太湖流域新石器新石器文化是连续发展的一个完整体系。高亢地带利于古文化的连续发展,而地貌和环境演化使得古文化遗址的迁移性不同,遗址往往从地势低洼处就近向高爽处迁移。水位降低、水域面积缩小时,遗址从高向低处迁移。当气候温干,地势高爽时,古人类活动频繁,文化发展。而气候温湿,水域面积扩大时,文化遗址迁移频繁,文化层堆积较薄。

Taihu Basin, located on the southern plain of the Yangtze Delta, is one of the areas with the most clear-cut prehistoric culture series and prevailing Neolithic culture during 7.0-4.0 ka B.P. based on abundant archaeological finds. The Neolithic culture series that includes Majiabang culture, Songze culture, and Liangzhu culture has been established basically. There are 420 sites in total in Taihu basin, in which 81.2 per cent are the single type of sites. The number of single type of sites reaches 320, which are mainly Liangzhu culture type. The number of overlapped sites is 72, and it is 18.3 per cent of total sites. The number of sites that Songze culture layer overlaps Majiabang culture layers is 24, and it is 40 per cent for total number of Majiabang culture sites and 33.8 per cent for total number of Songze culture sites. The number of sites that Liangzhu culture layer overlaps Songze culture layers is 56, and it is 74.7 per cent for total number of Songze culture sites and 15.4 per cent for total number of Liagnzhu culture sites. Majiabang culture sites are mainly located on the lakes and swamps plain (the number is 31), on the piedmont plain (the number is 11) and on the water net plain (the number is 11). Songze culture sites are mainly located on the lakes and swamps plain (the number is 33), on the protruding plain (the number is 16), and on the water net plain (the number is 10). Liangzhu culture sites are mainly located on the lakes and swamps plain (the number is 145), on the piedmont plain (the number is 84), and on the water net plain (the number is 56). According to correlative research on the accumulation characteristic and types of section, spatial-temporal distribution and geomorphology, the authors draw the conclusions as follows: During 7.0-5.8 ka B.P., terrain of the region was rather undulate owing to downcutting of rivers. Majiabang Sites were mostly located on the center part of hillock, top of brae and upside of valley. During 5.8-5.5 ka B.P., forepart of Songze Culture, sea-level was fall-off and terrestrial area enlarged; during 5.5-5.0 ka B.P., the rivers silted and terrestrial area reduced with rise of sea level. uring 5.0-4.2 ka B.P., terrestrial area enlarged with decline of sea level; during 4.2-4.0 ka B.P., terrestrial area reduced and habitation area of the ancient people decreased sharply due to increase of flood disasters with deterioration of climate. Then, before 4.0 ka B.P., Taihu Lake and the east lakes of it did not come into being. Therefore, the above variation of geomorphology evolution and hydrology affected succession of archaeological culture types greatly, that is, culture developed and number of sites increased with trend of transference to low lands owing to warm and dry climate and higher terrain suited to habitation. On the contrary, the warm and wet climate enlarged water area and went against the development of ancient culture showing frequent transplant of the cultural sites and thinner cultural layers.