Recognition of sea-level change duringthe Neolithic period in the Jiangsu Area, East China

Based on the detailed analyses, multi-proxies such as AMS 14 C dating, elevation measurements with GPS-CORS, and the identification of marine micropaleontology are used to research the archaeological stratums archived in the Qingdun site of Haian, the Taozhuang site and Kaizhuang site of Dongtai, and the Luotuodun site of Yixing, respectively. The results show that the depth of 389–489 cm (13.1–8.5 cal ka BP, 1985 Yellow Sea Datum - 0.65–1.65 m) of Qingdun site, the depth of 156–230 cm (12.6–9.2 cal ka BP, 1985 Yellow Sea Datum 0.97–0.23 m) of Taozhuang site, the depth of 228–390 cm (10.3–7.8 cal ka BP, 1985 Yellow Sea Datum 0.03–1.59 m) of Kaizhaung site, and the depth of 255–279 cm (12.0–9.2 cal ka BP, 1985 Yellow Sea Datum 1.08–1.84 m) of Qingdun site are significant marine sedimentary strata. These indicate that there was still a shallow sea sedimentary environment from the beginning of the Holocene to 7.8 cal ka BP in the region of Haian and Dongtai in north Jiangsu. Meanwhile, there was also a shallow sea environment from the beginning of the Holocene to 9.2 cal ka BP to the west of Taihu Lake in south Jiangsu. These research findings not only improve the resolution of Holocene sea level changes, but also provide scientific clues and evidence for searching the early Neolithic sites in Jiangsu. In addition, the elevations of 62 ancient wells and 102 ash pits under the Chenghu Lake of Suzhou were measured using the GPS-CORS. These measured data suggest that in the Songze cultural period, the Liangzhu cultural period, the Xia-Shang-Zhou dynasties and the Warring States period, the 1985 Yellow Sea Datum of the top of the wells and ash pits are mostly in between 0 - 2 m, and their bottom elevations are mostly around - 3 m. In the six dynasties and the Song Dynasty, some 1985 Yellow Sea Datum of the top of the wells and ash pits are lower than - 1 m, while some bottom elevations are lower than - 4 m. This evidence demonstrates that the forming age of Chenghu Lake in Suzhou is in the period after the Song Dynasty.