Archeological perspectives on the regional typology of historical settlements in the Heilongjiang river basin

The Heilongjiang River Basin (HRB), the largest cold river basin in northern China, exhibits a complex and regionally distinct settlement system. However, its intermediate-level regional typology remains underexplored, necessitating a systematic analysis of settlement distribution, spatial clustering, and morphological evolution. This article constructs a geographic information database of historical settlement sites in the HRB based on settlement inventories derived from cultural relic census records and regional archeological survey data. This study employs a structured spatiotemporal framework encompassing three distinct geographical regions and spanning four archaeological periods to examine the distribution characteristics of settlement sites. By integrating data from archeological excavations of selected sites, the research elucidates the regional typologies and morphological evolution of historical settlements in the basin, revealing their development principles and unique regional attributes. The findings indicate that the spatial distribution of historical settlement sites in the HRB presents distinct regional characteristics. The Sanjiang plain, the presence of ring-trench settlements, and the Yi-Luo city during the Han–Wei period (206 BCE – 420 CE) reflect a transitional phase from settlements to urban centers. In the Mudanjiang River Basin, the Bohai kingdom period is characterized by large-scale capital cities, a multi-capital system, and a comprehensive transportation network, forming a hierarchical urban system. The Songnen plain inherits the urban forms of the Bohai kingdom (698 – 926) as well as the Liao (916 – 1125) and Jin (1115 – 1234) dynasties, marked by the double-city connected capital pattern and standardized garrison settlements. Overall, historical settlements in the HRB exhibit prominent military defense attributes, simplified architectural forms, and regional differentiation. These characteristics provide valuable insights into the evolution of historical settlement patterns in Northeast China.