Reconstructions of vegetation and climate of the Western part of Mid-Russian Upland in the pre-agrarian period

Abstract

The paper presents the results of multi-proxy studies of the dated by radiocarbon method peat core of the fen, located near the village of Selikhovo (Znamensky district, Orel region). Pollen, plant macrofossil, macro-charcoal analysis were carried out, the structure of testate amoebae assemblages was determined (risopod analysis). Vegetation and climate reconstructions for the pre-agrarian period were accomplished. The obtained data have shown that throughout the last 7000 cal years BP the plant cover was formed mainly by broadleaf-pine forests with participation of oak, elm and lime, in which since 4800 cal years BP spruce occurred as admixture. According to reconstructions by the best modern analog technique, the total woody cover amounted to about 60 %. The climate of the study area during the period 7000-4800 cal years BP was warmer and, probably, drier, than present climate. The significant cooling and increase of precipitation were reconstructed for the time interval 4800-2500 cal years BP. The beginning of the intensive land use and essential human-induced disturbance of vegetation is dated back to the chronological boundary of 1700 cal years BP.