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Agricultural Economic Transformations and Their Impacting Factors around 4000 BP in the Hexi Corridor, Northwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Haiming Li

    (College of Humanities & Social Development, Institute of Chinese Agricultural Civilization, Agricultural Archaeology Research Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Nathaniel James

    (Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA)

  • Junwei Chen

    (School of Geography, Institute of Environmental Archaeology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Shanjia Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730013, China)

  • Linyao Du

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730013, China)

  • Yishi Yang

    (Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Lanzhou 730015, China)

  • Guoke Chen

    (Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Lanzhou 730015, China)

  • Minmin Ma

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730013, China)

  • Xin Jia

    (School of Geography, Institute of Environmental Archaeology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract

By 4000 BP, trans-Eurasian agricultural exchanges increased across the Hexi Corridor. However, the nature and timing of many early prehistoric agricultural exchanges remain unclear. We present systematically collected archaeobotanical data from the ancient Haizang site (3899–3601 cal a BP) within the Hexi Corridor. Adding to previous archaeobotanical studies of the Hexi Corridor, we find that agricultural production transformed from purely millet-based agriculture during the Machang Period (4300–4000) to predominantly millet-based agriculture increasingly supplemented with wheat and barley during the Xichengyi and Qijia periods (4000–3600 BP). These transformations are likely due to adaption to a cooler and drier climate through cultural exchange. A warm and humid climate during 4300–4000 BP likely promoted millet agriculture, Machang cultural expansion westward, and occupation across the Hexi corridor. However, after the “4.2 ka BP cold event” people adopted wheat and barley from the West to make up for declining millet agricultural productivity. This adoption began first with the Xichengyi culture, and soon spread further eastward within the Hexi Corridor to the Qijia culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Haiming Li & Nathaniel James & Junwei Chen & Shanjia Zhang & Linyao Du & Yishi Yang & Guoke Chen & Minmin Ma & Xin Jia, 2023. "Agricultural Economic Transformations and Their Impacting Factors around 4000 BP in the Hexi Corridor, Northwest China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:425-:d:1059450
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephan Barisitz, 2017. "Central Asia and the Silk Road," Studies in Economic History, Springer, number 978-3-319-51213-6, June.
    2. Daiwei Wang & Tarik C. Gouhier & Bruce A. Menge & Auroop R. Ganguly, 2015. "Intensification and spatial homogenization of coastal upwelling under climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 518(7539), pages 390-394, February.
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