Natural conditions and sociocultural development in the Mid-Kama region (cis-Ural, Russia) over the last ten millennia: insights from the Shabunichi-1 peat core

• DOI: 10.1007/s00334-024-01025-4
• Publication Date: 2025-01-08T08:45:18Z
• Authors: Vlada Batalova; Pavel Sannikov; Mikhail Pereskokov; Vitaliy Mingalev; Leonid Vyazov; Julia Salova; Ekaterina Novikova; Elizaveta Mekhono...; Elizaveta Orlova; Lyudmila Shumilov...

Abstract The Ural Mountains represent a distinctive bioecological and climatic boundary between Europe Asia, simultaneously uniting them through cultural, ethnic, economic ties throughout history. To investigate these complex human-environment interactions during the last ~ 10,000, we obtained peat core Shabunichi-1 analyzed it using AMS radiocarbon dating, loss-on-ignition, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, micro- macrocharcoal analyses. Our palaeoecological study demonstrate that climate frequent fires were main drivers of ecosystem change until 4,000 cal bp . Dry conditions 9,300 7,400 resulted in dominance pine-birch forest-steppe as well local fires. Subsequent humification led to expansion broad-leaved-dark coniferous forests fire regime, reducing frequency and/or severity events 5,100 peak humidity was reached 3,900 , which favored development spruce with greater admixture broad-leaved species. After anthropogenic impacts began shape appearance regional ecosystems culminating maximum landscape openness Bronze Iron Ages. activities Age cultures emergence metallurgy pastoralism region strong decline spread secondary formations meadows. Human impact agriculture caused largest reduction interfluvial forests. Despite humans becoming primary driver second half Middle Late Holocene, continued play critical role triggering cultural transformations migration processes region.