RECONSTRUCTION OF PREHISTORIC CROPLAND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN HEHUANG VALLEY

Hehuang Valley is a historically significant agricultural region on the Tibetan Plateau in China.Based on archaeological data, historical literature, GIS technology, this paper reconstructs the spatial pattern of cropland in the prehistoric period in Hehuang Valley, focus on three stages of Majiayao culture, Qijia culture and Cayo culture.The results show that: (1) In the Majiayao culture period (5290 a BP-4055 a BP), the total population reached 27,340 and the estimated cropland area was 55228 hm.The warm and humid climate promoted the development of agriculture.(2) During the Qijia Culture period (4300 a BP-4000 a BP), the climate became cold and dry, the cropland area decreased significantly to 9792 hmand the population decreased to 4848.(3) During the Cayo Culture period (3600 a BP-2066 a BP), the climate tended to be dry and cold, the total population reached 46,145, and the cropland area increased significantly to 67556 hm.Cropland expanded to high-altitude areas.The study reveals that changes in prehistoric cropland area in Hehuang Valley of China were closely linked to population, climate, cultural succession, and livelihood strategies, providing important historical insights into prehistoric human responses to environmental change.