Agricultural Economic Transformations and Their Impacting Factors around 4000 BP in the Hexi Corridor, Northwest China

By 4000 BP, trans-Eurasian agricultural exchanges increased across the Hexi Corridor. However, nature and timing of many early prehistoric remain unclear. We present systematically collected archaeobotanical data from ancient Haizang site (3899–3601 cal a BP) within Adding to previous studies Corridor, we find that production transformed purely millet-based agriculture during Machang Period (4300–4000) predominantly increasingly supplemented with wheat barley Xichengyi Qijia periods (4000–3600 BP). These transformations are likely due adaption cooler drier climate through cultural exchange. A warm humid 4300–4000 BP promoted millet agriculture, expansion westward, occupation corridor. after “4.2 ka cold event” people adopted West make up for declining productivity. This adoption began first culture, soon spread further eastward Corridor culture.