China Shandong Evolution Model Chapter 9: Archaeological Signatures and Geothermal Context of the Bashan Sequence

The Limit-Stress-Driven Evolution (LSED) framework posits that the emergence of the sapiens system state in East Asia during MIS 4–2 required the simultaneous satisfaction of Energy (E), Cognitive (C), and Social (S) thresholds over approximately 40–50 generations. This chapter operationalises the theoretical constructs into measurable archaeological proxies—Hominin-Density Index (HDI), coefficient of variation (CV) of lithic dimensions, Exchange-network Marker Proportion (EMP), and Community-similarity Index (CI, Morisita–Horn)—and applies them to the Bashan (跋山) stratigraphic sequence (Yishui County, Shandong山东沂水县). I establish that the Luxi geothermal anomaly—bounded by the Yishu Fault Zone (east) and the eastern flank of the Liaokao Fault Zone(聊考断裂带) (west) —is the only East Asian region whose geothermal subsidy (62–71 mW/m²; +2–4°C local warming) could have lowered the thermodynamic threshold (Mmin) during MIS 4–2. The Dongchangfu District Water Resources Chronicle (2002) and the Liaocheng groundwater plan (2021–2035) confirm a subsurface topography of 13 buried basement uplifts (潜凸起) alternating with depressions, forming a double-fault corridor that concentrates geothermal heat flow into the Ordovician carbonate reservoir at 600–900 m depth. I formalise a reverse deduction: if any East Asian population achieved the sapiens system state (P), it must have satisfied both the molecular precondition (G: AMBN A253G) and the thermodynamic precondition (H: sustained geothermal subsidy). [Zhoukoudian (周口店) Standing Transition State Ape-Man] satisfies G but does not satisfy H (does not meet the phase transition criterion). [Nihewan (泥河湾) Basin Standing Transitional Ape-Man]: ① The G-state has not yet been detected; to date, “glaze protein” has not been successfully extracted from the ancient human remains found at Nihewan, making it currently impossible to determine the presence or status of A253G. ②¬H: Only background geothermal activity (§9.5.6; does not meet the threshold defined for reducing Mmin). Given that ¬H ⇒ ¬P, the Nihewan Basin does not satisfy the physical prerequisite (¬P) for the Homo sapiens systematics framework (i.e., it does not meet the phase transition criterion). Thus, only the Luxi(鲁西) Corridor satisfies the condition “H”. As the only site within the corridor possessing a continuous stratigraphic sequence, Bashan is identified as a key credible location. The empirical model for Bashan shows qualitative consistency with the LSED expectations (robs= −0.72, neff ≈ 6.2, 95% CI: [−0.90, −0.31]), though formal confirmation requires additional independent stratigraphic sequences.