Analysis on environmental proxies of the Holocene loess profile near Taosi Site in Linfen Basin

Li, T., Mo, D., Hu, K., Wang, H., Guo, Y., Zhang, Y. and Ren, X. (2013) Analysis on environmental proxies of the Holocene loess profile near Taosi Site in Linfen Basin. Beijing Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue Ban)/Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 49(4), pp. 628-634.

Abstract

The ZLTC (Zhongliangtiechang) profile lies outside the north wall of Taosi Site in Linfen Basin, Shanxi, China. Based on systematic measurement and analysis of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, Rb/Sr ratio and CaCO3, and combining the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages and the archaeological data, the authors investigate the regional environment change during the Holocene and the relationship between environment and human activities. The results show that, during the early Holocene (10.5 to 9.6 kaBP), the East Asian winter monsoon intensity is weak, and the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis enhances remarkably, thus the climate turns from cool-dry to warm-wet; during the early-middle Holocene (9.6 to 4.9 kaBP), the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis is at its maximum in the profile, thus the climate is warm-wet; during the middle-late Holocene (4.9 to 2.5 kaBP), the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis diminishes gradually, thus the climate turns to warm-dry; during the late Holocene (2.5 kaBP to present), the East Asian winter monsoon intensity is strong, the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis is weak, thus the climate turns to cool-dry. The warm-wet climate correlates well with the development of culture, while the vegetation degradation could be influenced by climate and human activities in cool-dry period.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ren, Dr Xiaolin
• Authors: Li, T., Mo, D., Hu, K., Wang, H., Guo, Y., Zhang, Y., and Ren, X.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Journal Name: Beijing Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue Ban)/Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis
• ISSN: 0479-8023

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