Abstract: The relationship between ecological environments and Neolithic cultures during the Holocene is a hot topic in academic community, due to its profound theoretical and practical significance for the regional sustainable development. Pollen records and archaeological sites with chronology data in the representative areas of China were comprehensively analyzed to uncover their relationship. Our preliminary conclusions were as follows: (1) The warm and humid climate conditions during the middle Holocene facilitated the cultural development. (2) The East Asian Monsoon significantly contributed to the development of Neolithic cultures. The regional topography and water condition also affected the development of regional culture to a certain extent. (3) A global climatic and cultural event obviously exhibited at ca. 4.3-4.2 ka BP. Decreases in solar radiation and changes in East Asian Monsoons in winter and summer in the middlelate Holocene were the main drivers for environmental changes and the decline even collapse of Neolithic cultures. (4) High-resolution pollen records, systematic dating of archaeological sites, and coupling mechanism of ecological environment and cultural development need further investigation.

Key words: heavy metal pollution, soil, greening plant, main road, pollen assemblage, archaeological site, Holocene, ecological environment.