In The Upper Reaches Of The Neolithic Culture In The Pearl River Basin Study

'People can't survive and develop without water, so water is the physical essential resource for both human beings and other creatures, as well as being very important in human culture. The Pearl River flowing through southern China is the fourth largest river in China, with unique ecological environment and abundant water resource. The Upper Middle Pearl River valley is a relatively independent physical geographical unit which is reflected in the region's Neolithic archaeological culture. As one of the cradles of the Chinese nation's ancient civilization, the Neolithic culture in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley is an important component of the Neolithic culture of China, and even of East Asia.This article consists of three parts:introduction, main text and conclusion.The contents of introduction is divided into 4 parts:(1) The scope and content of this research; (2) The significance of this research; (3) The research methods and problem solving; (4) The current literature review. The main text is divided into seven chapters.The first chapter,"An introduction to the natural geographical and ecological environment of the Upper Middle Pearl River valley", discusses the characteristics of the natural geographical and ecological environment of this river valley, in terms of its location, natural ecological environment, major water systems, seven areas and so on. Chapterâ…¡, is about the different phases of the Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley and how they can also be separated into 7 different regional cultures. These 7 regions are in the Lijiang valley, Liujiang valley, Yujiang valley, Qianjiang-Xunjiang valley, Zuojiang valley, Youjiang valley, and Red River valley. In terms of the archaeological findings of Neolithic culture, we discuss the Neolithic culture characteristics of the major sites in every valley. By looking at the different layers, the artifacts'characteristic and by using C14 dating, we can identify the different ages of Neolithic culture in every valley. Because of the large number sites of rich content in this area, we can discuss all features of Neolithic culture from its beginning right through to advanced Neolithic culture.Chapterâ…¢, is entitled "The development stages and characteristics of the Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley". In this chapter, you will find that the Neolithic cultures in this region had undergone a process from its beginning right through to advanced Neolithic, and there were different basic characteristics in different stage.Chapterâ…£, is entitled "The relationships between the regional Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley". This discusses "The relationships between the different regional Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley", and" The relationships overtime of the regional Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley". These two parts, from the horizontal and vertical point of view respectively, discuss the relationship of the Neolithic cultures in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley, the relationship between the Neolithic culture and the previous Late Paleolithic culture of this area, and the relationship between the Neolithic culture and the later culture in Shang and Zhou Dynasties in the same area.Chapterâ…¤, "The Neolithic culture's relationship between the Upper Middle Pearl River valley and the surrounding areas", discusses the Neolithic culture's relationship between the Upper Middle Pearl River valley and the Red River valley of Vietnam, the valleys of rivers in Hainan Island, the valleys of Coastal Rivers in the southern Guangxi, the coastal lower Pearl River area, and the middle reaches of Yangtze River. Thus it can be seen that, this proves there is both common identity and diversity between the Neolithic cultures of the Upper Middle Pearl River valley and the surrounding areas'. This common identity and this diversity show that the exchanges between different cultures, the relationship between the formation of cultural characteristics and the conditions of physical geography.Chapterâ…¥"The Neolithic social economy of the Upper Middle Pearl River valley", discusses a constant reproach of its social economic formation including gathering, hunting and fishing, the introduction of rice agriculture, people's choice of residence environment, and the impact of the karst terrain and a maritime climate on the Neolithic culture of the Upper Middle Pearl River valley. It shows that the. features of the Neolithic culture of the Upper Middle Pearl River valley were gathering, hunting and fishing. These features of its formation is closely allied to the physical geographical environment, and it's subtropical and tropical climates. In sectionâ…¢, we discuss the Neolithic tombs in this region, including the introduction, several special Neolithic funerary customs and connotations, and causes.Chapterâ…¦, "The general characteristics and status of the Neolithic culture in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley", discusses its general characteristics and its status in the East Asia and the Southeast Asia.The Conclusion, includes the characteristics, status, types of the Neolithic culture in the Upper Middle Pearl River valley, and concludes that this Neolithic culture which is located in Southern East Asia, continued the. Late Paleolithic cultural traditions of this region and formed an unique culture region. The characteristics of this culture region are a gathering, fishing and hunting economy, which is different from the dry land agriculture of Yellow River Valley, and the rice agriculture of Yangtze River Valley.