Exploring Human Settlement Shifts in China's Bronze Age Qaidam Basin

The Qaidam Basin, nestled on the Tibetan Plateau, has long intrigued researchers due to its prehistoric settlement patterns. However, a lack of precise data has made it challenging to understand the Bronze Age chronology and how ancient people used the landscape. Recently, scientists uncovered 24 new radiocarbon dates from eight archaeological sites in the basin. These findings, combined with existing data and spatial analysis, show that the basin was continuously inhabited from around 3600 to 2500 years ago. Interestingly, around 3350 years ago, there was a shift from large lowland settlements to smaller, temporary high-altitude structures. This change coincides with periods of climate deterioration, suggesting that people adapted their living strategies to cope with the changing environment. This research not only provides a more detailed timeline for the Qaidam Basin's Bronze Age but also sheds light on how humans interacted with their high-altitude surroundings during the late prehistoric period.

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