seen in the profile T3321 also indicates that after 4700 a BP, the lake and marsh areas associated with the Baodun site further decreased. However, as a result of this reduction, more terrestrial surfaces were exposed, providing favored space for Baodun Cultural groups in the area of the site. Due to such conditions, by about 4600 cal. a BP, people in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River had primarily moved to the southwest piedmont regions of the Chengdu Plain.
BaiYJZhangPZGaoT, et al. (2017) The 5400 a BP extreme weakening event of the Asian summer monsoon and cultural evolution. Science China Earth Sciences60: 1171–1182.
2.
BinfordMWKolataALBrennerM, et al. (1997) Climate variation and the rise and fall of an Andean civilization. Quaternary Research47: 235–248.
3.
BüntgenUTegelWNicolussiK, et al. (2011) 2500 years of European climate variability and human susceptibility. Science331: 578–582.
4.
CaiYJTanLCChengH, et al. (2010) The variation of summer monsoon precipitation in central China since the last deglaciation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters291: 21–31.
5.
CaiYJZhangHWChengH, et al. (2012) The Holocene Indian monsoon variability over the southern Tibetan Plateau and its teleconnections. Earth and Planetary Science Letters335–336: 135–144.
6.
ChenBSZhengZHuangKY, et al. (2014) Radionuclide dating of recent sediment and the validation of pollen-environment reconstruction in a small watershed reservoir in southeastern China. Catena115: 29–38.
7.
ChenJ (2007) Description and analysis of new archaeological discoveries in the Longshan age of Northwest Sichuan Basin. Journal of Chinese Culture2: 5–15 (in Chinese).
8.
ChenJChenXZFanRG (2004) Investigation of Neolithic cultural sites in upper reaches of Minjiang River and archaeological excavation of Ying pan Shan site. Journal of ABA Techers College21: 25–28 (in Chinese).
9.
ChenSYWangSMJinZD, et al. (2003) Variation of Zr/Rb ratios in lacustrine sediments of the central Tibetan plateau and its environment implications. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology23: 35–38 (in Chinese).
10.
ChenTJiangZHHeKY, et al. (2015) Phytolith analysis from the Baodun archaeological site, Xinjin, Sichuan. Acta Anthropologica Sinica34: 225–233 (in Chinese).
11.
Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Heritage Management Office of Xinjin (2011) Brief report on survey and test excavation of the Baodun site in Xinjin (2009~2010). In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2009). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 1–67 (in Chinese).
12.
Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Cultural Relics Management Bureau of Sichuan Zang, Qiang Ethnic Minority Autonomous Prefecture et al. (2002) Excavation report of Yingpanshan site in Maoxian, Sichuan. In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2000). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 1–77 (in Chinese).
13.
Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Cultural Relics Management Bureau of Sichuan Zang and Qiang Ethnic Minority Autonomous Prefecture et al. (2006) Briefing on the investigation of Shawudu site in Maoxian, Sichuan. In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2004). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 13–19 (in Chinese).
14.
Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Cultural Relics Management Bureau of Sichuan Zang and Qiang Ethnic Minority Autonomous Prefecture et al. (2008) Excavation report of Xiaguanzi site in Maoxian, Sichuan. In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2006). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 31–62 (in Chinese).
15.
ClarkeJBrooksNBanningEB, et al. (2016) Climatic changes and social transformations in the Near East and North Africa during the ‘long’ 4th millennium BC: A comparative study of environmental and archaeological evidence. Quaternary Science Reviews136: 96–121.
16.
CremaschiMZerboniA (2009) Early to Middle Holocene landscape exploitation in a drying environment: Two case studies compared from the central Sahara (SW Fezzan, Libya). Comptes Rendus Geoscience341: 689–702.
17.
CuiANMaCMZhaoL, et al. (2018) Pollen records of the Little Ice Age humidity flip in the middle Yangtze River catchment. Quaternary Science Reviews193: 43–53.
18.
CullenHMdeMenocalPBHemmingS, et al. (2000) Climate change and the collapse of the Akkadian empire: Evidence from the deep sea. Geology28: 379–382.
19.
d’Alpoim GuedesJLuHLiY, et al. (2013) Moving agriculture onto the Tibetan plateau: The archaeobotanical evidence. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences6: 255–269.
20.
deMenocalPOrtizJGuildersonT, et al. (2000) Abrupt onset and termination of the African Humid Period: Rapid climate responses to gradual insolation forcing. Quaternary Science Reviews19: 347–361.
21.
DengYZhengZCourP, et al. (2002) Relation between pollen ratios and climate in east China and an attempt of paleoclimate reconstruction. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica41: 508–516.
22.
Department of Archaeology, Sichuan University, Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Heritage Management Office of Xinjin (2018) Excavation of the Tianjiaolin locality of the Baodun site in Xinjin county, Chengdu in 2013. Archaeology3: 3–25 (in Chinese).
23.
DongGH (2013) Neolithic cultural evolution and its environmental driving force in the Gansu-Qinghai region: Problems and perspective. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology33: 67–75 (in Chinese).
24.
DongGHLiuFWChenFH (2017a) Environmental and technological effects on ancient social evolution at different spatial scales. Science China Earth Sciences60: 2067–2077.
25.
DongGHWangLCuiY, et al. (2013) The spatiotemporal pattern of the Majiayao cultural evolution and its relation to climate change and variety of subsistence strategy during late Neolithic period in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, northwest China. Quaternary International316: 155–161.
26.
DongGHYangYSHanJY, et al. (2017b) Exploring the history of cultural exchange in prehistoric Eurasia from the perspectives of crop diffusion and consumption. Science China Earth Sciences60: 1110–1123.
27.
FægriKKalandPEKrzywinskiK (1989) Textbook of pollen analysis. Journal of Biogeography12: 328.
28.
FallPL (2012) Modern vegetation, pollen and climate relationships on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology185: 79–92.
29.
GaoGRShaoWP (1981) A preliminary study of prehistoric Tao Gui. Journal of Archaeology4: 427–459 (in Chinese).
30.
GignacLDGauthierRRochefortL, et al. (2004) Distribution and habitat niches of 37 peatland Cyperaceae species across a broad geographic range in Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany82: 1292–1313.
31.
GrimmEC (2004) Tilia and Tilia-Graph Software. Springfield, IL: Illinois State Museum.
32.
HaugGHGüntherDPetersonLC, et al. (2003) Climate and the collapse of Maya civilization. Science299: 1731–1735.
33.
HeKY (2016) A discussion of the origin of the Baodun culture. In: Sichuan University Museum, Department of archaeology, Sichuan University and Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (eds) Southern Ethnology and Archaeology. Beijing, China: Science Press, pp.11–26 (in Chinese).
34.
HeKYLuHYZhengYF, et al. (2018) Middle-Holocene sea-level fluctuations interrupted the developing Hemudu culture in the lower Yangtze River, China. Quaternary Science Reviews188: 90–103.
35.
HouGLLiuFGLiuCH, et al. (2009) Prehistorical cultural transition forced by environmental change in mid-Holocene in Gansu-Qinghai Region. Acta Geographica Sinica64: 53–58 (in Chinese).
36.
HuangM (2013) The Preliminary Study of Palegeographic Changes at Baodun Site of Xinjin. Chengdu, China: Chengdu University of Technology (in Chinese).
37.
JiaTJMaCMZhuC, et al. (2017) Depositional evidence of palaeofloods during 4.0–3.6 ka BP at the Jinsha site, Chengdu Plain, China. Quaternary International440: 78–89.
38.
JiaX (2012) Culture Evolution Process and Plant Remains During Neolithic-Bronze Age in Northeaet Qinghai Province. Lanzhou, China: Lanzhou University (in Chinese).
39.
JiaXDongGHLiH, et al. (2012) The development of agriculture and its impact on cultural expansion during the late Neolithic in the Western Loess Plateau, China. The Holocene23: 85–92.
40.
JiangCChenJ (2001) Description and analysis of new archaeological discoveries in the upper reaches of Minjiang River. Forum on Chinese Culture3: 27–31 (in Chinese).
41.
JiangMDaiYHeKY, et al. (2011) Brief report on the analysis of the results of archaeological excavation in Baodun site of Xinjin in 2009. In: Archaeology CIocra (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2009). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp.68–82 (in Chinese).
42.
JiangZH (2004) Some thoughts on the remains of the Neolithic Age in the upper reaches of Minjiang River. Sichuan Cultural Relics3: 10–14 (in Chinese).
43.
JiangZHWangYZhangQ (2002) A preliminary research on the pre-Qin culture in the Chengdu Plain. Journal of Archaeology1: 1–22 (in Chinese).
44.
Joint Archaeological Investigation Team Between China and Japan (1998) Excavation report of Baodun site in Xinjin County, Sichuan, in 1996. Archaeology1: 29–50 (in Chinese).
45.
JonesMKLiuXY (2009) Origins of agriculture in East Asia. Science324: 730–731.
46.
JonesMKHuntHLightfootE, et al. (2011) Food globalization in prehistory. World Archaeology43: 665–675.
LiBLiuHWuL, et al. (2014) Linking the vicissitude of Neolithic cities with mid-Holocene environment and climate changes in the middle Yangtze River, China. Quaternary International321: 22–28.
51.
LiHAnCBFanWJ, et al. (2015) Population history and its relationship with climate change on the Chinese Loess Plateau during the past 10,000 years. The Holocene25: 1144–1152.
52.
LiYYZhouLPCuiHT (2008) Pollen indicators of human activity. Chinese Science Bulletin53: 991–1002 (in Chinese).
53.
LiangBZhuBWangQ (2014) Quaternary Geology and Environment in the Chengdu Plain. Beijing, China: Science Press (in Chinese).
54.
LingGJJiaYLMaCM, et al. (2016) Mid-late Holocene (3580~1630 cal. a BP) climate and environment records from Huangqi Lake in Inner Mongolia. Quaternary Sciences36: 257–267 (in Chinese).
55.
LiuLWChenJYangC, et al. (2002) Variation of Zr/Rb ratios on the Loess Plateau of Central China during the last 130000 years and its implications for winter monsoon. Chinese Science Bulletin47: 702–706 (in Chinese).
56.
LuHYAnZS (1998) Paleoclimatic significance of grain size of loess-palaeosol deposit in Chinese Loess Plateau. Science in China Series D41: 626–631 (in Chinese).
57.
MarshallMHLambHFHuwsD, et al. (2011) Late Pleistocene and Holocene drought events at Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. Global and Planetary Change78: 147–161.
58.
Medina-ElizaldeMRohlingEJ (2012) Collapse of classic Maya civilization related to modest reduction in precipitation. Science335: 956–959.
59.
RobertJW (1999) Patterns in Prehistory: Humankind’s First Three Million Years. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 311–385.
60.
ShiTHeKYZuoZQ, et al. (2015) Analysis report on plant remains unearthed from Xinjin Baodun Site from 2010 to 2011. In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2013). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 66–87 (in Chinese).
61.
Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (2015) Flotation results and analysis of the Guiyuanqiao site in Shifang. Sichuan Cultural Relics5: 81–94 (in Chinese).
62.
Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Deyang Museum and Shifang Museum (2013) Excavation of the Neolithic site at Guiyuanqiao, Shifang. Sichuan Cultural Relics9: 4–12 (in Chinese).
63.
StaubwasserMWeissH (2006) Holocene climate and cultural evolution in late prehistoric–early historic West Asia. Quaternary Research66: 372–387.
64.
StaubwasserMSirockoFGrootesP, et al. (2003) Climate change at the 4.2 ka BP termination of the Indus valley civilization and Holocene South Asian monsoon variability. Geophysical Research Letters30. Available at: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2002GL016822.
TangLYMaoLMLüXM, et al. (2013) Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental significance of some important spores and micro-algae in Quaternary deposits. Chinese Science Bulletin58: 3125–3139 (in Chinese).
67.
TangLYMaoLMShuJW, et al. (2016) Handbook of Quaternary Pollen and Spores in China. Beijing, China: Science Press (in Chinese).
68.
Ter BraakCSmilauerP (2002) CANOCO Reference Manual and Canodraw for Windows User’s Guide: Software for Canonical Community Ordination (Version 4.5). Ithaca, NY: Microcomputer Power.
69.
WanJLeiY (2013) Guiyuanqiao site and the development of Neolithic culture in the Chengdu plain. Cultural Relics9: 59–62 (in Chinese).
70.
WangFXQianNFZhangYL, et al. (1995) Pollen Morphology of China Plants. Beijing, China: Science Press (in Chinese).
71.
WangLZQuXN (2018) The classification and periodization of Pengtoushan culture. Jianghan Archaeology3: 68–80 (in Chinese).
72.
WeissH (2000) Beyond the Younger Dryas: Collapse as adaptation to abrupt climate change in ancient West Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. In: BawdenGReycraftR (eds) In Confronting Natural Disaster: Engaging the Past to Understand the Future. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, pp. 75–98.
73.
WeissHBradleyRS (2001) What drives societal collapse?Science291: 609–610.
74.
WeissHCourtyMAWetterstromW, et al. (1993) The genesis and collapse of third millennium north Mesopotamian civilization. Science261: 995–1004.
75.
WelcFMarksL (2014) Climate change at the end of the Old Kingdom in Egypt around 4200 BP: New geoarchaeological evidence. Quaternary International324: 124–133.
76.
WuLZhuCMaCM, et al. (2017) Mid-Holocene palaeoflood events recorded at the Zhongqiao Neolithic cultural site in the Jianghan Plain, middle Yangtze River Valley, China. Quaternary Science Reviews173: 145–160.
77.
WuLZhuCZhengCG, et al. (2014) Holocene environmental change and its impacts on human settlement in the Shanghai Area, East China. Catena114: 78–89.
78.
WuWXLiuTS (2004) Possible role of the ‘Holocene Event 3’ on the collapse of Neolithic Cultures around the Central Plain of China. Quaternary International117: 153–166.
79.
WuWXZhengHBHouM, et al. (2017) The 5.5 cal ka BP climate event, population growth, circumscription and the emergence of the earliest complex societies in China. Science China Earth Sciences48: 138–151 (in Chinese).
80.
XuX (1992) The Methodology of Quaternary Environmental Studies. Guiyang, China: Guizhou People’s Press (in Chinese).
81.
YanXJiangMHeKY, et al. (2015) Analysis report on plant remains unearthed from Xinjin Baodun Site from 2013 to 2014. In: Chengdu Institute of Cultural relics and Archaeology (ed.) Archaeological Discoveries in Chengdu (2013). Beijing, China: Science Press, pp. 88–103 (in Chinese).
82.
YangJF (1962) Discussion on the stages of Majiayao culture and Yangshao culture. Journal of Archaeology1: 49–80 (in Chinese).
83.
ZengMXMaCMZhuC, et al. (2016) Influence of climate change on the evolution of ancient culture from 4500 to 3700 cal. yr BP in the Chengdu Plain, upper reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Catena147: 742–754.
84.
ZhangZP (1983) Some problems of stratigraphy and typology. Cultural Relics5: 60–69 (in Chinese).
85.
ZhaoZJ (2011) New archaeobotanic data for the study of the origins of agriculture in China. Current Anthropology52: 295–306.
86.
ZhaoZJChenJ (2011) Flotation results and analysis of the Yingpanshan site in Maoxian, Sichuan. Cultural Relics in Southern China3: 60–67 (in Chinese).
87.
ZhouAFSunHLChenFH, et al. (2010) High resolution climate change in mid-late Holocene on Tianchi Lake, Liupan Mountain in the Loess Plateau in central China and its significance. Chinese Science Bulletin55: 2263–2266 (in Chinese).
88.
ZhuCWuLLiL, et al. (2016) Recognition of sea-level change during the Neolithic period in the Jiangsu Area, East China. Chinese Science Bulletin61: 374–387 (in Chinese).
