Prehistoric Peopling of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from a Global Mountain Archaeology Perspective

Abstract

The prehistoric human expansion and occupation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau provide a crucial comparative paradigm in global mountain archaeology alongside the Altiplano and the Ethiopian Highlands. During the Pleistocene, human presence was intermittent, with archaeological evidence from marginal and interior highland sites dating to as early as 160 ka BP. Although genetic data indicate that a small number of hunter-gatherers established year-round mobility by 40–30 ka BP, population persistence remained fragile due to extreme environmental constraints. Subsequently, human activity intensified during the early to middle Holocene, leading to a marked decline in residential mobility and the emergence of distinct regional cultures. A critical transition occurred during the late Holocene, triggered by the 4.2 ka climate event, which promoted the adoption of a western Asian agricultural package. Connections via the northern route and the Inner Plateau southern route integrated the Plateau into trans-Eurasian exchange networks, as evidenced by exotic artifacts like faience beads. Comparative analysis reveals that while year-round mobility preceded agriculture across all three high plateaus, permanent settlement on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau relies on sustained genetic and cultural integration between indigenous groups adapted to chronic hypoxia and exogenous agricultural populations.