Understanding the transport networks complex between South Asia, Southeast Asia and China during the late Neolithic and Bronze Age

• DOI: 10.1177/09596836221131698
• Publication Date: 2022-11-07T09:55:53Z
• Authors: Minmin Ma; Yongxiu Lu; Guanghui Dong; Lele Ren; Rui Min; Lihong Kang; Zhonghua Zhu; Xiaorui Li; Bo Li; Zhijian Yang; Nongbu Cili; Ruiliang Liu; Yu Gao; Fahu Chen
• Keywords: 0601 history and archaeology; 06 humanities and the arts

The emergence and intensification of transcontinental exchange during both the Late Neolithic Bronze Age profoundly influenced social history Eurasia. While scholars have intensively discussed east-west long-distance communication along proto-Silk Road, north-south transport networks that connected China to South Southeast Asia attracted much less attention in scholarly literature based on archeological science data. In this paper, we find new radiocarbon dates from 11 sites northwestern central Yunnan Southwest China, a key entrance into China. Combined with previously published records dates, attempt disentangle understand timing routes linking Age. We propose three land played essential roles cultural exchanges addition Road maritime routes. This includes trans-Himalayan routes, trans-Hengduan Mountain trans-Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau between probably emerged fifth millennium BP (before present) mainly through low-frequency frequency significantly increased after fourth BP, synchronous development primary passageways. Trans-Hengduan might been most crucial artery connecting 3000–2200 but more are needed detailed evolution these networks.