Soils, vegetation, and climate of the southern Transural region in the Middle Bronze Age (by the example of the Arkaim fortress)

Приходько, В. Е.; Ivanov, Igor; Манахов, Д. В.; Gerasimenko, Natalia; Inubushi, Kazuyuki; Kawahigashi, Masayuki; Nagano, Hirohiko; Sugihara, Soh

doi:10.1134/s1064229313090032

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…11). Pollen of Ulmus, Tilia and Alnus could also be found in cultural layers dated to the Bronze Age in Arkaim (Prikhod'ko et al 2013), but the reported pollen sum is extremely low. In contrast, Kremenetski (2003) found a distinct decrease in broad-leaved deciduous trees between ca.…”

Section: Vegetation Developmentmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Natural archives in the grass steppe that have remained undisturbed over longer periods of time have only been found in Mokhovoe, about 250 km east and 100 km north of the study area ), but the temporal resolution between 5000 and 1000 BC is too low to allow any detailed statements for the Bronze Age. So far, the majority of palynological studies in the steppe environment has been restricted to cultural layers (Lapteva and Korona 2013;Prikhod'ko et al 2013). Further studies have taken place in the forest steppe (Zakh et al 2010;Krivonogov et al 2012;Blyakharchuk 2003; for cultural layers see Ryabogina and Ivanov 2011), the mountainous regions (Khomutova 1995;Maslenikova et al 2012), or the low hills farther east in Kazakhstan (Kremenetski 1997;Kremenetski et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Palynological and sedimentological evidence from the Trans-Ural steppe (Russia) and its palaeoecological implications for the sudden emergence of Bronze Age sedentarism

Stobbe

Gumnior

Röpke

et al. 2014

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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At the turn of the second to the third millennium BC, fortified and systematically organized settlements along with a developed metallurgy emerged in the TransUral steppe. In order to reconstruct the related vegetation and climatic changes in the area and to detect effects of human impact during the respective Bronze-Age SintashtaPetrovka and Srubnaya-Alakul cultures (2100-1650 cal BC), palynological and sedimentological investigations accompanying archaeological excavations were carried out. Statistical analyses of pollen spectra from two sediment cores in the immediate vicinity of the settlement Kamennyi Ambar demonstrate substantial similarities in Bronze Age and present vegetation covers. Higher percentages of arboreal pollen, especially in respect of deciduous trees, and consistently high values of Artemisia within the regional spectra suggest that Bronze Age cultures developed in a relatively humid environment. Simultaneously, higher values of Chenopodiaceae, Plantago and Cichorioideae point to steppe degradation at local scales, whereas regional vegetation appears to have been relatively unaffected by human activities. Although more than 30 localities in the micro-region of Karagaily Ayat were analyzed, none of these sediment cores accounts for a continuous sedimentation during the last 9,000 years. Our results reveal that climatic fluctuations are not always directly reflected by sediment formation, with many nonclimatic factors, such as post-sedimentary processes, local morphology and erosion believed to be crucial. Only the use of high resolution AMS radiocarbon dating is suitable to detect hiatuses, hence providing a valuable clue to the interpretation of palaeoenvironmental conditions.

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Section: Vegetation Developmentmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Palynological and sedimentological evidence from the Trans-Ural steppe (Russia) and its palaeoecological implications for the sudden emergence of Bronze Age sedentarism

Stobbe

Gumnior

Röpke

et al. 2014

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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“…in the soil is just as important for growing high-quality grapes as is the content of the fundamental mineral elements-N, P, K, Ca, S, and Mg [4,5,[14][15][16][17]. However, the impact on the productivity of trace elements and in particular of heavy metals depends largely on the soil environment in specific bioclimatic conditions [18][19][20][21][22]. Furthermore, fine-dispersed minerals (silt and clay) appear to be the most relevant soil parameters controlling soil dynamics in the profile of soils and parent rock [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2018

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The ancient city of Chersonesos created an agricultural zone in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC (under the conditions of climate aridization); this zone was initially used for viticulture and the export of wine, and grain farming later developed at the distant chora (in North-Western (NW) Crimea). The purpose of our work was to verify whether the ampeloecological conditions, especially the geochemical features of the soil and rock, limited viticulture in NW Crimea. Fallow lands in 13 plots in the near and distant chora of Chersonesos were studied using ampelopedology; specifically, we compared agrochemical properties and the concentrations of macro- and trace elements in the renaturation soil horizon and in the parent rock. The main differences between the soils of the two regions were determined by the accumulation of cinnamonic soils of Chersonesos Si, K, Fe, Al, P2O5; in the distant chora, there are specific elements, including V, Pb, Rb, Cr. The climate and the biogeochemical diversity of soils and rock could be significant factors causing the differences in wine quality in the two regions of western Crimea; these factors are still reflected in modern viticultural practices when using the concept of “terroir”. These findings are consistent with the different roles of ancient viticulture in SW (South-Western) and NW (North-Western) Crimea (i.e., export and local consumption, respectively), which have been highlighted by historians.

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“…On the other hand, some palynological investigations indicate a dry climate and a decline in woody vegetation (Kremenetski, 2003). So far, systematic archaeobotanical studies have only been carried out in neighbouring ecological regions, such as the forest steppe (Blyakharchuk, 2003; Krivonogov et al, 2012; Zakh et al, 2010), mountainous regions (Khomutova, 1995; Maslennikova et al, 2012) or the low hills of Kazakhstan (Kremenetski, 1997; Kremenetski et al, 1997), or have been restricted to cultural layers (Lapteva and Korona, 2013; Prikhod’ko et al, 2013; Ryabogina and Ivanov, 2011; Zakh et al, 2008), exacerbating a parallelization of results. Natural archives in the steppe that have remained undisturbed over longer periods of time have only been found in Mokhovoe, about 250 km east and 100 km north of the study area (Kremenetski et al, 1997), but the temporal resolution between 5000 and 1000 BC is too low to allow any detailed statements for the Bronze Age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bronze Age human–landscape interactions in the southern Transural steppe, Russia – Evidence from high-resolution palaeobotanical studies

et al. 2016

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The Transural steppe is a cultural contact zone between areas east and west of the Ural Mountains. Mobile pastoralism is the traditional way of life in the steppe, while sedentary cultures constitute an exception, probably as a result of climatic variations. A change of lifestyle together with other innovations is documented at the turn of the 3rd to the 2nd millennia BC and often believed to have been accompanied by a shift to agro-pastoralism. To examine the ecology and economy in the Bronze Age steppe, we employed a combination of methods. As proxy-data, plant macro-remains from archaeological excavations of Sintashta fortified settlements and pollen from off-site archives were used for a high-resolution palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Statistical comparisons of past and present pollen spectra show no significant differences in vegetation distribution. This allowed us to map the recent vegetation units by multispectral satellite imagery and to use them for modelling. Models further incorporate steppe productivity, carrying capacity and population figures to estimate herd sizes. Even if the climate was suitable for agriculture, evidence is missing from all botanical records. The economic mainstay was animal husbandry. Models consider autonomous activity zones of at least 4 km radius surrounding each Sintashta settlement where grazing resources could easily sustain the estimated population and their livestock. The river is seen as the determining factor to settle in this region as it provided constant access to water and valuable natural grazing areas. During dry years and winter, the productive meadow steppes functioned as reserve pastures.

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Soils, vegetation, and climate of the southern Transural region in the Middle Bronze Age (by the example of the Arkaim fortress)

Cited by 13 publications

References 3 publications

Palynological and sedimentological evidence from the Trans-Ural steppe (Russia) and its palaeoecological implications for the sudden emergence of Bronze Age sedentarism

Palynological and sedimentological evidence from the Trans-Ural steppe (Russia) and its palaeoecological implications for the sudden emergence of Bronze Age sedentarism

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

Bronze Age human–landscape interactions in the southern Transural steppe, Russia – Evidence from high-resolution palaeobotanical studies

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