Experts Blame River Changes for End of Ancient Neolithic Culture

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 05, 2002

Experts Blame River Changes for End of Ancient Neolithic Culture

Chinese archeologists say the deterioration of water environment contributed to the disappearance of a Neolithic culture in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Chinese archeologists say the deterioration of water environment contributed to the disappearance of a Neolithic culture in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The Hemudu Neolithic site, covering an area of 40,000 square meters, can be dated back 7,000 years. However, it ended abruptly about 2,000 years later.

The former curator of Hemudu Museum, Shao Jiuhua, says at least two floods occurred during the Neolithic period. The second not only washed away the inhabitants' houses, but also forced the course of a local river eastward to the ocean.

Shao says, large quantities of wood piles and posts lying in a crisscross fashion in a 2,800-square-meter area of the historical site give strong evidence of a flood. A silt layer which becomes thicker eastward makes additional proof.

As a result of the change of the river course, sea water poured on to local farms twice a day. The land eventually became too salty for crops, which forced the residents to leave.

Archeologists have found over 6,700 artifacts at the Hemudu Neolithic site, ranging from production tools to art works. The Hemudu culture is seen as one the beginnings of Chinese civilization.