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Dr. Xin Jia
School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China

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0 Bioarchaeology
0 Archaeobotany
0 Agricultural Archaeology
0 Environmental archaeology
0 Ethnogeography

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Journal article
Published: 06 July 2021 in Land
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Obvious spatial expansion of human settlement occurred in the lower Yellow River floodplain during the Longshan period, but the external factors driving this expansion remain unclear. In this study, we first delineated the hydroclimatic changes at both regional and local scales within and around the lower Yellow River floodplain and then examined the relationships of human settlements with hydroclimatic settings between the pre-Longshan and Longshan periods. The results indicate that the site distribution, site density and hydroclimatic conditions exhibited significant shifts during the pre-Longshan and Longshan periods. In the pre-Longshan period, the intense East Asian summer monsoon and abundant monsoon-related precipitation caused widespread development of lakes and marshes in the lower Yellow River floodplain. As a result, the circumjacent highlands of the lower Yellow River floodplain contained concentrated human settlements. However, the persistent weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon and consequent precipitation decline, in conjunction with accelerated soil erosion due to decreasing forest vegetation and strengthening of human activities on the upstream Loess Plateau in the Longshan period, are likely to have jointly caused both shrinking and faster filling of preexisting lakes and marshes. Subsequently, a large area of arable land had been created in the lower Yellow River floodplain and thus was occupied by locally rapid increasing population, resulting in the notable spatial expansion of human settlements during the Longshan period.

ACS Style

Kaifeng Li; Wenhua Gao; Li Wu; Hainan Hu; Panpan Gong; Suyuan Li; Rui Jin; Yi Si. Spatial Expansion of Human Settlement during the Longshan Period (~4.5–~3.9 ka BP) and Its Hydroclimatic Contexts in the Lower Yellow River Floodplain, Eastern China. Land 2021, 10, 712 .

AMA Style

Kaifeng Li, Wenhua Gao, Li Wu, Hainan Hu, Panpan Gong, Suyuan Li, Rui Jin, Yi Si. Spatial Expansion of Human Settlement during the Longshan Period (~4.5–~3.9 ka BP) and Its Hydroclimatic Contexts in the Lower Yellow River Floodplain, Eastern China. Land. 2021; 10 (7):712.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kaifeng Li; Wenhua Gao; Li Wu; Hainan Hu; Panpan Gong; Suyuan Li; Rui Jin; Yi Si. 2021. "Spatial Expansion of Human Settlement during the Longshan Period (~4.5–~3.9 ka BP) and Its Hydroclimatic Contexts in the Lower Yellow River Floodplain, Eastern China." Land 10, no. 7: 712.

Original research article
Published: 15 June 2021 in Frontiers in Earth Science
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The development and adoption of agriculture has been investigated for decades, and remains a central topic within archaeology. However, most previous studies focus on the crop’s domestication centers, leading to gaps in knowledge, particularly in transitional zones between these centers. This paper reviews published archaeobotanical evidence and historical documents to reconstruct the trajectory of agricultural systems in Holocene Jiangsu Province. Comparing these new results to paleoclimate information, historical documents, and archaeological data enables us to better understand the underlying influences of past agricultural development. Our results indicate that a warm and wet climate may have promoted ancient peoples to first settle in Jiangsu between 8,500 and 6,000 BP and adopt rice farming. The continuous warm and wet climate may have facilitated the rapid development and expansion of rice agriculture, ultimately contributing to large-scale human settlement in 6,000–4,000 BP in Jiangsu Province. Between 4,000 and 2,300 BP during a cooler and drier climate millet agriculture diffused southward, facilitating a mixed rice and millet agricultural system. This mixed farming supported a continuesd widespread settlement and population growth in Jiangsu. After 2,300 BP, political instability in north China resulted in further southeastward migration, advanced planting technology was brought about to south China, facilitating highly developed agricultural systems and rapid population expansion in Jiangsu. Population growth led to the establishment of Jiangnan as the regional economic center, where people chose high-yielding rice and wheat rather than millet.

ACS Style

Haiming Li; Zhen Liu; Nathaniel James; Xinsheng Li; Zhujun Hu; Hongwei Shi; Liqiang Sun; Yong Lu; Xin Jia. Agricultural Transformations and Their Influential Factors Revealed by Archaeobotanical Evidence in Holocene Jiangsu Province, Eastern China. Frontiers in Earth Science 2021, 9, 1 .

AMA Style

Haiming Li, Zhen Liu, Nathaniel James, Xinsheng Li, Zhujun Hu, Hongwei Shi, Liqiang Sun, Yong Lu, Xin Jia. Agricultural Transformations and Their Influential Factors Revealed by Archaeobotanical Evidence in Holocene Jiangsu Province, Eastern China. Frontiers in Earth Science. 2021; 9 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Haiming Li; Zhen Liu; Nathaniel James; Xinsheng Li; Zhujun Hu; Hongwei Shi; Liqiang Sun; Yong Lu; Xin Jia. 2021. "Agricultural Transformations and Their Influential Factors Revealed by Archaeobotanical Evidence in Holocene Jiangsu Province, Eastern China." Frontiers in Earth Science 9, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 22 March 2021 in Antiquity
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The architectural connections between western Central Asia and China are not well understood. Recent investigations at the Haermodun site in central Xinjiang reveals new evidence of the influence of western Central Asia on the construction of fortifications in China during the early first millennium AD.

ACS Style

Yuqi Li; Michael Storozum; Haiming Li; Di Hu; Xin Wang; Xin Jia. Architectural connections between western Central Asia and China: new investigations at Haermodun (cal AD 90–321), a fortified circular settlement in Xinjiang, China. Antiquity 2021, 95, 1 -6.

AMA Style

Yuqi Li, Michael Storozum, Haiming Li, Di Hu, Xin Wang, Xin Jia. Architectural connections between western Central Asia and China: new investigations at Haermodun (cal AD 90–321), a fortified circular settlement in Xinjiang, China. Antiquity. 2021; 95 (380):1-6.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yuqi Li; Michael Storozum; Haiming Li; Di Hu; Xin Wang; Xin Jia. 2021. "Architectural connections between western Central Asia and China: new investigations at Haermodun (cal AD 90–321), a fortified circular settlement in Xinjiang, China." Antiquity 95, no. 380: 1-6.

Research article
Published: 05 February 2021 in Quaternary Research
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Fossil charcoals from archaeological sites provide direct evidence for the relationship between environmental change and ancient peoples’ livelihoods in the past. Our identification of 5811 fossil charcoal fragments from 84 samples suggested temperate deciduous and mixed conifer-broadleaved forests as the dominant vegetation at the Erdaojingzi site in northeastern China ca. 3500 cal yr BP; the major representative taxa were Quercus, Pinus, and Ulmus. Four woody plants probably supplied humans with food resources at the Erdaojingzi site, including Quercus, Ulmus, Amygdalus/Armeniaca, and Ziziphus. The nuts of Quercus were utilized as staple foods because of their rich starch content. The leaves of Ulmus may have been used by humans because of their massive dietary fibre. Amygdalus/Armeniaca and Ziziphus probably provided fruits for humans. Based on the coexistence approach (CA) used on the fossil charcoals, we found that the MAT anomaly was 7.9 ± 5.9°C at ca. 3500 cal yr BP, which is almost the same as the modern one (7.8°C), while the MAP was halved from 772 ± 301 mm at ca. 3500 cal yr BP to 370 mm currently. The wet climate might have facilitated significant development of rain-fed agriculture, promoted the emergence of large settlements, and eventually facilitated the birth of civilization.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Shuzhi Wang; Yonggang Sun; Yiyin Li; Yanjing Jiao; Zhijun Zhao; Harry F. Lee. Charcoal evidence for environmental change ca. 3.5 ka and its influence on ancient people in the West Liao River Basin of northeastern China. Quaternary Research 2021, 1 -11.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Shuzhi Wang, Yonggang Sun, Yiyin Li, Yanjing Jiao, Zhijun Zhao, Harry F. Lee. Charcoal evidence for environmental change ca. 3.5 ka and its influence on ancient people in the West Liao River Basin of northeastern China. Quaternary Research. 2021; ():1-11.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Shuzhi Wang; Yonggang Sun; Yiyin Li; Yanjing Jiao; Zhijun Zhao; Harry F. Lee. 2021. "Charcoal evidence for environmental change ca. 3.5 ka and its influence on ancient people in the West Liao River Basin of northeastern China." Quaternary Research , no. : 1-11.

Journal article
Published: 29 April 2020 in Atmosphere
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Here, we present evidence of possible links between diet and social status using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios at the site of Xiaohucun in the Central Plains, China. This pilot study from a rescue excavation yielded humans (n = 12) identified to the late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC), which was a warm climatic period. The population consumed a predominately C4 diet (millets) and no difference was observed between the δ13C results of individuals (n = 7) buried with (−9.1 ± 2.8‰) and without (n = 5) bronze vessels (−8.2 ± 0.7‰). However, individuals buried with bronze vessels (10.3±1.6‰) were found to have significantly higher δ15N values (one-way ANOVA; p = 0.015) compared to individuals buried without bronze vessels (8.0 ± 0.9‰), providing evidence that possible elite members consumed more animal protein (dog, pig, cow, sheep/goat). Isotopic results were also examined for social status in relation to the number of burial coffins that an individual had: double (n = 6), single (n = 3), or no coffin (n = 3). No difference was found in the δ13C values, but variations were observed in the δ15N values: double coffin (10.2 ± 1.7‰) > single coffin (8.8 ± 1.8‰) > no coffin (8.0 ± 1.3‰), again possibly showing increased animal protein consumption linked to social status. Finally, isotopic results and status were studied by looking at the number of coffins and tomb size. Again, no correlation was observed for the δ13C results, but a strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.85) was observed for the δ15N values of the individuals buried in two coffins vs. tomb size.

ACS Style

Ning Wang; Lianmin Jia; Yi Si; Xin Jia. Isotopic Results Reveal Possible Links between Diet and Social Status in Late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC) Tombs at Xiaohucun, China. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 451 .

AMA Style

Ning Wang, Lianmin Jia, Yi Si, Xin Jia. Isotopic Results Reveal Possible Links between Diet and Social Status in Late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC) Tombs at Xiaohucun, China. Atmosphere. 2020; 11 (5):451.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ning Wang; Lianmin Jia; Yi Si; Xin Jia. 2020. "Isotopic Results Reveal Possible Links between Diet and Social Status in Late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC) Tombs at Xiaohucun, China." Atmosphere 11, no. 5: 451.

Review
Published: 13 February 2020 in Earth-Science Reviews
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In an attempt to quantify Holocene anthropogenic land-cover change in temperate China, we 1) applied the REVEALS model to estimate plant-cover change using 94 pollen records and relative pollen productivity for 27 plant taxa, 2) reviewed earlier interpretation of pollen studies in terms of climate- and human-induced vegetation change, and 3) reviewed information on past land use from archaeological studies. REVEALS achieved a more realistic reconstruction of plant-cover change than pollen percentages in terms of openland versus woodland. The study suggests successive human-induced changes in vegetation cover. The first signs of human- induced land-cover change (crop cultivation, otherwise specified) are found c. 7 ka BP in the temperate deciduous forest, and S and NE Tibetan Plateau (mainly grazing, possibly crop cultivation), 6.5–6 ka BP in the temperate steppe and temperate desert (grazing, uncertain), and 5.5–5 ka BP in the coniferous-deciduous mixed forest, NE subtropical region, and NW Tibetan Plateau (grazing). Further intensification of anthropogenic land-cover change is indicated 5–4.5 ka BP in the E temperate steppe, and S and NE Tibetan Plateau (grazing, cultivation uncertain), 3.5–3 ka BP in S and NE Tibetan Plateau, W temperate steppe, temperate desert (grazing), and NW Tibetan Plateau (probably grazing), and 2.5–2 ka BP in the temperate deciduous forest, N subtropical region, and temperate desert (grazing). These changes generally agree with increased human activity as documented by archaeological studies. REVEALS reconstructions have a stronger potential than biomization to evaluate scenarios of anthropogenic land-cover change such as HYDE, given they are combined with information from archaeological studies.

ACS Style

Furong Li; Marie-José Gaillard; Xianyong Cao; Ulrike Herzschuh; Shinya Sugita; Pavel E. Tarasov; Mayke Wagner; Qinghai Xu; Jian Ni; Weiming Wang; Yan Zhao; Chengbang An; A.H.W. Beusen; Fahu Chen; Zhaodong Feng; C.G.M. Klein Goldewijk; Xiaozhong Huang; Yuecong Li; Yu Li; Hongyan Liu; Aizhi Sun; Yifeng Yao; Zhuo Zheng; Xin Jia. Towards quantification of Holocene anthropogenic land-cover change in temperate China: A review in the light of pollen-based REVEALS reconstructions of regional plant cover. Earth-Science Reviews 2020, 203, 103119 .

AMA Style

Furong Li, Marie-José Gaillard, Xianyong Cao, Ulrike Herzschuh, Shinya Sugita, Pavel E. Tarasov, Mayke Wagner, Qinghai Xu, Jian Ni, Weiming Wang, Yan Zhao, Chengbang An, A.H.W. Beusen, Fahu Chen, Zhaodong Feng, C.G.M. Klein Goldewijk, Xiaozhong Huang, Yuecong Li, Yu Li, Hongyan Liu, Aizhi Sun, Yifeng Yao, Zhuo Zheng, Xin Jia. Towards quantification of Holocene anthropogenic land-cover change in temperate China: A review in the light of pollen-based REVEALS reconstructions of regional plant cover. Earth-Science Reviews. 2020; 203 ():103119.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Furong Li; Marie-José Gaillard; Xianyong Cao; Ulrike Herzschuh; Shinya Sugita; Pavel E. Tarasov; Mayke Wagner; Qinghai Xu; Jian Ni; Weiming Wang; Yan Zhao; Chengbang An; A.H.W. Beusen; Fahu Chen; Zhaodong Feng; C.G.M. Klein Goldewijk; Xiaozhong Huang; Yuecong Li; Yu Li; Hongyan Liu; Aizhi Sun; Yifeng Yao; Zhuo Zheng; Xin Jia. 2020. "Towards quantification of Holocene anthropogenic land-cover change in temperate China: A review in the light of pollen-based REVEALS reconstructions of regional plant cover." Earth-Science Reviews 203, no. : 103119.

Journal article
Published: 20 January 2020 in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
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We present new radiocarbon dating, pollen and microcharcoal date from a section at a well-known early Neolithic site, Chahai, in Northeast China, to reconstruct vegetation and human occupation history and to evaluate human influence on the regional vegetation. The results suggested that the site was occupied in at least four main stages, 12,700–12,570, 10,200–9300, 7200–6300 and 2070–1920 cal yr BP, and that the periodic occupation and abandonment of the Chahai site was probably related to global millennial scale climate change. The regional vegetation change in Chahai region showed an increasing trend in humidity from the final Pleistocene to the middle Holocene; the vegetation was successively dominated by an arid steppe (12,700–12,570 cal yr BP) and moist meadow (10,200–9300 and 7200–6300 cal yr BP). Nevertheless, the reduction of the regional forest cover, indicated by a decrease in the proportion of tree pollen, was synchronous with population expansion locally around 7200–6300 cal yr BP. Our results demonstrate that the vegetation succession in the Chahai region was mainly controlled by climate change in the final Pleistocene and the early Holocene (12,700–12,570 and 10,200–9300 cal yr BP), while increased human activities and agricultural behavior played major roles in the degradation of the regional forest during the middle Holocene (7200–6300 cal yr BP).

ACS Style

Qingjiang Yang; Xinying Zhou; Chao Zhao; Qiang Gao; Junchi Liu; Peter Weiming Jia; Xin Jia; Yan Xin; Keliang Zhao; Xiaoqiang Li. Human occupation, slash-burning and vegetation response from the final Pleistocene to the middle Holocene, Daling River basin, NE China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2020, 275, 104158 .

AMA Style

Qingjiang Yang, Xinying Zhou, Chao Zhao, Qiang Gao, Junchi Liu, Peter Weiming Jia, Xin Jia, Yan Xin, Keliang Zhao, Xiaoqiang Li. Human occupation, slash-burning and vegetation response from the final Pleistocene to the middle Holocene, Daling River basin, NE China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 2020; 275 ():104158.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Qingjiang Yang; Xinying Zhou; Chao Zhao; Qiang Gao; Junchi Liu; Peter Weiming Jia; Xin Jia; Yan Xin; Keliang Zhao; Xiaoqiang Li. 2020. "Human occupation, slash-burning and vegetation response from the final Pleistocene to the middle Holocene, Daling River basin, NE China." Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 275, no. : 104158.

Research paper
Published: 22 November 2018 in Science China Earth Sciences
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The people of the Tibetan Plateau have received extensive attention from scholars because of their unique adaptability to the low temperature and anoxic environments. However, the Tibetan communities and their habitats in the low-altitude regions of the plateau have rarely been studied in a scientific manner. Based on the extraction of geographic information of 197 towns in the Hehuang Valley and on variance analysis, this study examines the habitats and subsistence strategies of the Tibetans and other major ethnic groups in the low-latitude region of the Tibetan Plateau. Our statistical results show that the annual average temperature of Tibetan habitats in the Hehuang Valley is relatively high. The relatively warm environment of the valley allows the Tibetans in that area to cultivate wheat and barley and raise cattle and sheep—a subsistence strategy significantly different from that of other Tibetans in the high-altitude regions in the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, the Tibetan communities in the Hehuang Valley include similar agri-pastoral ethnic groups (including Hui and Salar), both of which adopt similar subsistence strategies. The agricultural ethnic groups (Han and Tu) live in a relatively cool and humid environment facilitating agricultural production, while the agri-pastoral ethnic groups (Tibetan, Hui, and Salar) inhabit relatively warm and arid environment in the valley. Due to the lack of agricultural activities, agri-pastoral groups must also engage in animal husbandry to supplement their diet. In the Ando Tibetan region, the subsistence strategies of the ethnic groups are closely related to their physical environment. Those ethnic groups communicate among themselves, integrate, and influence each other, resulting in a diversified culture. This study proves that the habitat variation at a regional scale corresponds significantly to the variation of subsistence strategies. Our findings may further refine knowledge about the human-environmental relationships of Tibetans and lead future research towards using quantitative methods to analyse the intersection of physical environment and ethnic groups’ distribution.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Harry F. Lee; Mengchun Cui; Guoquan Cheng; Yang Zhao; Hong Ding; Ricci Pak Hong Yue; Huayu Lu. Differentiations of geographic distribution and subsistence strategies between Tibetan and other major ethnic groups are determined by the physical environment in Hehuang Valley. Science China Earth Sciences 2018, 62, 412 -422.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Harry F. Lee, Mengchun Cui, Guoquan Cheng, Yang Zhao, Hong Ding, Ricci Pak Hong Yue, Huayu Lu. Differentiations of geographic distribution and subsistence strategies between Tibetan and other major ethnic groups are determined by the physical environment in Hehuang Valley. Science China Earth Sciences. 2018; 62 (2):412-422.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Harry F. Lee; Mengchun Cui; Guoquan Cheng; Yang Zhao; Hong Ding; Ricci Pak Hong Yue; Huayu Lu. 2018. "Differentiations of geographic distribution and subsistence strategies between Tibetan and other major ethnic groups are determined by the physical environment in Hehuang Valley." Science China Earth Sciences 62, no. 2: 412-422.

Article
Published: 19 October 2017 in Journal of Geographical Sciences
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There is a wide diversity of landforms in China. The topography of three major terraces, decreasing in height stepwise from west to east, was formed by the early Miocene. With the commencement of the Great Northern Hemisphere Glaciations (GHGs) and the glacial-interglacial cycles in the Pleistocene, thick loess deposits accumulated in north China, and fluvial terraces were formed and lakes expanded and contracted in eastern and central China. The earliest evidence of hominins in China is dated to ∼1.7 Ma; they occupied the monsoon-dominated region for a long interval, until the late Pleistocene, ∼50 ka. In this study, we investigated a large area rich in the relics and artifacts of early man. The results indicate that the early humans occupied riverine areas, especially medium-sized fluvial basins, and lake shores. Even in the relatively recent geological past, the occupation and abandonment of settlements were directly forced by the shifting of sand dune fields in the desert-loess transitional zone, which in turn was closely associated with variations in the monsoon climate and vegetation patterns. Our observations indicate that landforms were one of the main determinants of early human behavior, in that loess tableland, large alluvial plains, desert-Gobi areas, and the Tibetan Plateau, were not suitable environments for early human settlement. We infer that the early humans in China adapted their behavior to specific landforms and landform processes. The monsoon climate, which shapes the large-scale step-like pattern of fluvial landforms, promotes vegetation coverage and dominates soil formation, provides a crucial context for early human adaptation. The adaptation of early humans to earth surface processes in East Asia is investigated for the first time in this study. Future investigations will provide further information that will increase our understanding of the linkage between early human behavior and landform processes in East Asia.

ACS Style

Huayu Lu; Haixin Zhuo; Wenchao Zhang; Shejiang Wang; Hongyan Zhang; Xuefeng Sun; Xin Jia; Zhiwei Xu; Xianyan Wang. Earth surface processes and their effects on human behavior in monsoonal China during the Pleistocene-Holocene epochs. Journal of Geographical Sciences 2017, 27, 1311 -1324.

AMA Style

Huayu Lu, Haixin Zhuo, Wenchao Zhang, Shejiang Wang, Hongyan Zhang, Xuefeng Sun, Xin Jia, Zhiwei Xu, Xianyan Wang. Earth surface processes and their effects on human behavior in monsoonal China during the Pleistocene-Holocene epochs. Journal of Geographical Sciences. 2017; 27 (11):1311-1324.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Huayu Lu; Haixin Zhuo; Wenchao Zhang; Shejiang Wang; Hongyan Zhang; Xuefeng Sun; Xin Jia; Zhiwei Xu; Xianyan Wang. 2017. "Earth surface processes and their effects on human behavior in monsoonal China during the Pleistocene-Holocene epochs." Journal of Geographical Sciences 27, no. 11: 1311-1324.

Research paper
Published: 22 August 2017 in Science China Earth Sciences
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Although many large-N quantitative studies have evidenced the adverse effects of climatic extremes on social stability in China during the historical period, most of them rely on temperature and precipitation as major explanatory variables, while the influence of floods and droughts on social crises is rarely measured. Furthermore, a comparison of the climate-society nexus among different geographic regions and at different temporal scales is missing in those studies. To address this knowledge gap, this study examines quantitatively the influence of floods and droughts on internal wars in three agro-ecological (rice, wheat, and pastoral) regions in China in AD1470–1911. Poisson regression and wavelet transform coherence analyses are applied to allow for the non-linear and non-stationary nature of the climate-war nexus. Results show that floods and droughts are significant in driving internal wars in historical China, but are characterized by strong regional variation. In the rice region, floods trigger internal wars at the inter-annual and multi-decadal time scales. In the wheat region, both floods and droughts cause internal wars at the inter-annual and multi-decadal time scales. In the pastoral region, internal wars are associated with floods only at the multi-decadal time scale. In addition, the multi-decadal coherence between hydro-climatic extremes and internal wars in all three of the agro-ecological regions is only significant in periods in which population density is increasing or the upper limit of regional carrying capacity is being reached. The above results imply that the climate-war nexus is mediated by regional geographic factors such as physical environmental setting and population pressure. Hence, we encourage researchers who study the historical human-climate relationship to boil down data according to geographic regions in the course of statistical analysis and to examine each region individually in follow-up studies.

ACS Style

Harry F. Lee; David D. Zhang; Qing Pei; Xin Jia; Ricci Pak Hong Yue. Quantitative analysis of the impact of droughts and floods on internal wars in China over the last 500 years. Science China Earth Sciences 2017, 60, 2078 -2088.

AMA Style

Harry F. Lee, David D. Zhang, Qing Pei, Xin Jia, Ricci Pak Hong Yue. Quantitative analysis of the impact of droughts and floods on internal wars in China over the last 500 years. Science China Earth Sciences. 2017; 60 (12):2078-2088.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Harry F. Lee; David D. Zhang; Qing Pei; Xin Jia; Ricci Pak Hong Yue. 2017. "Quantitative analysis of the impact of droughts and floods on internal wars in China over the last 500 years." Science China Earth Sciences 60, no. 12: 2078-2088.

Historical article
Published: 09 August 2017 in PLOS ONE
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It has been suggested that population growth dynamics may be revealed by the geographic distribution and the physical structure of ancient bridges. Yet, this relationship has not been empirically verified. In this study, we applied the archaeological records for ancient bridges to reveal the population growth dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin in late imperial China. We investigated 89 ancient bridges in Yixing that were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (AD1368–1911). Global Position System information and structure (length, width, and span) of those bridges was measured during our field investigations. Their distribution density was calculated by ArcGIS. The historical socio-economic dynamics of Yixing was inferred from the distribution and structure of ancient bridges. Based on the above information, the population growth dynamics in Yixing was projected. Our results show that 77 bridges were built in Yixing during the Qing dynasty, which is 6.41 times more than the number built during the Ming dynasty. In the Ming dynasty, bridges were built on pivotal routes; in the Qing dynasty, bridges were scattered across various places. Over the period, the density distribution of bridges shifted northwestward, while the average length and width of bridges decreased. The increasing number of bridges corresponded to population growth, largely attributable to massive clan migration from northern China during the Little Ice Age. The shift in the density distribution of bridges corresponded to the formation of settlements of large clans and the blossoming of Yixing Teapot handicrafts. The scattering and the reduction in average length and width of bridges was due to the dispersal of population and the associated formation of small settlements in the latter period. Our approach is innovative and robust, and could be employed to recover long-term historical population growth dynamics in other parts of China.

ACS Style

Yang Zhao; Xin Jia; Harry F. Lee; Hongqiang Zhao; Shuliang Cai; Xianjin Huang. Relationship between ancient bridges and population dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin, China. PLOS ONE 2017, 12, e0182560 .

AMA Style

Yang Zhao, Xin Jia, Harry F. Lee, Hongqiang Zhao, Shuliang Cai, Xianjin Huang. Relationship between ancient bridges and population dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin, China. PLOS ONE. 2017; 12 (8):e0182560.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang Zhao; Xin Jia; Harry F. Lee; Hongqiang Zhao; Shuliang Cai; Xianjin Huang. 2017. "Relationship between ancient bridges and population dynamics in the lower Yangtze River Basin, China." PLOS ONE 12, no. 8: e0182560.

Journal article
Published: 20 April 2017 in Scientific Reports
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There are 56 officially-recognized ethnic groups in China. However, the distinct geographic patterns of various ethnic groups in relation to the physical environment in China have rarely been investigated. Based on the geo-referenced physical environmental parameters of 455 Han, Tu, Hui, Salar, Mongolian, and Tibetan communities in Qinghai, we found that the communities could be statistically demarcated by temperature and aridity threshold according to their ethnicity, implying that the geographic distribution of each ethnic group is mediated by the physical environment. We also observed that the habitat of each ethnic group is ecologically compatible with current subsistence strategies. Tibetans settle in cold and humid high-altitude regions owing to the cultivation of highland barley and the breeding of yak, dzo, Tibetan sheep and Tibetan goat. Mongolians survive by animal husbandry in cold and dry grassland areas. Han and Tu people settle in the Huangshui River Valley, which offers relatively humid climate and flat land for agriculture. Hui and Salar people occupy the Yellow River Valley with its relatively arid environment and grassland vegetation suitable for animal breeding. Our findings offer a new perspective in explaining the geographic patterns and the varieties of ethnic groups in China and elsewhere.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Harry Lee; Mengchun Cui; Chao Liu; Lin Zeng; Ricci Pak Hong Yue; Yang Zhao; Huayu Lu. Habitat Variability and Ethnic Diversity in Northern Tibetan Plateau. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 1 -10.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Harry Lee, Mengchun Cui, Chao Liu, Lin Zeng, Ricci Pak Hong Yue, Yang Zhao, Huayu Lu. Habitat Variability and Ethnic Diversity in Northern Tibetan Plateau. Scientific Reports. 2017; 7 (1):1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Harry Lee; Mengchun Cui; Chao Liu; Lin Zeng; Ricci Pak Hong Yue; Yang Zhao; Huayu Lu. 2017. "Habitat Variability and Ethnic Diversity in Northern Tibetan Plateau." Scientific Reports 7, no. 1: 1-10.

Historical article
Published: 01 February 2017 in Social Science & Medicine
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This study seeks to provide further insight regarding the relationship of climate-epidemics in Chinese history through a multi-scalar analysis. Based on 5961 epidemic incidents in China during 1370-1909 CE we applied Ordinary Least Square regression and panel data regression to verify the climate-epidemic nexus over a range of spatial scales (country, macro region, and province). Results show that epidemic outbreaks were negatively correlated with the temperature in historical China at various geographic levels, while a stark reduction in the correlational strength was observed at lower geographic levels. Furthermore, cooling drove up epidemic outbreaks in northern and central China, where population pressure reached a clear threshold for amplifying the vulnerability of epidemic outbreaks to climate change. Our findings help to illustrate the modifiable areal unit and the uncertain geographic context problems in climate-epidemics research. Researchers need to consider the scale effect in the course of statistical analyses, which are currently predominantly conducted on a national/single scale; and also the importance of how the study area is delineated, an issue which is rarely discussed in the climate-epidemics literature. Future research may leverage our results and provide a cross-analysis with those derived from spatial analysis.

ACS Style

Harry F. Lee; Jie Fei; Christopher Y.S. Chan; Qing Pei; Xin Jia; Ricci Pak Hong Yue. Climate change and epidemics in Chinese history: A multi-scalar analysis. Social Science & Medicine 2017, 174, 53 -63.

AMA Style

Harry F. Lee, Jie Fei, Christopher Y.S. Chan, Qing Pei, Xin Jia, Ricci Pak Hong Yue. Climate change and epidemics in Chinese history: A multi-scalar analysis. Social Science & Medicine. 2017; 174 ():53-63.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Harry F. Lee; Jie Fei; Christopher Y.S. Chan; Qing Pei; Xin Jia; Ricci Pak Hong Yue. 2017. "Climate change and epidemics in Chinese history: A multi-scalar analysis." Social Science & Medicine 174, no. : 53-63.

Research article
Published: 26 January 2017 in Frontiers of Earth Science
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The West Liao River Basin is the hub of ancient civilizations as well as the birthplace of rain-fed agriculture in Northern China. In the present study, based on 276 archaeological sites on the south bank of the Xar Moron River, Northeastern China, we trace the changes in prehistoric cultures as well as the shifts in the spatial and temporal patterns of human settlement in the West Liao River Basin. Location information for those sites was obtained from fieldwork. Factors such as climate change, landform evolution of the Horqin Dunefield, and subsistence strategies practiced at the sites were extracted via the meta-analysis of published literature. Our results show that the Holocene Optimum promoted the emergence of Neolithic Culture on the south bank of the Xar Moron River. Monsoon failure might have caused the periodic collapse or transformation of prehistoric cultures at (6.5, 4.7, 3.9, and 3.0) kyr B.P., leaving spaces for new cultural types to develop after these gaps. The rise and fall of different cultures was also determined by subsistence strategies. The Xiaoheyan Culture, with mixed modes of subsistence, weakened after 4.7 kyr B.P., whereas the Upper Xiajiadian Culture, supported by sheep breeding, expanded after 3.0 kyr B.P. Global positioning system data obtained from the archaeological sites reveal that cultures with different subsistence strategies occupied distinct geographic regions. Humans who subsisted on hunting and gathering resided at higher altitudes during the Paleolithic Age (1074 m a.s.l.). Mixed subsistence strategies led humans to settle down at 600–1000 m a.s.l. in the Neolithic Age. Agricultural activities caused humans to migrate to 400–800 m a.s.l. in the early Bronze Age, whereas livestock production shifted human activities to 800–1200 m a.s.l. in the late Bronze Age.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Shuangwen Yi; Yonggang Sun; Shuangye Wu; Harry Lee; Lin Wang; Huayu Lu. Spatial and temporal variations in prehistoric human settlement and their influencing factors on the south bank of the Xar Moron River, Northeastern China. Frontiers of Earth Science 2017, 11, 137 -147.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Shuangwen Yi, Yonggang Sun, Shuangye Wu, Harry Lee, Lin Wang, Huayu Lu. Spatial and temporal variations in prehistoric human settlement and their influencing factors on the south bank of the Xar Moron River, Northeastern China. Frontiers of Earth Science. 2017; 11 (1):137-147.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Shuangwen Yi; Yonggang Sun; Shuangye Wu; Harry Lee; Lin Wang; Huayu Lu. 2017. "Spatial and temporal variations in prehistoric human settlement and their influencing factors on the south bank of the Xar Moron River, Northeastern China." Frontiers of Earth Science 11, no. 1: 137-147.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2016 in Quaternary International
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Gansu and Qinghai provinces of northwest China form an important region for the domestication and early utilization of millet crops. Studies on the subsistence strategy variation and environmental background of prehistoric cultural transition in this area have made substantial progress, but the geomorphic environment and hydrologic conditions of the different culture stages remains poorly known. Based on high resolution DEM and GPS coordination of typical sites, a GIS aided hydrogeomorphic analysis was conducted to indicate the abundance of cultivable flat lands and proximity to local surface runoff within walking access of nine typical sites. The results were compared with the records of plant-animal remains and tool assemblages from published literature. There is a good correlation between sites' hydrogeomorphic settings and the subsistence strategy adopted. Our case study provides valuable information for understanding how humans selected their habitat locations in corresponding to subsistence strategy shift during the transitional period between late Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.

ACS Style

Lin Wang; Yishi Yang; Xin Jia. Hydrogeomorphic settings of late Paleolithic and early-mid Neolithic sites in relation to subsistence variation in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, northwest China. Quaternary International 2016, 426, 18 -25.

AMA Style

Lin Wang, Yishi Yang, Xin Jia. Hydrogeomorphic settings of late Paleolithic and early-mid Neolithic sites in relation to subsistence variation in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, northwest China. Quaternary International. 2016; 426 ():18-25.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lin Wang; Yishi Yang; Xin Jia. 2016. "Hydrogeomorphic settings of late Paleolithic and early-mid Neolithic sites in relation to subsistence variation in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, northwest China." Quaternary International 426, no. : 18-25.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2016 in Quaternary International
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Xin Jia; Harry Lee; Wenchao Zhang; Lin Wang; Yonggang Sun; Zhijun Zhao; Shuangwen Yi; Wenbo Huang; Huayu Lu. Human-environment interactions within the West Liao River Basin in Northeastern China during the Holocene Optimum. Quaternary International 2016, 426, 10 -17.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Harry Lee, Wenchao Zhang, Lin Wang, Yonggang Sun, Zhijun Zhao, Shuangwen Yi, Wenbo Huang, Huayu Lu. Human-environment interactions within the West Liao River Basin in Northeastern China during the Holocene Optimum. Quaternary International. 2016; 426 ():10-17.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Harry Lee; Wenchao Zhang; Lin Wang; Yonggang Sun; Zhijun Zhao; Shuangwen Yi; Wenbo Huang; Huayu Lu. 2016. "Human-environment interactions within the West Liao River Basin in Northeastern China during the Holocene Optimum." Quaternary International 426, no. : 10-17.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2016 in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
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Xin Jia; Guanghui Dong; Lin Wang; Minmin Ma; Harry Lee; Zhancang Zhang; Fahu Chen. How humans inhabited the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau during the Little Ice Age: A case study at Hualong County, Qinghai Province, China. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 2016, 7, 27 -36.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Guanghui Dong, Lin Wang, Minmin Ma, Harry Lee, Zhancang Zhang, Fahu Chen. How humans inhabited the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau during the Little Ice Age: A case study at Hualong County, Qinghai Province, China. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 2016; 7 ():27-36.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Guanghui Dong; Lin Wang; Minmin Ma; Harry Lee; Zhancang Zhang; Fahu Chen. 2016. "How humans inhabited the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau during the Little Ice Age: A case study at Hualong County, Qinghai Province, China." Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 7, no. : 27-36.

Research article
Published: 08 February 2016 in The Holocene
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Despite the proposed climate–human connection in the West Liao River Basin during the Bronze Age, the question of how climate change could have affected the subsistence strategies, and consequently, the cultural transformation from the Lower Xiajiadian to the Upper Xiajiadian periods, has never been systematically explored. Based on radiocarbon dating and the analysis of plant remains recovered by flotation, as well as the spatial distribution of archaeological sites, this study investigates the subsistence strategies of ancient people and their influence on cultural development in the West Liao River Basin during the Lower Xiajiadian (3900–3400 cal. yr BP) and Upper Xiajiadian periods (3000–2500 cal. yr BP). Carbonized seeds collected from 13 archaeological sites reveal that people engaged in millet-based agriculture in this area throughout the Bronze Age. Favorable climate during the Holocene Optimum promoted millet farming among the Lower Xiajiadian Culture. The end of the Holocene Optimum and its associated climate deterioration led to agricultural shrinkage in the Upper Xiajiadian period, which is revealed by the reduced amount of carbonized millet seeds and the ratio between foxtail millet and broomcorn millet. Climate deterioration led to diverse subsistence strategies, resulting in the dispersal of human settlements and the differentiation of the spatial distributions of different groups. People with millet-based subsistence strategies retreated southward, while people with animal husbandry and hunting-based subsistence strategies migrated westward. The above findings may offer insights in comprehending how climate deterioration could have affected the multi-facets of human societies in the West Liao River Basin, which is a climatically sensitive region, in Chinese prehistory.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Yonggang Sun; Lin Wang; Wenfeng Sun; Zhijun Zhao; Harry Lee; Wenbo Huang; Shuangye Wu; Huayu Lu. The transition of human subsistence strategies in relation to climate change during the Bronze Age in the West Liao River Basin, Northeast China. The Holocene 2016, 26, 781 -789.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Yonggang Sun, Lin Wang, Wenfeng Sun, Zhijun Zhao, Harry Lee, Wenbo Huang, Shuangye Wu, Huayu Lu. The transition of human subsistence strategies in relation to climate change during the Bronze Age in the West Liao River Basin, Northeast China. The Holocene. 2016; 26 (5):781-789.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Yonggang Sun; Lin Wang; Wenfeng Sun; Zhijun Zhao; Harry Lee; Wenbo Huang; Shuangye Wu; Huayu Lu. 2016. "The transition of human subsistence strategies in relation to climate change during the Bronze Age in the West Liao River Basin, Northeast China." The Holocene 26, no. 5: 781-789.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2013 in Journal of Archaeological Science
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Guanghui Dong; Xin Jia; Robert Elston; Fahu Chen; Shuicheng Li; Lin Wang; Linhai Cai; Chengbang An. Spatial and temporal variety of prehistoric human settlement and its influencing factors in the upper Yellow River valley, Qinghai Province, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 2013, 40, 2538 -2546.

AMA Style

Guanghui Dong, Xin Jia, Robert Elston, Fahu Chen, Shuicheng Li, Lin Wang, Linhai Cai, Chengbang An. Spatial and temporal variety of prehistoric human settlement and its influencing factors in the upper Yellow River valley, Qinghai Province, China. Journal of Archaeological Science. 2013; 40 (5):2538-2546.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guanghui Dong; Xin Jia; Robert Elston; Fahu Chen; Shuicheng Li; Lin Wang; Linhai Cai; Chengbang An. 2013. "Spatial and temporal variety of prehistoric human settlement and its influencing factors in the upper Yellow River valley, Qinghai Province, China." Journal of Archaeological Science 40, no. 5: 2538-2546.

Research article
Published: 19 July 2012 in The Holocene
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Based on radiocarbon dating and our analysis of plant and animal remains from Buziping, a Majiayao (5300–4300 BP) and Qijia (4200–3800 BP) period site located in Dingxi, Gansu Province, China, and our review of archaeobotanical studies in the Western Loess Plateau and adjacent areas, we discuss subsistence strategies during the Majiayao and Qijia periods. We also discuss the development of agriculture in the Western Loess Plateau and its influence on cultural expansion during the late Neolithic period. Humans settled at Buziping for the first time during the Majiayao period (4890–4710 cal. yr BP by 14C dating). Charred seeds from the site indicate that people engaged in millet-based agricultural production. People continued this type of agriculture during a second phase of occupation (4130–3880 cal. yr BP by 14C dating) during the Qijia period, but the proportion of foxtail millet to broomcorn millet increased from the Majiayao to Qijia period. Raising domestic animals was another aspect of subsistence during the Qijia period. The main domestic animals were likely pigs and dogs, although hunting of wild animals also took place. Subsistence at Buziping site was affected by the rapid development of intensive agriculture that diffused across eastern Gansu Province during the late Neolithic. Our work suggests that millet-based agriculture spread from east to west across the Western Loess Plateau and likely promoted the expansions of those two cultures in the area during the Majiayao period and early–mid Qijia period. Climate change might have also promoted Majiayao and Qijia expansions and probably facilitated the adoption of rain-fed agriculture in this region.

ACS Style

Xin Jia; Guanghui Dong; Hu Li; Katherine Brunson; Fahu Chen; Minmin Ma; Hui Wang; Chengbang An; Keren Zhang. The development of agriculture and its impact on cultural expansion during the late Neolithic in the Western Loess Plateau, China. The Holocene 2012, 23, 85 -92.

AMA Style

Xin Jia, Guanghui Dong, Hu Li, Katherine Brunson, Fahu Chen, Minmin Ma, Hui Wang, Chengbang An, Keren Zhang. The development of agriculture and its impact on cultural expansion during the late Neolithic in the Western Loess Plateau, China. The Holocene. 2012; 23 (1):85-92.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xin Jia; Guanghui Dong; Hu Li; Katherine Brunson; Fahu Chen; Minmin Ma; Hui Wang; Chengbang An; Keren Zhang. 2012. "The development of agriculture and its impact on cultural expansion during the late Neolithic in the Western Loess Plateau, China." The Holocene 23, no. 1: 85-92.