Preliminary Study On The Interaction Between Human-environment In The Western-central Northeastern China From Xia Dynasty To Warring States Period Via Geographic Information System (GIS)

With the help of Geographic Information System (GIS), this paper aims to buildthe database of the archaeological site distribution in the western-central northeasternChina from Xia Dynasty to Warring States Period, in order to figure out the patternsof the sites’ distribution. Based on the database, it is possible to investigate the modelsrelated to social complexity and to explore the connection between settlement patternsand subsistence variables which are linked with paleoenvironment change. All thedata collected above will be used to answer the questions how and why the patternsformed and solidified.The methods applied in this paper are derived from GIS, such as digital terrainanalysis, spatial overlay analysis, buffer analysis, space form analysis, spaceclustering analysis, optimal path analysis.The database is built based on thearchaeological sites categorized in the following complexes–the Lower Xiajiadianand the Upper Xiajiadian cultural complexes in Liaoxi mountain area, Machengzicultural complex in the northern Liaodong, and Xituanshan cultural complex inSonghua River II region.According to the reseach results, both the favorable natural environment&resources and the agency of humans play significant roles in the process of the socialdevelopment. It is concluded that mixed subsistence strategies were employed,including food production, herding, fishing, and hunter-gathering. Agriculturalpractice was dominant among the subsistence patterns above, while the others wereadopted variably based on local ecological and cultural background.