The Pyrogenic Archives of Anthropogenically Transformed Soils in Central Russia

Charred materials (anthracomass) stored within a soil constitute major part of its pyrogenic archive and could provide evidence past fire events, both natural anthropogenic. However, the dynamics man-made contributions to total anthracomass at different time scales are insufficiently understood. In this study, we determined concentrations, stocks, particle-size distribution in anthropogenically transformed soils genesis ages. Materials were collected from following archaeological sites Central Russia—3 Upper Paleolithic (Avdeevo, Khotylevo-2 Yudinovo-1), 2 Early Iron Age settlements (Khotylevo-2 Yaroslavl), 1 Medieval site (Yaroslavl). Samples cultural layers (CLs), plough layers, native (control) studied. We identified accumulation over wide chronological scale starting Period. The high degree preservation ancient was explained by presence large fragments charred bones, which more durable comparison wood charcoal. concentrations stocks layer lower than those layer. CLs generally enriched due their sedimentational genesis, is favorable for turbational layers. differences between particle sizes synlithogenic less clear expected, specific conditions formation each particular layer, e.g., burial rate, duration ploughing, type agricultural land use.