Holocene climate, dynamic landscapes and environmentally driven changes in human living conditions in Beijing

摘要: Abstract The Holocene (11,500 cal a B.P. to the present) is marked by beginning of Neolithic Age and origin agriculture. climatic changes have certainly influenced vegetation successions human living conditions. However, few studies attempted link palaeo-ecological data with archaeological evidence understand human-environmental interactions. Beijing, an early settlement ancient modern capital China, hotspot for studying activities development civilization in Eastern Asia. extensive literature on uninterrupted records from this region provide excellent opportunity explore how conditions since 12,000 cal Here, we use Beijing as case study quantitatively reconstruct dynamic landscapes Plain based compiled pollen literature. results show that mean annual temperature curve during was similar 90–30°N has been opposite middle late Holocene. precipitation consistent those other monsoon regions Northern Hemisphere. rising maximum monthly 3330 cal indicates presence more frequent rainstorms summer, which suggests city government should prepare heavy rainfalls related geological disasters. In addition, sites settlements first occurred montane before spreading into plains warmer wetter climate being suitable farming probably drove migration. This example past current weather potential environments may occur under global warming trend.