Abstract:

The West Liaohe River Basin is a typical ecotone and eco-vulnerable zone in northern China. Shaped by the long-term human's overuse, regional eco-environment in West Liaohe River Basin was seriously destroyed, which has threatened the harmonious and sustainable development of future human and nature relationships. Archeological studies show multifold cultures had evolved in this typical area since Holocene and civilization has been lasted through to present. By using GIS software, the authors first build DEM model of the study area and cultural landscape layers of different phases during the early historic period.They then overlay them to create DEM model of cultural landscapes of the early historic period, which distinctly revealed the relationships between distribution of cultural landscapes and natural landscape. All the analyses are based on four different spatial scales, which are typical archaeological site, Jiaolaihe River Valley, Aohan Banner and Chifeng area. Based on these studies, this paper identifies the basic evolving modes of the vertical change and horizontal change of the cultural landscapes during the earlier historic period of Holocene in West Liaohe River Basin. At the smaller scales of the three typical archaeological sites and Jiaolaihe River Basin, cultural landscapes mainly showed vertical change, including vertical expansion and downwards migration. Vertical changes of cultural landscapes had close relationships with cultural development, changes of production modes and life styles, and evolution of geomorphic landscapes. Evolution of the geomorphic landscapes, especially the river terraces, was an important driving factor. Configuration of small or middle scales of landform units and water sources, development of river systems, and combination of landform units directly influenced the formation of cultural landscapes at these scales. At the larger scales of Aohan Banner and Chifeng area, cultural landscapes mainly showed horizontal change. From Xiaohexi Culture to Hongshan Culture, cultures of this region were in expansion period, mainly featuring the spatial expansion of cultural scales. During Xiaoheyan Culture period, culture was in a period of contraction. After Xiaoheyan Culture period, culture of this region entered into a new expansion period again. Heterogeneity of regional natural landscape shows great influence on the formation of cultural landscape patterns during the earlier historic period.

Key words: West Liaohe River Basin, early historic period, cultural landscape pattern