Spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of Hongshan cultural sites in the Liaoxi Region, Northeast China

Hongshan culture in northeastern China offers a critical case for understanding prehistoric social complexity. We integrate archeological, paleoclimatic, and geospatial data from 1190 recorded sites—67 with well-defined chronological phases—to examine settlement dynamics through spatial analysis and interpretable machine learning. Results reveal a phased trajectory: site numbers show a 6 → 37 → 24 change across three periods, with the emergence of large ceremonial centers. Environmental factors, particularly river proximity and slope aspect, consistently influenced site placement. Social drivers, however, shifted from craft-production dominance in the middle period to ritual-oriented functions in the late period. SHAP analysis further reveals a systemic reorganization of social networks, with interactions shifting from positive to negative. This framework integrates spatial analysis with archeological interpretation and offers a replicable methodology for studying prehistoric settlement patterns.