Abstract
The chronology of the founding and abandonment of the Minyue State’s capital (Chengcun Han City Site) is crucial for understanding the historical development of the Minyue State and the process of Sinicization in southern China. This study applied optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), thermoluminescence (TL), and single-grain (SG) dating techniques to sediment and burnt clay samples from the West City Gate (WCG) section and West Water Gate (WWG) section of Chengcun Han City Site. The single aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol and standardized growth curve (SGC) method were employed to determine depositional ages and evaluate the reliability of the dating approaches. Results indicate: (1) OSL ages from the WCG, 1.84 ± 0.09 ka and 2.19 ± 0.08 ka, correspond to the construction and destruction phases of the city gate, while OSL ages from WWG, 2.01 ± 0.24 ka to 6.61 ± 0.32 ka, reflecting sedimentation in the water gate and moat. (2) Consistent OSL, TL, and SG ages for burnt clay at WCG suggest a conflagration event, likely linked to warfare and site abandonment following forced migration, though abandonment appears slightly later than the recorded fall of the Minyue State. (3) Combined dating results and environmental indicators show changing sedimentary dynamics at WWG: between 7.0 and 4.0 ka, sedimentation was mainly climate driven; after 4.0 ka, human activity became dominant. The rise of the Minyue State promoted local production and cultural dissemination in the upper reaches of Min River.
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