Reconstruction of the Ecological Condition of Bronze Age Civilization to the Border of Europe and Asia, Russia

摘要

In 1987 in the Chelyabinsk region Russia a fortified settlement of the Bronze Age was found, called the Arcaim. Nowadays near it 22 ancient settlements and thousands of archaeological monuments were opened along the Ural Mountains. This suggests thatan ancient civilization was on the border between Europe and Asia at the turn of III and II Millennia BC. New radiocarbon dating of paleosols humus was received. On the base of our investigation we can distinguish stages of soil formation in the Trans-Uralian region during the last 4000 years. Research of paleosols buried under bank-walls and mounds showed that the soils have the more shallow profile, greater carbonate horizon thickness, less humus content, more pronounced features of solonetzecity andsalinity degree than modern background soils. These features indicate a more arid climate 3900-3000 years ago compared to todays environmental conditions. The stage of 3000-2400 years agos characterized by progressive climate humidification.