Abstract:  The Nuomuhong culture is an important ancient human culture on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Its formation and decline have attracted wide attention from researchers. In this study, the Nuomuhong culture was explored from the perspective of the geological background and evolution of the Talitaliha site in the Qaidam basin by means of a field geological survey and optically stimulated luminescence dating. The results show that the Talitaliha site is located in the aeolian sedimentary belt of the Nuomuhong alluvial fan. The aeolian sedimentary facies in this area have high soil fertility and are easier to cultivate than the ice-water deposits and modern river deposits in the main part of the Nuomuhong alluvial fan, which made them the preferred location for ancient human settlements during the Bronze Age in this area, showing the significant influence of the geological environment on the selection of ancient human settlements. The age of the latest aeolian deposits on the Nuomuhong alluvial fan is between 2.30-1.79 ka, which is consistent with the end of the Nuomuhong culture. The latest aeolian deposition may represent an aridification event in the Qaidam basin, which may have had an important impact on the decline of the Nuomuhong culture.

Key words: Nuomuhong culture, geoarchaeology, optically stimulated luminescence dating, alluvial fan, Talitaliha site, Qaidam basin, Qinghai-Xizang Plateau