The study of engineering and geological properties of anthropogenic deposits, widespread in the city of Samara. Their main properties have been identifi ed and a classifi cation based on the genetic principle has been developed. The results of a petrographic study of samples from cultural layers taken at an archaeological site are presented. Archaeological excavations were carried out on the territory of Khlebnaya Square, located in the oldest part of the city, in 2019. The object represents the cultural layers that were formed in the XVIII-XIX centuries at the site of the alleged location of the second Samara fortress. Petrographic studies of the samples were carried out under a binocular microscope at 8.75 times magnifi cation, in transmitt ed light of a polarizing microscope at 72 times magnifi cation and under a digital microscope (USB DIGITAL) at 10 times magnifi cation. It has been determined that the pebble fraction is represented by quartz ite and jasper fl int, the sandy and silty fractions are angular quartz fragments with an admixture of undecomposed organic remains. The organic cultural layers, which reach 7-8 m and more in the ancient part of the city, are especially powerful. Their presence is a limiting factor in modern urban construction.

No abstract