Archaeobotanical Materials from the Golden Horde Settlements of the Saratov Volga Region

Abstract

Introduction. The article considers archaeobotanical data obtained as a result of the analysis of plant macro- and microremains from the settlements of the Golden Horde epoch in the central part of the Saratov Volga region. Methods and materials. The results of the analyses of flotation samples allow us to obtain data on the plant food of the settled population. The interpretation of spore-pollen analyses allows us to trace the process of growth of the territory of monuments, the nature of the lands surrounding them, and the natural conditions and occupations of the population. Analysis. Finds of ear fragments were noted – traces of the threshing of cereals by the population of the studied monuments. On the Bagaevka settlement, six samples from trench I of 2012 were studied by the palynological method, and according to the results of the analysis, three spore-pollen complexes were allocated. Results. The rural economy of the settled population of the Saratov Volga region in the Golden Horde time was quite well developed; millet, wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, and lentils were mainly cultivated here. Palynological data propose the agriculture at the Bagaevka settlement in all stages of its existence. The available materials indicate that the population of these monuments engaged in farming and had the opportunity to cultivate the nearby fertile black soils. Authors contribution. L.F. Nedashkovsky summarized the available data on archaeobotanical macroremains. M.D. Kochanova carried out chemical processing of samples for palynological analysis, computer processing of data and plotting, and summarized the available data on microremains. A.S. Aleshinskaya conducted spore-pollen analyses on samples. E.A. Spiridonova interpreted the results of palynological analyses.