Study on the Environmental and Cultural Background of the Formation and the Location Selection of Taosi Site

WANG Hai-bin;MO Duo-wen;LI Tuo-yu;College of Urban and Environmental Sciences,Peking University;MOE Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-sand Control,Beijing Normal University;

Taosi Site;;environmental background;;cultural background;;palaeogeomorphology;;palaeohydrology

Taosi site was located in Linfen,Shanxi Province,which was considered as the pre-historical Capital in the middle reaches of the Yellow River,and was earlier than Xia Dynasty.Based on the researches of the Lifen area and the Taosi Site regional environmental conditions,and combining with regional archeology cultural development,the cause of formation and the influence factors of the Taosi Site selection were discussed.The results showed that the warm and humid paleoclimatic conditions from the mid-Holocene to the Taosi Culture period,rich land and water resources made sure that the Neolithic culture of the Linfen area developed continuously.By the middle and late Yangshao period the Neolithic cultures of the Central Plains and the northern areas were gained rapid development.Meanwhile,the Linfen area was not only located in the center of the Neolithic culture well-developed region,but also on the important pathway for the cultural exchanges.It was responsible for the cultural exchanges between the core area of the Central Plains and the northern,northeast regions,also between the eastern and the western regions.The regional culture dominant position of the Linfen area gradually displayed due to the superior natural geographical location.During the Taosi Culture period,besides Linfen area,other places of the core area of the Central Plain suffered serious flooding disasters,such as Luoyang Basin,Guanzhong Basin.So the culture of Linfen area got a further development and became the cultural center.In the Taosi Culture period,the Loess Plateau where theancient city had been located was flat and wide.The gullies had not cut yet,while the Nan River and the Songcungou were still wide and shallow rivers.The Loess Plateau was 50mhigher than the plain ground,it was conducive to fortification and avoiding flooding.Withal,the Nan River and the Songcungou could provide stable and rich water resources due to geological and climatic factors.Therefore,Loess Plateau became the ideal place to construct the ancient city.