On the border between land and water: The environmental conditions of the Neolithic occupation from 4.3 until 1.6 ka BC at Serteya, Western Russia

Abstract

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.

Middle Holocene Climate Oscillations Recorded in the Western Dvina Lakeland

“…Previous palynological, diatom, and geochemical research of biogenic sediment cores M25 from the Serteya region provided an insight into the general paleoclimatic situation of the study area. Kittel et al [57] explained the paleoecological changes of the Great Serteya Palaeolake Basin in the last 6.3 ky BP. Based on previous research of the Neolithic environmental con-ditions between ca.…”

“…57]. The chronology used follows Kittel et al [57]. The results presented below are a further analysis of the data obtained from the deposits of the STII M25 core.…”

“…Two main areas of the Serteya II have been explored so far [52,57]. The eastern part of the site contains the remains of the pile-dwelling structures, which are dated to 5-4 ka cal BP.…”

“…The Neolithic occupation in this area began at ca. 8.3 ka cal BP, and the development of Neolithic communities lasted up to around 3.8 ka cal BP [53,54,56,57]. The pile-dwelling settlement existed in the region during the Middle and Late Neolithic period (between 5.9 and 4.2 ka cal BP) [53,58].…”

“…These changes might influence the long-term development of the Serteya II settlement, e.g. : a switch to the Neolithic culture at 8.2 ka cal BP, the development of the pile-dwelling settlement at 4.2 ka cal BP, the prolonged existence of a hunter-gatherer subsistence strategy, and the late emergence of agriculture after 4.2 ka cal BP [57,77].…”