We present the first systematic evaluation of the relationship between the archaeological and palaeoclimatic record from north-western India during the past millennium, from the urban site of Chandravati. The rarity of Medieval sites, systematic excavations and multi-disciplinary work in the subcontinent obscure the impact of two distinct climate anomalies − the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (‘MWP’, 740 − 1150 CE), followed by the ‘Little Ice Age’ (‘LIA’, 1350 − 1850 CE). The finds from the archaeological site indicate the presence of winter and summer crops, suggesting the region was likely warm and mild humid during pre-Medieval period (ca. 600 − 800 CE). During Medieval times (between ca. 800 − 1300 CE), a diversification of the crop assemblage suggests that the region was under a warm and humid climate, corresponding to the ‘MWP’, driving increased monsoon precipitation. During the post-Medieval period (ca. 1350 − 1800 CE), drought-resistant millets and other summer pulse crops indicate the region probably experienced weak SW monsoon precipitation coinciding with globally recognised ‘LIA’. These interpretations are supported through phytolith data from the archaeological deposit broadly indicating two phases, the first being a period of diversified agricultural/anthropogenic activity (ca. 600 − 1350 CE), followed by a period dominated by drought-resistant crops (ca. 1350 − 1800 CE). Pollen data from a proximal lake corroborate the warm and humid phase ca. 800 − 1400 CE, with strong representation of warm−humid favouring tropical forest taxa, followed by non-arboreal indicators of a drier more open landscape ca. 1500 − 1800 CE. These environmental changes may have combined with other historic and institutional factors that led to the ultimate abandonment of the city. These changing cropping patterns, vegetation and cultural developments provide insight into past human response to climate change as well as important lessons for modern societies in exploring sustainable agricultural strategies to future climate change.

中文翻译：

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多变的季风和人类适应：印度西北部过去 1400 年的考古和古环境记录

我们首次系统地评估了过去一千年印度西北部 Chandravati 城市遗址的考古和古气候记录之间的关系。次大陆罕见的中世纪遗址、系统挖掘和多学科工作掩盖了两种不同气候异常的影响 - “中世纪暖期”（'MWP'，公元 740 - 1150 年），其次是“小冰河时代” （'LIA'，公元 1350 年 - 1850 年）。考古遗址的发现表明存在冬季和夏季作物，表明该地区在中世纪前时期（约公元 600 - 800 年）可能温暖且温和潮湿。在中世纪时期（大约在公元 800 - 1300 年之间），作物组合的多样化表明该地区处于温暖潮湿的气候下，对应于“MWP”，带动季风降水增多。在后中世纪时期（约公元 1350 - 1800 年），抗旱小米和其他夏季豆类作物表明该地区可能经历了弱西南季风降水，与全球公认的“LIA”一致。这些解释得到了考古矿床的植硅体数据的支持，这些数据大致分为两个阶段，第一个阶段是多样化的农业/人类活动时期（大约公元 600 年 - 1350 年），随后是一个以抗旱作物为主的时期（大约 1350 年） − 公元 1800 年）。来自近端湖泊的花粉数据证实了大约温暖潮湿的阶段。公元 800 - 1400 年，具有强烈的暖湿性热带森林分类群，其次是更干燥、更开阔的景观的非树栖指标。公元 1500 - 1800 年。这些环境变化可能与其他历史和制度因素相结合，最终导致这座城市被废弃。这些不断变化的种植模式、植被和文化发展为人类过去对气候变化的反应提供了洞察力，也为现代社会探索应对未来气候变化的可持续农业战略提供了重要经验。