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Abstract Shell mounds are the foremost type of Neolithic sites found in coastal areas of South China. These sites can provide significant information on prehistoric human activity and climate change; however, only a few shell mounds have a systematic chronology in South China. In this study, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and 14C dating techniques were employed to establish a systemic chronological framework for a Neolithic shell mound found at Pingfengshan in the coastal area of Fujian Province, southern China. In addition, the possible reasons for human coastal migrations that took place during this specific period, along with their associations with climate change, are discussed. The results showed that the obtained OSL ages were reliable and consistent with the 14C chronology. The age of the Pingfengshan site was found to be approximately 4.0–3.3 ka. Additionally, it was found that post-depositional anthropogenic disturbances can have various influences on the resultant OSL and 14C ages. Cross-validation between different dating methods proved to be of great importance to adequately determine the chronology in archaeological sites. The study revealed that climatic changes played a crucial role in prehistoric human migration during the Huangguashan cultural period (4.3–3.2 ka). Sea level fluctuation may have affected onshore living space and site selection of prehistoric settlements, and intensive winter monsoons may have caused the recession of the Huangguashan culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is the earliest geochronological evidence for the presence of humans in coastal Fujian, China. • Ancient humans have occupied this area within mid-Holocene (6–4 ka). • Sea level change can control the spatial distribution of prehistoric sites in the estuary area. • Climate events may be one of the main factors triggering cultural transformation. The South China coastal area provides important insights into China's prehistoric Marine life; however, the timing of ancient human activity during the Neolithic period in South China is still controversial, owing to the scarcity of a reliable chronology of archaeological sites. In this study, we presented the optically stimulated luminescence ages, which were derived from the medium-grained quartz at the Baitoushan site located along the coast of Fujian Province. Single-aliquot regenerative-dose measurements of red soil deposits from the site yielded internally and stratigraphically consistent ages (with errors) after excluding data that may be affected by sampling, thereby indicating the adequate reliability of the technique and the significant influence of field sampling process on the test results. The results showed that the ages of cultural deposit associated with the abundant sherds varied from 3.74 ± 0.21 ka to 5.96 ± 0.42 ka, thereby providing the earliest geochronological evidence for the presence of humans in the lower reach of Min River during the mid-Holocene. The period linked to Lower Tanshishan culture and Keqiutou cultures (to a first approximation) suggests a potentially favourable and moist environment; that is, ancient humans occupied this area within the mid-Holocene (6–4 ka). By a comprehensive comparison of environmental change factors, sea level change can control the spatial distribution of prehistoric sites in the estuary area, and climate events may be one of the main factors triggering cultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the technological origin of stamped hard pottery, one of the precursors to Chinese porcelain, developed in the Late Neolithic period of China. 160 ceramic sherds of stamped hard wares from the Nanshan site (5300–4300 cal. BP) and Yanzaidong site (5000–4300 cal. BP) were investigated through water absorption, Vickers hardness, petrography, ED-XRF, thermodilatometry, XRD, and SEM-EDS. The results indicate that two categories of samples exhibit commendable physical properties, comparable to stoneware, attributed to specific high-alumina clay with low fluxing elements (porcelain stone), fired at high temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1250 °C. The other categories of samples appear to be defective products during firing process, or have another raw material source, contributing to a diversity of pottery at the two sites. Nanshan and Yanzaidong unequivocally emerge as the earliest known production of stamped hard pottery, dating back to 5000 cal. BP, marking a revolutionary advancement in high-firing technology during the Late Neolithic China. • Earliest known stamped hard pottery (a precursor to porcelain) dating back to 5000BP • Late Neolithic China witnesses a high-firing revolution (firing to 1100–1270 °C). • Pioneering mass utilization of porcelain stone in pottery production. • Multidisciplinary analysis with a substantial sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]