Ecological Reconstruction of Central Caucasus: Tarskoe Swamp Study

Abstract

The paper presents a reconstruction of vegetation changes in the central part of the North Caucasus based on materials from the Tarskoye swamp. Pollen and microcharcoal analyses were carried out on 4,6 cal ka BP deposits. The data obtained show that at the beginning of the formation of the bog the surrounding landscape was covered mainly covered by meadow-steppe vegetation, but after 4.4 cal ka BP deciduous forests began to dominate, with beech occupying a dominant position. Increased fire activity is only observed in the intervals between 4.4 and 3.3 cal ka BP and from 2.2 cal ka BP to the present. In the same intervals, the proportion of synanthropic vegetation increases, indicating an increase in anthropogenic pollution. Cultivated cereal pollen found in deposits from 4.3 cal ka BP confirms the agricultural orientation of the economy in this foothill region of the Central Caucasus. In general, it has been shown that the repeated expansion of open areas (4.5–4.3; 4.1–3.8 and 1.9–0.4 cal ka BP) occurred in connection with increased economic activity and probably with the clearing of forests for pastures and fields.

Acknowledgements: The research was carried by the Institute of the Problems Development of North of the Tyumen Scientific Centre of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme No. FWRZ-2021-0006).