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Phytolith and diatom evidence for rice exploitation and environmental changes during the early mid-Holocene in the Yangtze Delta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Xinxin Zuo ,
Houyuan Lu ,
Zhen Li ,
Bing Song ,
Deke Xu ,
Yafei Zou ,
Can Wang ,
Xiujia Huan  and
Keyang He
Xinxin Zuo*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China
Houyuan Lu*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
Zhen Li
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
Bing Song
Affiliation:
Quaternary Geology Department, Geological Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea
Deke Xu
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
Yafei Zou
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
Can Wang
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
Xiujia Huan
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
Keyang He
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
*
*Corresponding author.
**Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China. E-mail addresses:zuoxinxin@live.cn, zuoxinxin@mail.iggcas.ac.cn(X. Zuo)
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Abstract

Using phytolith analysis from a well-dated and high-resolution sediment sequence in the apex of northern Yangtze Delta, we investigate environmental changes, the rise and decline of rice exploitation and possible impacts of environment on rice exploitation during the early mid-Holocene. The phytolith sequence documents a relatively warm and dry interval during ca.9000 to 8200 cal yr BP, followed by climatic amelioration before 7200 cal yr BP. Phytolith evidence indicates that rice exploitation at the apex of northern Yangtze Delta began at 8200 cal yr BP, flourished by 7700 cal yr BP and ceased after 7400 cal yr BP. The first emergence of marine diatom species approximately 7300 cal yr BP likely indicates an accelerated sea-level rise. The apparent correlation of the initiation of rice exploitation with climatic amelioration during the early mid-Holocene suggests that climatic changes may have played an important role in facilitating rice exploitation. Both the ideal climatic conditions and stable sea level enabled flourishing rice exploitation during 8200 to 7400 cal yr BP. Although the climate remained warm and wet after 7400 cal yr BP, local sea-level rise possibly led to the termination of earlier rice exploitation at this site of the northern Yangtze Delta.

Keywords

Yangtze DeltaRice exploitationPhytolithsClimate changeHoloceneSea-level rise
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 86 , Issue 3 , November 2016 , pp. 304 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington 2016

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