Human adaptation to Holocene environments: Perspectives and promise from China

This paper reviews recent archaeological research on human-environment interaction in the Holocene, taking continental China as its geographic focus. As China is large, geographically diverse, and exceptionally archaeologically and historically well-documented, research here provides critical insight into the functioning of socialnatural systems. Based on a broad review of the field as well as recent advances and discoveries, the authors reflect on research themes including climate change and adaptive systems theory, spatial and temporal scale, anthropogenic environmental change, risk management and resilience, and integration of subdisciplines. These converge on three overarching conclusions. First, datasets relevant to climate change and ancient humanenvironment interaction must be as local and specific as possible, as the timing of environmental change differs locally, and the human response is highly dependent on local social and technological conditions. Second, the field still needs more robust theoretical frameworks for analyzing complex social-natural systems, and especially for integrating data on multiple scales. Third, for this work to contribute meaningfully to contemporary climate change research, effective communication of research findings to the public and to scientists in other disciplines should be incorporated into publication plans.

Automated summary

First, it is crucial for datasets related to climate change and ancient human-environment interaction to be as local and specific as possible, as the timing of environmental change varies locally and human responses are highly dependent on local social and technological conditions. Second, the field still lacks robust theoretical frameworks for analyzing complex social-natural systems, especially for integrating data on multiple scales. Third, in order for this research to have a meaningful impact on contemporary climate change studies, effective communication of findings to the public and scientists in other disciplines should be prioritized in publication plans.