Fig. 8: Elevation map of SRSCs.

This figure presents a digital elevation model (DEM) of Nanjing and its surrounding regions, illustrating topographic variation and the altitudinal context of SRSCs. The background color gradient represents elevation in meters, ranging from dark green (lowest elevation, 0–17 m) to dark red (highest elevation, 213–602 m). The black diamond symbols indicate the locations of documented SRSCs. The map reveals that most of these carvings are distributed along low to moderate elevation zones (~35–144 m), primarily concentrated in the southern and southeastern parts of the study area. This spatial relationship suggests a preference for specific topographic conditions in burial site selection, aligning with traditional feng shui principles that favor locations at the foot of mountains and near water sources. The map includes administrative boundaries, a scale bar for distance reference, and a clearly defined legend indicating elevation ranges.