Microbiomorphic analysis as part of micromorphological investigations: composition, diagnostics and informative capacity for paleoenvironmental reconstructions

Microbiomorphic analysis is a detailed study of microscopic particles of biogenic nature (plant detritus, phytoliths, shells of diatoms, spicules of sponges, pollen, etc.). Each of such particles characterizes environmental conditions at the time of its formation and, therefore, provides useful information for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The Early Pleistocene deposits were studied in Armenia at the sites, where tools of ancient hominids (Early Acheulian) were found. The genesis of these deposits was identified. It was shown that these ancient alluvial-lacustrine sediments were transformed by soil-forming processes. The environmental conditions at the time of the ancient hominids’ migration were reconstructed

Postantique soils as a source of land use information: a case study of an ancient greek agricultural area on the Northern Black Sea coast

This paper explores ancient land-use practices in order to reconstruct the original parameters of the land division system, as well as agricultural techniques employed. For postantique agricultural landscapes, an integrated geoarchaeological approach that includes GIS and remote sensing methodologies, in-field study of microrelief and soil registrograms, pedochronological dating technique, and physicochemical, geochemical, and biomorphic soil analyses has been developed and teste

Optically Active Defects Induced by 10 MeV Electron Beam in Transparent MgAl2O4 Ceramics

In the synthesized MgAl2O4 ceramics, Raman scattering modes were detected due to the presence of random distribution of cations over structural positions (structural reversal effects). Irradiation by 10 MeV electron beam caused intensity redistribution of the fundamental bands in Raman spectrum. New optical absorption bands were registered. Observed features were attributed to the effect of radiation-induced ‘ionic mixing’ in cation sublattice. This effect is the formation of additional [Al

Human-environment interaction during the Holocene along the shoreline of the Ancient Lake Ladoga: A case study based on palaeoecological and archaeological material from the Karelian Isthmus, Russia

This paper presents the results of pollen, diatom, charcoal, and sediment analyses from Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga on the Karelian Isthmus, north-western Russia. The main goal is to contribute to the discussion of Neolithic land use in north-eastern Europe. The article aims to answer questions related to Stone Age hunter-gatherer economy, ecology, and anthropogenic environmental impact through a comprehensive combination of multiple types of palaeoecological data and archaeological material. According to diatom data, Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye was influenced by the water level oscillations of Ancient Lake Ladoga during much of the Holocene. Intensified human activity and prolonged human occupation become visible in the Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye pollen data between 4480 BC and 3250 BC. During the final centuries of the Stone Age, a new phase of land use began, as several anthropogenic indicators, such asTriticum, Cannabis, andPlantago lanceolataappear in the pollen data and a decrease inPinusvalues is recorded. In general, the results indicate that socio-cultural transformations could have taken place already from the mid-5th millennium BC onwards, including new ways of utilizing the environment, perhaps also in the field of subsistence, even though the livelihood was based on foraging throughout the period.Peer reviewe

Application of Microbiomorphic and Total Phosphorus Analyses to the Archaeological Study of the Sredny Zelenchuk Temple, Nizhny Arkhyz Hillfort

The article presents the results of the first geoarchaeological study of the materials of Christian burials identified in the interior of the Middle Zelenchuk temple of the 10th century in the Nizhne-Arkhyz ancient settlement (Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia). The results of microbiomorphic (phytolith) and total phosphorus content analyses allowed us to reveal previously unknown features of the funeral rites of the multicultural and multi-ethnic Christian population of one of the largest cities of the North Caucasus in the Middle Ages. The differences in funerary practices between the 11th and 13th centuries became evident when studying even a small group of funerary complexes in which people of the same social group – representatives of the social elite of Western Alania – were buried. The geoarchaeological study showed an abundance of plant and animal organic matter in the burials. The complex analysis of archaeological materials and data obtained during the microbiomorphic study allowed us to conclude that members of the urban Christian community had several burial traditions: in stone boxes (tombs), in wooden frames, and a mixed ritual when a wooden structure was placed in a stone box. The presence of wooden bark particles in the burials seems to be related not so much to the material from which the burial structures were made as to the presence in the graves of bark or bast objects (bast caskets or boxes, birch bark amulets, toys, etc.). The tradition known from pagan Alanian burials of placing the head of the deceased on a “stone cushion” (more typical for male burials) was preserved in early Christian burials. In one of the four women’s graves studied, the analysis showed the presence of a “hay pillow.” Probably, before the burial, a ritual of washing the deceased was performed, as evidenced by the presence of diatoms and sponge spicules in the samples

Soil micromorphology in archaeology: history, objectives, possibilities and prospects

The history of applying soil micromorphology in archaeology in Russia and abroad is overviewed. The main objectives of soil micromorphological analysis of archaeological objects are specified. The possibilities offered by this method are illustrated by the example of a micromorphological study of a cultural layer of an Early Medieval settlement. The prospects of archaeological soil micromorphology development are outlined

Human-environment interaction during the Holocene along the shoreline of the Ancient Lake Ladoga: A case study based on palaeoecological and archaeological material from the Karelian Isthmus, Russia

This paper presents the results of pollen, diatom, charcoal, and sediment analyses from Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga on the Karelian Isthmus, north-western Russia. The main goal is to contribute to the discussion of Neolithic land use in north-eastern Europe. The article aims to answer questions related to Stone Age hunter-gatherer economy, ecology, and anthropogenic environmental impact through a comprehensive combination of multiple types of palaeoecological data and archaeological material. According to diatom data, Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye was influenced by the water level oscillations of Ancient Lake Ladoga during much of the Holocene. Intensified human activity and prolonged human occupation become visible in the Lake Bol'shoye Zavetnoye pollen data between 4480 BC and 3250 BC. During the final centuries of the Stone Age, a new phase of land use began, as several anthropogenic indicators, such asTriticum, Cannabis, andPlantago lanceolataappear in the pollen data and a decrease inPinusvalues is recorded. In general, the results indicate that socio-cultural transformations could have taken place already from the mid-5th millennium BC onwards, including new ways of utilizing the environment, perhaps also in the field of subsistence, even though the livelihood was based on foraging throughout the period

Cultural and chronological features of the Novo-Ufimskii burial ground according to the data of natural science analyses // КУЛЬТУРНО-ХРОНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ НОВО-УФИМСКОГО МОГИЛЬНИКА ПО ДАННЫМ ЕСТЕСТВЕННОНАУЧНЫХ АНАЛИЗОВ

The Novo-Ufimskii burial ground is one of the largest sites of the Southern Urals, located in the southern part of Ufa, in territorial terms, correlated with the Kara-Abyz culture of the Early Iron Age. Located in the historical part of the city of Ufa, the Novo-Ufimskii burial ground was allocated by R.B. Akhmerov on the territory of the construction of Bashkir State University buildings in 1952-1956. The site of the Novo-Ufimskii burial ground has repeatedly been subjected to destructive anthropogenic impacts since the second half of the 19th century, from the period of active development in the southern part of Ufa. However, a systematic investigation of the territory of the site with the involvement of a wide range of natural science methods has not been carried out. Earlier archaeological studies of the Novo-Ufa burial ground were most often associated with the part of the monument destroyed by construction. Some of the burials discovered during the reconstruction of the Dynamo stadium were investigated. The archaeological research carried out in 2018 set the task of widespread use of interdisciplinary, natural-scientific methods on the materials of 22 burials of the Novo-Ufimskii burial ground. During archaeological work in 2018, a feature was recorded in the burial tradition of the population who left the burial ground. Two-tiered burials were identified. The main focus of the study was bronze and paleosoil items from the Novo-Ufimskii burial ground. // Ново-Уфимский могильник является одним из крупных памятников Южного Приуралья, расположенным на территории южной части города Уфы, в территориальном отношении соотносимым с кара-абызской культурой раннего железного века. Расположенный в исторической части города Уфы НовоУфимский могильник был выделен Р.Б. Ахмеровым на территории строительства корпусов Башкирского государственного университета в 1952–1956 гг. Площадка Ново-Уфимского могильника неоднократно подвергалась разрушительному антропогенному воздействию, начиная со второй половины XIX века, с периода активной застройки южной части Уфы. Однако систематического изучения территории памятника с привлечением широкого спектра естественнонаучных методов проведено не было. Ранее проводимые археологические исследования Ново-Уфимского могильника чаще всего были связаны с частью памятника, разрушенной строительством. Были проведены исследования части погребений, обнаруженных в ходе реконструкции стадиона «Динамо». Проведенные в 2018 г. археологические исследования ставили задачи широкого применения интердисциплинарных, естественнонаучных методов на материалах 22 погребений Ново-Уфимского могильника. В ходе археологических работ 2018 года была зафиксирована особенность в погребальной традиции населения, оставившего могильник. Были выявлены двухъярусные захоронения. Основным фокусом исследования стали изделия из бронзы и палеопочвы Ново-Уфимского могильника

Natural scientific research at the Bolgar settlement (the first results)

The article presents the first results of the comprehensive scientific research conducted on the Bulgar fortified settlement site in 2011. Samples for analysis were selected in the form of series of vertical columns from excavation walls. The species of trees used in the construction, the composition of the mud bricks and the bonding mortar, as well as the genesis of individual cultural layers have been identified. It has been found out that the settlement development and functioning had been reciprocating in nature: periods of intense habitation of its individual sections were followed by short stages of desolation. In all investigated soil columns with the cultural layers there are streaks consisting solely of phytoliths and cuticle casts. A possible explanation of the phenomenon may be that the plot was covered with layers of manure of significant length and capacity. This conclusion is debatable and requires further research