Late-Holocene palaeoenvironments of Southern Crimea: Soils, soil-climate relationship and human impact

Abstract

Occupying 4% of Crimea’s territory, the sub-Mediterranean landscapes of Southern Crimea stand out for their distinct soil-climatic conditions and record of human activity. This paper presents the results of study of the newly formed and well-dated soils from 21 archaeological sites, making it possible to build a soil chronosequence covering the last 2.3 ka. To study the natural processes on an intra-secular scale, short series of instrumental meteorological observations were extended, based on dendrochronological records, to a total of 160 years, and the time series of solar activity and energy for pedogenesis were correlated. These data are collated with a 4.2-ka Lake Saki varve record, which was re-analysed applying the DFT spectrum analysis method, with three distinct phases in relative secular variations in precipitation being identified. The phase of a relative climatic stability with moderate variations in precipitation (3.2–1.25 ka BP) was followed by the period of increased moisture (from 1.25 ka BP), unparalleled since the Late Bronze Age. Given the decisive role of increased moisture in the climate-controlled energy expenditures for pedogenesis, in the dynamics of vegetation cover and human ways of life, the identification of these periods contributes to a better understanding of soil–climate relationship and cause-and-effect for nonlinear change in the settlement and landscape history of the region.

Geochemical Features of Fallow Land in Ancient Plots in the Chora of Chersonesos

“…A comparison of the soils under the vineyards of an aggregate of 20 chemical elements showed a fundamental difference between the geochemical environment in NW Crimea, which is in a natural state [37,38]; this was a result of trenching soil that inherited (obtained) a great influence of eluvium of dense carbonate rocks, and soils in the Herakleian Peninsula were due to a large area where there were spatial differences in the soil features. This primarily relates to the geochemical specificity of soils in the area of Cape Fiolent in comparison with the other areas of chora Chersonesos.…”

“…Soils are generally thin, stony, and carbonate-rich. The region's climate is very dry and moderately hot, with fairly mild winters with an average annual temperature of 10.3-12.0 • C, the sum of active temperatures (Σt > 10 • ) per year amounts to 3300-3500 • C and an annual precipitation of 350-475 mm [35][36][37].…”

Estimates of Soil Renewal Rates: Applications for Anti-Erosion Arrangement of the Agricultural Landscape

“…to the 17th century A.D. For the particular conditions of the sub-Mediterranean climate (polygon II), the chronosequence members were 42 objects within the date range from 25 to 2000 years old. Some members of the chronosequence were the calcaric Cambisols, which were used to form the chronofunctions presented in previous pedological studies based on 21 archaeological sites [34,35], but were supplemented by the results of subsequent studies. The Munsell colour system [36] was used for the determination of soil colours.…”

Archaeological ash deposits and soils formed on ash in the south of the East European Plain

“…An important advantage of this fuel for nomadic and agricultural communities is its wide availability. According to the archaeozoological evidence from the south of the East European Plain, cattle clearly dominated in the Bronze Age herds, making in some places up to 44% of the total (Bibikova, 1970;Kolotuchin, 1996Kolotuchin, , 2003Gershkovich, 2003;Sava, 2005b;Sava and Kaiser, 2011;Lisetskii et al, 2017). Calculations suggest that one cow is able to produce about 10,000 kg of dung annually, while one sheep yields over 500 kg per year or about 1.5 kg per day (Slicher van Bath, 1963;Mlekuž, 2009).…”