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

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

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

Indicadores biomorfos de la transformación inducida por el hombre en suelos bajo montículos sepulcrales nomadas tempranos en Rusia meridional

El análisis de biomorfos se utilizó para estudiar suelos sepultados bajo montículos o colinas de entierros nómadas (Kurgans) en la región de Orenburg, Rusia austral. Este tipo de análisis consiste en investigar los macro- y microrestos de biota (biomorfos) en el contexto de sus condiciones de origen. Los kurgans estudiados más antiguos (Siglos VI-V A.C.), fueron construidos en una pradera-estepa no perturbada. El grupo subsecuente (Siglos IV-II A.C.) fue construido en una geoforma muy perturbada y erosionada, que estuvo ampliamente desprovista tanto de vegetación como de suelo superficial. Después de un prolongado receso, de nuevo se edificaron los kurgans en los siglos II-III D.C., en una superficie donde la cubierta de vegetación y suelo se habían recuperado parcialmente de la ocupación humana. Definitivamente, nuestros resultados muestran la transformación de suelos inducida por el hombre antes y/o durante el curso de la construcción de los kurgans. El grado de perturbación varía en las diferentes épocas históricas y refleja la intensidad del impacto antropogénico en ecosistemas y paisajes. Cuando los suelos sepultados bajo kurgans se usan para estudios paleoclimáticos, se debe tomar en cuenta que la transformación antropogénica del suelo puede modificar varios parámetros, como el espesor del horizonte superior del suelo y, por lo tanto, la profundidad de los horizontes de carbonatos y sales. Estos cambios documentados con datos morfológicos y analíticos podrían ser mal interpretados como indicadores de cambio climático, mientras que el análisis de biomorfos permite a los investigadores evitar este error

Soils of arid ecosystems of Kalmykia in the late Holocene

Varios paleosuelos sepultados de color obscuro se estudian en balkas (valle) en el sur de Rusia (Republica de Kalmykia). Los paleosuelos difieren de los suelos modernos en sus propiedades químicas y físicas, las cuales indican variaciones en el carácter de los procesos formadores de suelo, tanto en el pasado como en el presente. Los paleosuelos están sepultados bajo depósitos coluviales y eólicos, cuya acumulación intensa siguió al óptimo climático del Holoceno tardío (hace cerca de 1,000 años). Hipotéticamente, el sepultamiento se debió a la erosión del paisaje, asociada con desarrollos sociales dentro de este territorio. Una razón para el enterramiento simultáneo de los suelos dentro de la amplia área de estudio fue, probablemente, la catastrófica erosión del paisaje, causada por los inmensos rebaños de ovejas a cargo de tribus que ocuparon el territorio del colapsado estado de Khazar