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EXPERIENCE IN LARGE-SCALE PALEOLANDSCAPE MAPPING

Viacheslav Nizovtsev, Natalia Erman

Abstract

To date, certain experience in paleolandscape research has been accumulated in various regions of the country. The research is based on the central principles of classical paleogeography. Large-scale paleolandscape mapping was carried out by the authors on the basis of combined landscape and archaeological studies in the key areas of the forest zone of the European territory of Russia. Paleolandscape mapping is based on the combined use of the results of paleolandscape reconstructions, detailed palynological analysis, large-scale landscape mapping material and integration of archaeological and historical data. Detailed landscape mapping was carried out primarily for the selected key (model) areas. This made it possible to study the modern landscape structure of each given territory, to identify the main features of the development and evolution of major landscape complexes, to assess the current anthropogenic load and the degree of their anthropogenic transformation. Reconstruction of landscapes of the past is based on the landscape-edaphic approach, i.e., the assessment of the edaphic properties of landscape complexes, compilation of ecological time series of indigenous vegetation communities, reconstruction of the geological and geomorphological basis and indigenous vegetation for the main types of elementary landscapes. Paleolandscape reconstructions were based on a comprehensive analysis of topographic maps of various scales, space and aerial photographs, materials and records of geological and hydrological surveys and peat moor exploration, archaeological data on ancient settlements, palynological and osteological analysis, and the authors’ own field research. The main element of the field studies was the reconstruction of the primary landscape structure. The identification and afield study of the evolutionary series of landscapes and their morphological units make it possible to restore the stages of their development through spatial changes. For each of the main chronological sections of the Holocene, the landscape structure of the studied area was reconstructed, retrospective landscape maps (of ‘restored’ landscape complexes of the urochishche rank) and maps of settlement structure were created; and for the Dubna key site, schematic maps of the ‘restored’ lake systems were created.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/2.1/s11.82

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