The rise and fall of the Liangzhu society in the perspective of subsistence economy

Liangzhu society's collapse may have been driven by an unbalanced subsistence economy and limited cultural exchange. Analysis of plant and animal remains from Liangzhu sites revealed a reliance on rice farming and animal husbandry, but fishing and hunting played a significant role in some regions. This imbalance likely restricted population growth and hindered the formation of multiple centers within the culture. Additionally, the study suggests that the lack of competitive communication with other cultures weakened the society's ability to adapt to challenges like natural disasters or social conflicts, ultimately leading to its demise.

Yuan, J., Pan, Y., Dong, N., & Storozum, M. (2022). The rise and fall of the Liangzhu society in the perspective of subsistence economy. Chinese Archaeology, 22(1), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1515/char-2022-0011