TEMPORAL-SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND OF MIDDLE HOLOCENE SETTLEMENTS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF LAIZHOU BAY, NORTHERN SHANDONG, CHINA.

With increasing collaboration between archeology and natural sciences, the interactions between paleocultures and paleoenvironment have received more attention in recent years. In this investigation, the authors used nine radiocarbon dates from five profiles to explore the environmental evolution of the south coast of Laizhou Bay, and investigated the spatial-temporal distributions of archeological sites in the Middle Holocene as well as discussed the relationships between human cultures and environmental changes. The results show that the Neolithic archeological sites were mainly distributed in the flat (slopes < 4°) marine plain and alluvial plains with elevations below 29 m, and the quantity and frequency of archeological sites exhibited an early ascending and later descending trend. Multiple data such as those of slope and extent close to the riverside were integrated to indicate that the ability of the ancients to adapt to the environment gradually increased. Further comparison revealed the correlation among Holocene climate change and environmental evolution and the Neolithic cultural development in the study area, which concerns the generally improved living conditions, the development of the primitive culture whereas degeneration coincided with the culture's transition or interruption. The results highlight the geographical factors in the development of prehistoric culture, especially the climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]