The paper presents the results of a palaeoecological study of Neolithic archaeological layers from a wetland, multilayer site, Serteya II (Western Russia). It contains, domestic structures, rich organic artefacts, skeletons, and ecofacts preserved within lacustrine deposits that are extremely important on a European scale. We employed a set of specialised palaeoecological analyses and accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating to identify the principal environmental conditions which attracted Neolithic hunter‐fisher‐gatherer communities from 4300 to 1600 cal. BC. The distinct impact of communities using a nonproductive economy on the ecology of the palaeolake shore zone was recorded. Also, palaeolake water level changes influenced the palaeoeconomic activity of local Neolithic societies, such as gathering of plants (for the medicinal use or serving as dietary components), fishing activities, and possible funeral practices. In addition, the identified phases of high‐water level changes, which were responses to climatic oscillations, were correlated with supraregional climatic events, especially ca. 6.2, 5.9, and 4.2 ka cal. BP. Thus, our results allowed for the reconstruction of environment transformations and conditions of Neolithic communities' activity, as well as for a better understanding of the relationships between local Neolithic communities' way of life and neolithisation processes in Eastern Europe.

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The article presents the results of recent archaeological and geomorphological research conducted on Middle to Late Neolithic site Serteya II in the Serteysky microregion of the Dnepr-Dvina region (NW Russia). The interaction of archaeological and multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research allowed for the reconstruction of the natural environment transformations and the natural conditions of the activity of the ancient communities in the lower Serteyka River valley, the left-bank tributary of the Western Dvina River. The terrain relief of the area was formed after the recession of the Weichselian (Valdai) Ice Sheet. The present day Serteyka River valley occupies a subglacial channel that was earlier occupied by a few lake basins of almost two generations. The water basins of the first generation existed within glacial crevasses and between blocks of dead ice, and second generation lakes developed after the melting of dead ice in the Late Valdai. Throughout the entire Holocene, the Serteyka River drained several lake basins as a result of headward river erosion. The Neolithic Serteya II site occupied the surface of a kame terrace and biogenic plain within the palaeolake basin. The pile-dwelling settlement functioned there in a period when palaeolakes existed and were affected by transgression and regression of the water table. The main phase of pile-dwelling development is dated to ca. 4200-3800 cal BP and existed for almost 140 years. It was part of a wider settlement structure in the period of domination of a hunter-gatherer economy and the beginning of agriculture.Zarys treści. Artykuł przedstawia wyniki ostatnich badań archeologicznych i geomorfologicznych środkowo-i późnoneolitycznego stanowisku Serteya II, zlokalizowanego w międzyrzeczu Dniepru i Dźwiny, w obrębie mikroregionu Sertejskiego (NW Rosja). Połączenie wyników badań archeologicznych i multidyscyplinarnych analiz paleośrodowiskowych pozwoliło na odtworzenie środowiska naturalnego i warunków przyrodniczych działalności dawnych społeczności w dolinie dolnej Sertejki, lewego dopływu Dźwiny. Rzeźba terenu została uformowana po ustąpieniu zlodowacenia wisły (wałdajskiego). Współczesna dolina wykorzystuje rynnę subglacjalną, w której wcześniej funkcjonowało kilka basenów jeziornych dwóch generacji. Zbiorniki pierwszej generacji rozwinęły się w szczelinach lodowych i w obniżeniach pomiędzy martwymi bryłami lądolodu. Jeziora drugiej generacji powstały po wytopieniu brył martwego lodu w późnym vistulianie. W trakcie holocenu rzeka Sertejka, w wyniku erozji wstecznej, zdrenowała kolejne jeziora. Osada neolityczna Serteya II zajmowała powierzchnię

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