Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data
We studied charcoal from several types of natural soil archives, including cultural layers of archaeological sites (hillforts), surrounding forest and arable soils, and sediments in lower parts of the slopes associated with hillforts and moraine hills. The stratigraphy of the charcoals was described...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| author | Maxim V. Bobrovsky Dmitry A. Kupriyanov Alexei L. Smirnov Larisa G. Khanina Maria V. Dobrovolskaya Alexei V. Tiunov |
| author_facet | Maxim V. Bobrovsky Dmitry A. Kupriyanov Alexei L. Smirnov Larisa G. Khanina Maria V. Dobrovolskaya Alexei V. Tiunov |
| author_sort | Maxim V. Bobrovsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We studied charcoal from several types of natural soil archives, including cultural layers of archaeological sites (hillforts), surrounding forest and arable soils, and sediments in lower parts of the slopes associated with hillforts and moraine hills. The stratigraphy of the charcoals was described, and 41 samples were radiocarbon-dated. Analysis of 2277 charcoals showed the presence of 13 taxa of woody species; <i>Pinus</i> and <i>Picea</i> charcoals dominated. Charcoals older than 300 BC were found only in sediment and in several pits formed after treefalls with uprooting. The greatest diversity of woody species was found in the hillforts’ cultural layers composed of Anthropogenic Dark Earth soils formed between 300 BC and 300 cal. AD (Early Iron Age). All charcoals from ancient arable soils were younger than charcoals from the hillforts. Charcoals indicated that burning for arable farming started in the study region in the 6th century AD. Woody taxa exhibited a decrease in number of species and a decrease in the proportion of nemoral (broadleaved) species from the Early Iron Age to the Middle Ages and to the present. <i>Quercus</i>, <i>Tilia</i>, and <i>Corylus</i> have become relatively rare, although they still occur in the study region. <i>Ulmus</i> and <i>Acer</i> are now rare in the Upper Volga region and were not found in the vicinity of the study sites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5aab607d98b24b9fa464876c35982b42 |
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| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-5aab607d98b24b9fa464876c35982b422023-11-17T10:38:10ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-03-0115340310.3390/d15030403Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological DataMaxim V. Bobrovsky0Dmitry A. Kupriyanov1Alexei L. Smirnov2Larisa G. Khanina3Maria V. Dobrovolskaya4Alexei V. Tiunov5Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science of RAS, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, RussiaInstitute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117992, RussiaInstitute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117992, RussiaInstitute of Mathematical Problems of Biology of RAS, Branch of the M.V. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, RussiaInstitute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117992, RussiaA.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, RussiaWe studied charcoal from several types of natural soil archives, including cultural layers of archaeological sites (hillforts), surrounding forest and arable soils, and sediments in lower parts of the slopes associated with hillforts and moraine hills. The stratigraphy of the charcoals was described, and 41 samples were radiocarbon-dated. Analysis of 2277 charcoals showed the presence of 13 taxa of woody species; <i>Pinus</i> and <i>Picea</i> charcoals dominated. Charcoals older than 300 BC were found only in sediment and in several pits formed after treefalls with uprooting. The greatest diversity of woody species was found in the hillforts’ cultural layers composed of Anthropogenic Dark Earth soils formed between 300 BC and 300 cal. AD (Early Iron Age). All charcoals from ancient arable soils were younger than charcoals from the hillforts. Charcoals indicated that burning for arable farming started in the study region in the 6th century AD. Woody taxa exhibited a decrease in number of species and a decrease in the proportion of nemoral (broadleaved) species from the Early Iron Age to the Middle Ages and to the present. <i>Quercus</i>, <i>Tilia</i>, and <i>Corylus</i> have become relatively rare, although they still occur in the study region. <i>Ulmus</i> and <i>Acer</i> are now rare in the Upper Volga region and were not found in the vicinity of the study sites.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/403archaeobotanycharcoal analysisland use historyarable farmingAnthropogenic Dark EarthDyakovo culture |
| spellingShingle | Maxim V. Bobrovsky Dmitry A. Kupriyanov Alexei L. Smirnov Larisa G. Khanina Maria V. Dobrovolskaya Alexei V. Tiunov Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data Diversity archaeobotany charcoal analysis land use history arable farming Anthropogenic Dark Earth Dyakovo culture |
| title | Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data |
| title_full | Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data |
| title_short | Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data |
| title_sort | dynamics of diversity of woody species taxa under human impact in the upper volga region nw russia according to pedoanthracological data |
| topic | archaeobotany charcoal analysis land use history arable farming Anthropogenic Dark Earth Dyakovo culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/403 |
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