The study of early human settlement preference and settlement prediction in Xinjiang, China

Abstract When studying the human settlement process, it is of great significance to understand the prehistoric environment, economy and society by exploring the human–land relationship and the evolution of civilization reflected by the settlement environment. This paper explores the natural and social environmental preferences of early human settlements in Xinjiang, China, from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age (45 ka BP–2250 a BP). Through the characteristics of settlement preferences, the distribution of settlements is accurately predicted, and the relationship between settlement preferences and the evolution of the environment and civilization is verified and discussed. We summarize the needs and conditions of early human settlement from the perspectives of the social environment and natural environment and explain the stages, consistency and differentiation of the spatial and temporal evolution of settlement preferences with the interaction of adaptation and transformation. On this basis, we discuss the logical focuses and content of early human settlement preference research. This research provides a reference for the process, representation, driving mode, and research ideas of early human settlement preferences.