Lateglacial and Holocene changes in vegetation and human subsistence around Lake Zhizhitskoye, East European midlatitudes, derived from radiocarbon-dated pollen and archaeological records

• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2021.06.027
• Publication Date: 2021-06-27T13:46:13Z
• Authors: Pavel E. Tarasov; Larisa A. Savelieva; Franziska Kobe; Boris S. Korotkevich; Tengwen Long; Natalia A. Kostro...; Christian Leipe
• Keywords: Temperate deciduous forest; Mire; Biome; Chronology; Mesolithic; Holocene climatic optimum

The numerous lake and peat sedimentary archives of Central European Russia are ideal for studying the Lateglacial–Holocene climate vegetation history region. However, robustly dated palaeoenvironmental records have only become available in last decade still few far between. Together with continuously growing archaeological record increasing focus on absolute dating cultural assemblages, such records, where available, offer an excellent opportunity to study human-environment interactions For this we selected one most detailed regional pollen from a 4.5-m-long sediment section Zmeinoe Mire (56°16′53″ N, 31°15′36″ E) at Zhizhitskoye Lake (165 m a.s.l.). We performed quantitative pollen-based biome reconstruction constructed Bayesian age-depth model ensure maximum chronological control succession. To link reconstructed changes human activities, gathered summarized data area. Our results show that humid conditions taiga-like patchy forests (spruce, pine, birch) dominated region during Lateglacial. Early Holocene (ca. 11,650–8000 cal yr BP) was marked by warming drying trend indicated spread cool-temperate summergreen broad-leaved trees shrubs (elm, lime, hazel) retreat spruce. Warmest conditions, expressed contribution temperate deciduous woody taxa were recorded Middle 8000–4000 when Mesolithic Neolithic hunter-fisher-gatherer groups flourished suggests became cooler wetter after 4000 BP, which may explain decline pile dwelling settlement Naumovo around 3800 BP. Evidence impact natural forest becomes visible 5000 although it remains modest levels until end (3500–3000 BP). Decline arboreal percentages intensified ca. 2800 indicating onset increased deforestation pasture, farmland, construction material fuel Iron Age populations. This is line foundation fortified Anashkino north 2750 Forest clearance further second half (5th century BCE–5th CE) again 1200 BP Ages.