A study on the spatial and temporal distribution of habitation sites in the Amur River Basin and its relationship with geographical environments

Wenqing Liu; Wenqing Liu

doi:10.3934/geosci.2024010

AIMS Geosciences

2024, Volume 10, Issue 1: 172-195. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2024010

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A study on the spatial and temporal distribution of habitation sites in the Amur River Basin and its relationship with geographical environments

Wenqing Liu ^{1,2
,
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1.
College of Engineering, Shantou University, Vernacular Architecture Surveying and Mapping Laboratory of Shantou University, China
2.
Center for Vernacular Architecture Research and Built Heritage Conservation of Shantou University, China

Received: 20 November 2023 Revised: 27 January 2024 Accepted: 27 February 2024 Published: 12 March 2024

I achieved the goal of collection and storage of 1944 habitation sites in the Amur River basin by creating the ARCGIS geo-spatial database. On this basis, by visualizing the distribution of the habitation sites in six archaeological periods and four geography plates, the spatial and temporal distribution information of these sites were interpreted quantitatively. Specifically, the quantitative indicators, such as nuclear density, location of gravity center, and cultural inheritance index, revealed the spatial distribution of the habitation sites. In addition, the elevation, slope, and distance value from the river were extracted through spatial analysis of ArcGIS, revealing the characteristics of the combination of sites and geographical conditions. The analysis of vegetation and temperature-climate conditions of the Amur River basin suggests the coupling relationship between ancient settlements and the natural environment: Arable land with an average annual temperature above 4 ℃ is the area with the highest concentration of large settlements, while other woodlands, grasslands and swamps with lower average annual temperatures are the main distribution areas of small nomadic sites.
- The Amur river basin,
- habitation sites,
- spatial and temporal distribution,
- geographical environment,
- GIS mapping
Citation: Wenqing Liu. A study on the spatial and temporal distribution of habitation sites in the Amur River Basin and its relationship with geographical environments[J]. AIMS Geosciences, 2024, 10(1): 172-195. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2024010

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Abstract

I achieved the goal of collection and storage of 1944 habitation sites in the Amur River basin by creating the ARCGIS geo-spatial database. On this basis, by visualizing the distribution of the habitation sites in six archaeological periods and four geography plates, the spatial and temporal distribution information of these sites were interpreted quantitatively. Specifically, the quantitative indicators, such as nuclear density, location of gravity center, and cultural inheritance index, revealed the spatial distribution of the habitation sites. In addition, the elevation, slope, and distance value from the river were extracted through spatial analysis of ArcGIS, revealing the characteristics of the combination of sites and geographical conditions. The analysis of vegetation and temperature-climate conditions of the Amur River basin suggests the coupling relationship between ancient settlements and the natural environment: Arable land with an average annual temperature above 4 ℃ is the area with the highest concentration of large settlements, while other woodlands, grasslands and swamps with lower average annual temperatures are the main distribution areas of small nomadic sites.

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