## 5 Conclusive Remarks  
This article examined prehistoric settlement patterns and cultural transformations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yuanjiang River, utilizing geological, geomorpho \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Area** & **Early Paleolithic** & **Middle Paleolithic** & **Late Paleolithic** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Jianghan Plain [61]} & Large tools including chopping & Large tools, such as chopping tools, & Lightweight scrapers and \\  & implements, pointed tools, & pointed tools, and stone balls in the & small stone flakes (indicative \\  & & third–fourth-level terraces in & second- or third-level terraces in & of miniaturization) in \\  & & Hanshui catchment & Hanshui catchment & Jianghan Plain \\ \hline Along the Yangtze & \multirow{2}{*}{—} & Large chopping and scraping tools in & \multirow{2}{*}{—} \\ River [27] & & & caves along the river & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Lishui River [33]} & Large chopping tools, pointed & Large chopping tools, triangular & Sharp-shaped scrapers, and small \\  & tools, and scrapers in the third- & pointed tools, stone balls, and others & stone flakes indicative of \\  & or fourth-level terraces in & in the second- or third-level terraces in & miniaturization in the second- \\  & middle-lower Lishui River & the middle-lower Lishui River & or first-level terraces in the \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Yuanjiang River [41, 62]} & Large-sized chopping and & Large long-bodied side-blade & \multirow{2}{*}{
\begin{tabular}{c} Large short-bodied \\ sharp-edged choppers in the \\ first or second-level terraces \\ \end{tabular} } \\  & scraping tools in the third- and & choppers and double-sided blade & \\  & second-level terraces in the & choppers found in the second-level & \\  & middle Yuanjiang River & terraces of the middle Yuanjiang River & \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Comparative analysis of Paleolithic cultures in the study area and the middle Yangtze River basin (Modified from [33, 48, 61, 62]). logical, archaeological, and RS data as well as GIS techniques to trace the developments from the Paleolithic to the Shang-Zhou dynasties. This study revealed significant shifts in site distribution over time: Paleolithic and Neolithic sites were typically situated at higher altitudes and farther from riverine water sources, while those from the Shang-Zhou period were found in lower, more flood-prone areas, reflecting different adaptive strategies to environmental conditions. Geological context was a critical factor in shaping these cultural shifts, with northward migrations in the middle reaches and eastward or eastward movements in the lower reaches, particularly influenced by the evolution of Dongting Lake near Changde City. An analysis of 804 sites revealed a clear trend: as one moves eastward, altitude decreases and proximity to water increases, predominantly in low-lying areas. The region's distinctive geomorphology, defined by mountainous borders and the Dongting Lake Plain, features significant landmarks, such as the Wuling Mountains and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Key cultural groups, like the Wushui and Lishui cultures, developed within these varied landscapes. Cultural changes in the lower reaches were closely tied to climatic variations and natural disasters, particularly during the Shijiahe Shang-Zhou periods. In contrast, the middle reaches were less affected by environmental factors due to their more enclosed landscapes. This study emphasized the complex relationship between environmental factors and cultural evolution in the Yuanjiang River region, revealing distinct trajectories shaped by geology, climate, and human adaptability. Additionally, a regional comparative analysis suggested that the middle reaches of the Yangtze River might have originated in the Xiajiang Area, gradually shifting southward with the development of the Lishui River Basin, leading to several cultural centers that underscored the unique significance of the Yuanjiang region in Hunan Province.