Abstract:
The relationship between paleoenvironment and ancient civilization evolution of the Tianshan Corridor is one of the important issues in the study of the community of life for human being and the nature of the Silk Road. Taking the peat sedimentary profile of the Bayanbulak basin as research material, using pollen as proxy index of paleoclimate, and combining the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and archaeological data, we revealed the vegetation succession history, environmental change, and human activity evolution in the middle of Tianshan Corridor during the late Holocene. Results show that: (1) during the Bronze Age (
3877~
2697 cal. aBP), the pollen was mainly composed of desert vegetation, with a positive score for PCA axis 1 and a negative score for PCA axis 2. The climate was characterized by cold and dry conditions. Human activities were concentrated in Kaidu and Kongque River basin. (2) From the early Iron Age to the Qin-Han Dynasties (
2697~
1756 cal. aBP), the pollen of desert vegetation decreased,
Betula had a significant advantage, and the members of Family Poaceae increased. The PCA score was opposite to that of the Bronze Age, and the climate changed to warm and humid. Pollens of human-domesticated Poaceae species had occurred frequently, early cultivation emerged in desert edge oasis, and human activity centers moved westward to the area of Luntai County. (3) From the Three Kingdoms to Tang Dynasty (
1756~850 cal. aBP), the percentage of the Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and
Picea increased and reached the peak on the profile. The humidity increased and entered a cold-humid period. Good natural conditions favored the development of large oases at the edge of desert. The percentage of human planted crops had increased, and agricultural civilization further developed, providing stable material resources for human production and life. The focus of human activities had shifted to the Kuche River and Weigan River basins.