Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau profoundly affected regional to global climate, while tectonic processes also modulated continental chemical weathering by controlling erosion, sediment transport and residence times. However, it remains unclear whether chemical weathering in orogenic systems is primarily controlled by climate or tectonics, and how their relative roles evolve during early mountain building. The Early to Middle Eocene, spanning the transition from the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) to subsequent cooling, provides a natural framework to evaluate these controls. The Gonjo Basin on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau preserves a continuous similar to 53-38 Ma succession that offers a rare opportunity to assess climate-tectonic interactions. We integrate sedimentology, clay mineralogy, clay-sized geochemistry, lithium isotopes (delta Li-7), and detrital zircon UPb geochronology to reconstruct weathering intensity and sediment provenance. Three stages are identified. Stage I (53-51 Ma) was characterized by stable sediment routing dominated by Songpan-Ganzi and Northern Qiangtang sources. Coincident with the EECO stage, warm and humid conditions promoted intense chemical weathering, indicating a climate-dominated regime. During Stage II (51-43 Ma), enhanced magmatism and tectonic uplift in the Qiangtang Terrane increased physical erosion and modified provenance, while chemical weathering weakened in response to global cooling. After similar to 43 Ma (Stage III), continued cooling and further uplift restricted sediment routing to proximal sources and maintained weak chemical weathering. These results document a shift from climatic-dominated to coupled climate-tectonic control on chemical weathering during the Early to Middle Eocene, highlighting the role of sediment routing in constraining silicate weathering efficiency during early Tibetan Plateau growth.

Seasonal stratification in the Arabian Sea, driven by monsoon dynamics, fuels one of the planet’s most productive marine ecosystems while intensifying oxygen minimum zones—an interplay with biogeochemical implications, yet its long-term influence on upper-ocean stratification and oxygenation remains uncertain. Here, we present century-scale sea-surface temperature reconstructions and multiproxy evidence for robust Arabian Sea warming ( ~ 1.4 ± 0.4 °C) over the Holocene. We find that stronger summer monsoon winds during the early Holocene ( ~ 10–6 thousand years ago) enhanced vertical mixing and weakened upper-ocean stratification, whereas, subsequently, monsoon weakening and surface warming strengthened upper-ocean stratification and reduced ventilation. Multiproxy indicators reveal progressive deoxygenation through the Holocene. We infer that stronger stratification reduced vertical oxygen exchange between surface and intermediate waters, while regionally variable productivity-driven oxygen demand likely amplified deoxygenation. Our findings suggest that ongoing warming may enhance stratification and favor further expansion of the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone. Weakening of the Indian summer monsoon and surface warming during the mid-Holocene strengthened upper ocean stratification and reduced ventilation in the Arabian Sea, according to sea-surface temperature reconstructions and multiproxy records.

As the cradle of the Hemudu Civilization, the Ningshao Plain underwent substantial vegetation change during the Holocene, influenced by climatic fluctuations, sea-level changes, and anthropogenic activities. Understanding long-term vegetation responses to environmental dynamics is crucial for assessing ecosystem resilience under future climate scenarios. High-resolution pollen records from the HMD13 core in the Yaojiang Valley are used here to reconstruct early-mid Holocene vegetation change, with particular attention to biodiversity patterns and rates of turnover. The study reveals a number of important insights as follows: (1) During 8600-8400 cal yr BP, algal indicators suggest a sea-level rise near the study area, followed by a second phase of marine influence between 7800-7300 cal yr BP. (2) Between 7900-7100 cal yr BP, vegetation shifted from mixed forest dominated by deciduous oaks and pines to subtropical evergreen-deciduous broad-leaved forest dominated by evergreen oaks. (3) After 7100 cal yr BP, arboreal pollen declined and Poaceae (>38 mu m) and charcoal concentrations increased, reflecting intensified human activity. However, between 5900-5500 cal yr BP, Poaceae (>38 mu m) decreased sharply, possibly due to extreme climatic events such as floods. (4) Rates of vegetation change were primarily climate-driven prior to 7100 cal yr BP, peaking between 7100-6000 cal yr BP before gradually declining. Vegetation diversity also decreased following the emergence of the Hemudu culture. (5) Strong positive correlations are observed among vegetation change rate, diversity indices, and arboreal pollen percentage, while Poaceae (>38 mu m) pollen shows a negative correlation.

The Cenozoic evolution of the Central Myanmar Basin (CMB) remains debated, particularly the provenance of its sediments and the timing of Indo-Myanmar Range uplift. To address these issues, this study applies a multi-proxy provenance approach, including detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, heavy mineral analysis, and sandstone petrography, to the Minbu Sub-basin in the CMB, with comparisons to adjacent forearc and backarc sub-basins. Results show that from the Paleocene to Middle Eocene, the forearc Minbu and Chindwin sub-basins were primarily supplied by erosion from the Wuntho-Popa Arc, while the backarc Shwebo Sub-basin also received input from the Sodon Pluton. During the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene, intensified oblique convergence triggered segmented exhumation and uplift of the Indo-Myanmar Range, while new detritus was derived from the West Myanmar Terrane basement-related units. A significant influx of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis-compatible detritus during the Late Oligocene indicates enhanced sediment-routing connectivity with northern and eastern source regions and the likely early development of a proto-Irrawaddy sediment-routing system. By the Miocene, forearc provenance signatures became increasingly homogenized, reflecting integrated contributions from the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, Wuntho-Popa Arc, Sodon Pluton, and West Myanmar Terrane. This transition coincided with regional exhumation of the Indo-Myanmar Range, which established a western topographic barrier and shaped the modern basin system. These findings highlight the time-transgressive and spatially segmented nature of the Indo-Myanmar Range uplift and emphasize its fundamental role in restrcturing sediment-routing systems and driving the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the CMB.

Continental weathering plays a crucial role in regulating global climate, and siliciclastic sediments preserve valuable information for reconstructing terrestrial weathering and climate changes. However, few case studies focus on weathering signal propagation and possible alteration during complex source-to-sink processes at continental margins. In this study, elemental and lithium (Li) isotopic compositions of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) catchment and of Holocene sediments from Core MD06-3040 drilled from the East China Sea inner shelf are analyzed. delta Li-7 values of SPM range from -2.8 parts per thousand to -0.8 parts per thousand, systematically lower than the core sediments (-0.5-0.7 parts per thousand), despite their similar gain sizes as indicated by the Al/Si ratio. Evidenced by elevated Li/Al and delta Li-7 values, we infer that mineral differential setting physically alters particulate chemical compositions when SPM passes the estuary. This is further supported by a Li isotopic mass balance model, which quantitatively demonstrates a decline of weathering product by similar to 15 % in core sediments relative to the riverine SPM. Additionally, variations of weathering products and igneous components in marine core sediments can be affected by the monsoon climate, further altering terrestrial weathering signals at continental margins. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of weathering signal modifications through applying Li isotopes during the sediment source-to-sink process, offering novel insights into the complex interplay of weathering processes and sedimentary dynamics at continental margins.

Compared with the calc-alkaline rocks of subduction-related porphyry deposits, the genesis of the shoshonitic felsic intrusions associated with collision-related porphyry deposits in that Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Metallogenic Belt remains controversial. Chang'anchong Cu-Mo orebodies from this belt occur mostly in contact skarn and internal alteration zones between quartz monzonite and limestone, and provide an ideal case for the abovementioned controversy. Zircon U-Pb dating and previous molybdenite Re-Os age confirm the coeval formation of the Chang'anchong magmatism and mineralization at 35.2 Ma. The ore-related quartz monzonite is identified as shoshonitic I-type granite, characterized by low-K hornblende occurrences, and moderate SiO2 (65.46 69.37 %), high K2O (4.96 5.82 %), and low A/CNK (0.96 1.01). Furthermore, its geochemical profile enriched LILEs and LREEs, depleted HFSEs and HREEs, with high Sr/Y ratios (47 65), moderate Nb/Ta ratios (10.8 12.4) and Mg# of 48 55 distinguishes it from adkite or adakite-like rocks but previously defined shoshonitic felsic intrusion. The quartz monzonite is characterized by low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70713 0.70729), epsilon Nd(t) values (-5.7 -5.5) and epsilon Hf(t) values (-3.4 -0.3) with TDM2(Nd) of 1.29 1.31 Ga and TDM2 (Hf) of 1.14 1.34 Ga, suggesting a magma source derived from thickened lower-crust mixted with Neoproterozoic subduction-contaminated mantle-derived materials. The high LILEs contents, log(fO2) values, thermometry and Sr/Y values suggest that Chang'anchong quartz monzonite formed under conditions of water-rich, moderate-high temperature ( 800 degrees C) and oxygen fugacity within the garnet stability field for porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization. Together with previous research on regional tectono-magmatic activities, we infer that Chang'anchong shoshonitic granite was generated in the transtensional tectonic setting triggered by asthenosphere upwelling during the late-collision of the India and Eurasian plates, creating favorable conditions for porphyry mineralization in the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan Metallogenic Belt.

Northwest Yunnan, historically a pivotal corridor for interactions among various ethnic groups from northern and southwestern China, played a significant role in prehistoric human migrations and the dissemination of agriculture. The Jicha site, located at the south end of the Hengduan Mountains in northwest Yunnan, is an important metallurgical site occupied during the period from the Late Neolithic to the Early Iron Age. Based on phytolith analysis of soil samples collected from this site, this study reveals that the inhabitants from 3800 to 2200 cal BP primarily subsisted on cultivated plants. Within the relatively stable agricultural system, rice remained the staple diet, complemented by dryland crops such as wheat, foxtail millet, and common millet. Among these crops, wheat appeared around 3500 cal BP and became the dominant dryland crop by the Middle to Late Bronze Age. Additionally, the inhabitants diversified their diet by utilizing plant resources effectively from the surrounding areas. The evidence indicates the ancestors had an advanced capacity to organize social labor and developed relatively mature skills for cultivation management and crop processing, which were related to large-scale grain harvesting and processing or storing in specific areas and possibly further strengthened rice cultivation.

The long-term climate stability of the Earth has been attributed to the negative feedback between the rate of CO2-consuming silicate weathering and the partial pressure of atmospheric CO2. It is generally believed that the capability of silicate weathering in feedbacking climate is mainly associated with the rapid-eroding mountains where fresh bedrock adequately exposes. In contrast, the slow-eroding terrains are considered to have low climate sensitivity of silicate weathering due to the almost complete depletion of CO2-consuming Ca and Mg cations in highly-weathered top regolith. However, much of the Earth's history, marked by tectonic quiescence and slow erosion, has also exhibited significant climate stability. Here we demonstrate that the slow-eroding post-orogenic terrains exceptionally show strong temperature dependence of silicate weathering. This conclusion is drawn from a historical reconstruction of the weathering-derived clay production over the past similar to 23 million years, based on the sediments from the Ocean Drilling Program sites 1147/1148 offshore from the South China continent. We employ a sensitive proxy, the Rb/Zr ratio of fine sediments, showing that weathering of exposed granitic plutons closely tracks temperature changes. The resulting apparent activation energy (Ea) of silicate weathering (77.1 +/- 14.9 kJ/mol) is significantly higher than previous estimations for the slow-eroding terrains. Given the temporal and spatial dominance of slow-eroding terrains on global weathering flux, our findings suggest that the strong temperature dependence of weathering in these settings would largely enhance the sensitivity of global silicate weathering flux in response to temperature changes. This may help to explain the Earth's climate stability, particularly during periods of tectonic quiescence.

Since the onset of post-industrial global warming, there remains significant controversy over whether the evolution of the Indian Monsoon has deviated from the natural baseline of 'rainfall and heat synchronization'. This question requires a deep understanding of the long-term correlation between temperature and monsoon rainfall changes. We selected Yunlong Lake, a climate-sensitive subalpine lake located on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, to study this issue. We semi-quantitatively revealed warm-season temperature changes using the relative abundance of warm-preference planktic diatoms, namely Achnanthidium catenatum and Aulacoseira granulata var. angustissima, found in our diatom seasonal survey. Meanwhile, by examining the spatial pattern of surface diatom assemblages along the water depth gradient, two diatom-water depth transfer functions were constructed by using the modern analogue technique (MAT) and weighted average partial least squares regression (WAPLS) method, which were used to quantitatively reconstruct past lake water level changes. Comparison with independent modern monitoring records, the warm-water diatom indicators and the two diatom transfer functions suggest to be sensitive and reliable for reconstructing long-term temperature and rainfall changes in the Indian Monsoon domain. Based on this, and relying on the complete Holocene sedimentary records from the profundal zone of the lake, we reconstructed the warm-season temperature changes and lake water level fluctuations during the Holocene. Our reconstruction indicates that the temperature and rainfall in the Indian Monsoon domain exhibit a synchronous, 'three-stage' stepwise change over the multimillennial scale of the Holocene. These stages are roughly marked by the climate events of 8.2 ka and 4.2 ka, with the maximum warm-season temperature and lake water level occurring during the middle Holocene. We find that the maximum rainfall and heat during the middle Holocene in this region roughly coincide with the peak of warm-season (summer-autumn) insolation. This may be related to the significant thermal difference between land and ocean at that time, suggesting a synchronous change in rainfall and temperature in Indian Monsoon domain over long timescales.

The Yuanmou Basin in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, preserves one of the latest surviving records of Eurasian hominoids, yet the chronological and paleoenvironmental framework for this region remains poorly constrained. Here we analyze hyena coprolites from hominoid-bearing strata to establish a robust chronology and reconstruct the paleoecology of the Late Miocene. In-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of carbonate crystals within coprolites yielded a geologically reliable age of 7.7 +/- 1.4 Ma, providing the first direct radiometric constraint on hominoid survival in Yuanmou. Palynological analyses reveal a highly diverse vegetation assemblage encompassing coniferous, evergreen broadleaf, and deciduous taxa, with evidence of distinct vertical zonation. Bioclimatic Analysis (BA) indicates a subtropical humid climate, with mean annual temperature of 12.8-13.3 degrees C and mean annual precipitation of 1320-1409 mm, markedly cooler and wetter than today. These favorable climatic conditions, coupled with extensive dense forests, supplied abundant food resources for arboreal hominoids, as supported by dental adaptations for consuming hard fruits and nuts. Regional comparisons demonstrate that, unlike much of Eurasia where hominoids declined during the Late Miocene, Yunnan retained stable warm-humid environments buffered by the complex topography associated with Tibetan Plateau uplift and the evolving South Asian Monsoon. This long-term ecological stability made Yunnan a critical refuge for Late Miocene hominoids and underscores the importance of tectonic-climatic coupling in shaping primate evolutionary trajectories in East Asia.

Volcaniclastic rocks offer insights into magmatic and tectonic activity and a means to constrain depositional age by radioisotopic dating. However, these tasks can be challenging. An archetypal example is offered by the Upper Miocene strata of the SW Tarim Basin, where intercalated volcaniclastic intervals may decisively improve the existing chronostratigraphy, but detailed multidisciplinary analyses are indispensable to obtain robust chronostratigraphic constraints. Here, we coupled sedimentary facies analysis with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectrometry, heavy-mineral, whole-rock geochemical, and single-mineral isotopic analyses to determine the composition, eruption age, formation mechanism, and provenance of the volcaniclastic rocks. This case study demonstrates how the integration of multiple analytical methods can be applied in the identification, dating, and interpretation of volcaniclastic rocks. The studied volcaniclastic sandstones, laterally distributed over more than 200 km, were deposited in a sandy braided-river setting. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses reveal the dominance of volcanic-derived glass, clinopyroxene, sanidine, and/or analcime. The single-grain total fusion method on biotite/sanidine for 40Ar/39Ar dating yielded Upper Miocene (Tortonian) eruption ages of ca. 11 Ma. Zircon U-Pb age spectra suggest that volcanic detritus in most areas (between Qipan and Qimugan) was sourced from the eastern Pamir, whereas that in the Kekeya area was sourced from the western Kunlun region. All combined evidence suggests that these volcaniclastic intervals were deposited contemporaneously or penecontemporaneously with volcanism at ca. 11 Ma and constitute a regionally isochronous marker horizon. Volcanism was plausibly associated with the major Karakoram and Karakax strikeslip faults in the western Tibetan Plateau. Our results suggest that the accuracy of maximum depositional ages based on zircon U-Pb and biotite/sanidine 40Ar/39Ar ages is affected by several factors, including mineral fertility in volcanic source rocks. Selecting minerals with abundant autocrysts, applying high-resolution geochronometers, and/or integrating multiple geochronometers are recommended to enhance the accuracy of age constraints of volcanic/volcaniclastic rocks.

The uplift of the Tibet Plateau and its climatic effects have long been a hot topic in academic research. However, there is still significant controversy regarding the uplift history and related climate changes along the northern margin of the plateau. In this paper, we present sand wedge deposits from the base of the Wuqia Group (-20 Ma) on the southwestern Tarim Basin, representing the oldest reported sand wedges in the Tibetan Plateau. A comprehensive study was conducted on lithostratigraphy, sedimentary environment, and macroscopic -microscopic features of the sand wedge deposits. The results indicate that the lithostratigraphic succession preserving the sand wedge deposits consists mainly of lenticular conglomerates and cross-bedded gravelly sandstone interbedded with medium -thin-bedded mudstone, consistent with the braided fluvial environment. The sand wedge deposits commonly exhibit a V-shape geometry and are filled with gravelly sandstone, with the gravels arranged parallel to the walls of the wedge. The clasts of the wedge-filled sandstone are well-rounded and show a unimodal grain size distribution. The quartz surfaces commonly display dish-shaped and crescent-shaped impact features, indicating an eolian origin and an arid climate. Based on the relationship between the formation temperature of modern sand wedges, the atmospheric temperature gradient, and altitude, the reconstructed paleo-elevation of the sand wedge deposits at the base of the Wuqia Group in the southwestern Tarim Basin is approximately - 1000 m. These results indicate that the northern margin of the Tibet Plateau had already reached an elevation of - 1000 m during the Early Miocene, forming a seasonal arid and cold climate.

The Xiaodong Rockshelter, located on the southwest edge of Yunnan Province, is known as Southeast Asia's oldest (>43.5 ka) and northernmost Hoabinhian technocomplex site. The rockshelter preserves a rich record of animals, plants, and lithic artifacts excavated from sediments with a thickness of 4.6 m. New dating reported here indicates that the stratigraphic sequence spans from 65 ka to 15 ka. Several layers in the sedimentary sequence show evidence of fire, representative of the earliest evidence of fire by Hoabinhian population in a tropical-subtropical area. Here, we use magnetic methods coupled with mineral analysis to differentiate natural material from anthropogenically fired sediment. Archaeological fire events are characterized by higher magnetic concentrations and coarser magnetic grains compared to natural sediments. Significant magnetic enhancements were caused by the transformation of paramagnetic iron-bearing silicates into ferrimagnetic, spherical-shaped magnetite with increasing temperatures. Notably, a pronounced magnetic enhancement was observed between 1.8 and 2.5 m, spanning between 42 and 34 ka, indicating intense and concentrated heating, with estimated firing temperatures reaching ca. 400 degrees C. Additionally, three thin layers exhibiting magnetic enhancement were detected at depths of 3.65 m, 4.45 m, and 4.55 m, dating to ca. 55.6 ka, 62.3 ka and 64.8 ka respectively. This suggests three short-term fired ash deposits with minimal vertical magnetic enhancement, indicative of fire temperatures at ca. 350 degrees C. The magnetic method proves effective in detecting anthropogenic fire in archaeological sediments and potentially estimating ancient fire temperatures.

The Hoabinhian phenomenon was long considered a late Paleolithic technocomplex in Southeast Asia. Recently, the discovery of several Hoabinhian sites in southwest China largely expanded its tempo-spatial distributions and enriched the toolkit of Hoabinhian hunter-gatherers. The Hoabinbian stone tools are often made with river cobbles of large to medium size and rarely reach over 150 mm and 1 kg. However, this perspective towards Hoabinhian cutting tools can be updated with recurring tools made on massive and even giant boulders discovered at Chinese Hoabinhian sites. Here we present the mega lithic tools (> 150 mm, 2 kg) from the first and also the currently known earliest Hoabinhian site - Xiaodong rockshelter in southwest China. These tools' productional and techno-functional characteristics were described and illustrated, and whether they have utilitarian purposes was discussed. Although these massive, giant, heavy-duty Hoabinhian tools are morpho-typologically similar to those large-medium ones found at the site, their original size may endow new aspects (cognitive, technical, symbolic, social, etc.) to these tools that are still poorly understood. (c) 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Late Eocene artiodactyl and creodont tracks have been reported from the Jianchuan Basin, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, representing the first and the oldest reported mammal tracks in Yunnan Province, China. Sedimentary facies analysis indicates that tracks from the upper Baoxiangsi Formation and the lower Shuanghe Formation occurred in lake shore and flood plain environments, respectively. Based on the morphological analysis, the artiodactyl tracks from the Baoxiangsi Formation are attributed to Anoplotheriipus zeuctus. Combined with fossil records and morphological characteristics, the artiodactyl and creodont tracks were probably produced by entelodonts and mesonychids, respectively. The superimposition of artiodactyl tracks with varying sizes indicates coexistence of juveniles and adults as well as their gregarious behaviour. The co-occurrence of artiodactyl tracks and creodont tracks suggests the predator–prey relationship and ecological chain during the late Eocene. The presence of mammal tracks in the Jianchuan Basin coincides with the climate change from dry to wet in the late Eocene, implying the climatic and ecological effects of the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.

The in-depth research into how prehistoric human subsistence patterns responded to environmental shifts during the transcontinental spread of crops, livestock, and cultural interactions between the second and first millenium BC is a pivotal scientific endeavor that has aroused widespread attention. Northwest Yunnan, as a vital corridor for human migration, facilitated ancient human dispersals and fostered cultural exchanges. Analyzing prehistoric subsistence patterns in Yunnan, particularly in Northwest Yunnan, is crucial for understanding the dynamics and repercussions of agricultural expansion in Eurasia during prehistory. This study examined stable isotopes extracted from human bone and plant microfossils extracted from dental calculus samples collected from two sites in Northwest Yunnan. The comprehensive analysis revealed that the inhabitants of Northwest Yunnan during the first millenium BC primarily consumed C3 plants (including rice, wheat, barley, buckwheat, legumes, roots and tubers, etcetera), with C4 plants as supplements (such as millets), alongside a high intake of animal protein. With the integration of existing archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data from neighboring sites, what emerges is a composite subsistence strategy developed by the ancestors in Northwest Yunnan during the first millenium BC, characterized by coexisting practices of planting-gathering and animal husbandry-fishing/hunting. These diversified subsistence patterns were shaped by the cultural influences from Northwest China and the local natural environment, indicating an adaptation to geographical constraints and a strategic response to climatic fluctuations during periods of low productivity.

This data file contains benthic and planktic foraminiferal censcus data (saw and percentage), carbon and oxygen isotope of benthic and total organic carbon content of sediment Core SK291/GC13 off the Coast of Goa, eastern Arabian Sea

The study of Holocene vegetation diversity changes and mechanisms in the Ningshao Plain is of great significance for understanding their responses to the coupled relationship between climate, sea level, and human activities. In this study, we analyzed pollen and charcoal from the Tianluoshan and Jingtoushan sites (TLS1402 and JTS1501) to represent the regional vegetation history, particularly changes in vegetation diversity during the early to mid-Holocene. The findings show that after 7.5 cal kyr BP, arboreal pollen (AP) declined significantly and that subtropical evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest replaced deciduous broad-leaved forest as the predominant vegetation type. The increase in Poaceae (>38 mu m) and charcoal corresponds well with the decrease of AP (mainly manifested as deciduous species), suggesting that vegetation change may be related to human activities and that coniferous taxa (mainly Pinus) are more sensitive to fire response. Vegetation diversity based on the Hill numbers (N0, N1, N2 and Evenness) is shown to decline three times, viz. at 8.5, 8.2, and 7.5 cal kyr BP, among which the decrease around 8.5 and 7.5 cal kyr BP corresponds to two regional sea level rise events. The decrease in Jingtoushan diversity at 8.2 cal kyr BP may have superimposed signals of human interference beyond the influence of climate. The development of the Jingtoushan Culture commenced after the first sea level rise events (around 8.3-7.8 cal kyr BP), but was then interrupted by the second sea level transgression. Thereafter, the sea level became relatively stable, and the emergence of fire-assisted agriculture marked a new stage in the relationship between humans and the environment. Changes in vegetation diversity are closely related to regional fires and human activities. In addition, during the Jingtoushan and Hemudu cultures, the impact of human activities on AP diversity was significantly greater than that on non-arboreal pollen (NAP) taxa.

The Late Paleozoic Ice Age is characterized by diverse stratigraphic records with extensive spatial-temporal distribution in the Gondwana. The Lhasa terrane located in northeastern Gondwana during the late Paleozoic developed successive glacial sedimentary records, but the depositional evidence, as well as age constraint for the onset of glaciation, is unknown. This paper provides the first full description of the basal glacial deposits in the Xainza area of Lhasa terrane, southern Tibet. Conodonts present in the carbonate overlying the glacial bed (1 m) dominantly consist of Declinognathodus intermedius, indicating that the initiation of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age in the Lhasa terrane took place in Bashkirian. Three facies associations were recognized: (i) tidal flat association (subtidal channel, bar, intertidal mixed flat), (ii) subglacial association (megaclasts and melt-out diamictite), and (iii) lonestone-bearing heterolithic association (grounding-line fan and iceberg). These facies associations are vertically arranged into a complete transgressive-retrogressive glacial succession. Ice movement direction reconstructed from the imbricated megaclasts, the concordant folds and the lateral distribution of subglacial deposits and glacial marine deposits is consistently from NNE to SSW. These characteristics suggest that the Bashkirian glaciation in the Lhasa terrane is irrelevant to western Australia, implying that these two blocks were separated during the Late Carboniferous.

Climate change during the Holocene is thought to have had a significant impact on human migration and development. In Japan, the earliest prehistoric culture based on hunting and gathering began about 16,000 years ago (the Jomon era). At least 3000 years ago, people with paddy rice cultivation skills started to migrate from mainland China, causing an explosion of population growth, lifestyle changes, and changes to the level of civilisation (Yayoi era). To clarify the climatic changes that potentially led to the movement of the Yayoi people to Japan, we analysed the palaeotemperature changes recorded in coastal marine sediment cores obtained from the Zhejiang coast in China, where the first paddy rice cultivation occurred, and northern Kyushu Island, where it was introduced to Japan. The reconstructed temperature fluctuations over the past 7000 years from both sites were similar on the scale of hundreds to thousands of years. The cold periods that occurred approximately 300 and 4200 years ago, which are related to the Little Ice Age and 4.2 ka events, respectively, may have been caused by modulations of the East Asian summer monsoon. Our study suggests that enhanced coastal upwelling may have amplified the cold climate of the 4.2 ka event on the Zhejiang coast. Our results support the recently proposed hypothesis that climate change prompted the collapse of the Yangtze civilisation and the migration of paddy rice farmers to other parts of Asia, including Japan. In contrast, the Jomon people, who still survived mainly based on hunting and gathering at that time, might have avoided a major population collapse.