基于复杂社会演变的新石器时代聚落群时空分布研究：东廷湖盆地的证据

Since the advent of settled communities, collective gathering has constituted a universal historical phenomenon. This research seeks to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of settlement clusters across various cultural phases of the Neolithic age, with the objective of elucidating the evolutionary trajectory of complex society formation. Previous research on prehistoric settlement clusters has predominantly emphasized spatial division and morphological structure, with relatively limited investigation into their spatiotemporal evolution and distribution patterns at the watershed scale. This study analyzes 1,101 Neolithic settlement sites within the Dongting Lake Basin. Using the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm and ArcGIS 10.5, we delineated settlement clusters both spatially and temporally across various cultural phases. Subsequently, the Spatio-Temporal Object Model was employed to examine the spatiotemporal evolution of these clusters. Influencing factors were explored from both natural and social perspectives. The findings reveal that Neolithic settlement clusters were mainly concentrated in the northwestern part of the Dongting Lake basin and the surrounding lakeside areas. The center of settlement clusters exhibited a migration trend from the northwest toward the south, then to the northeast, forming an overall “V”-shaped trajectory. The Neolithic climate in the Dongting Lake basin was generally warm and humid. Settlements were predominantly distributed along rivers and clustered in the lakeside plains. Over time, settlement sizes expanded, and the clusters underwent migration and differentiation, resulting in increased social complexity. This study provides a foundation for the conservation of Neolithic cultural heritage and offers a reference for exploring the coordination of human-land relationships and sustainable development.