Variations in the Properties of Chernozems and Paleoenvironmental Conditions in the North Caucasus in the 4th Millennium BC according to the Results of the Study of Essentuksky 1 Kurgan

Sverchkova, Alena; Khokhlova, Olga; Kalmykov, Alexey

doi:10.1134/s1064229320120121

Cited by 2 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The same features were found in paleosols buried under the kurgan and indicated a diagnostic process of lithogenic carbonatization (Sverchkova et al, 2020), which unambiguously confirmed that all constructions of the studied kurgan consisted mostly of soil materials.…”

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…The high moistening and, as a consequence, mobility of iron oxides or organic matter are not characteristic for Haplic Chernozems. We observed no such coatings in the respective horizons of buried soils (Sverchkova et al, 2020). Both materials also contained admixtures of allochthonous matter, which, at a micro-scale, showed signs of greater iron staining and higher density than the surrounding material; sometimes, such allochthonous fragments had sharp boundaries (Figure 7f).…”

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Properties: pH H2O -pH in water suspension; MS-magnetic susceptibility, x10 −8 units SI; C org -organic carbon (%); C carb -carbonate carbon (%); LOI-loss on ignition (%). 1ec to 4ec-the first to fourth earthen constructions; *data on small embankments; **MS in the Bkb and BCkb horizons was not measured (Sverchkova et al, 2020). Therefore, it was established that changes in the properties of materials of the kurgan constructions reflected changes in paleosol properties, which furthermore confirmed that the kurgan was built of materials of soil horizons.…”

Section: A Comparison Of Materials Of the Earthen Constructions And T...mentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The prolonged influence of water was also indicated by the presence of regularly structured cryptocrystalline carbonate coatings that could only be formed in situ in some voids (Figure 8b). In voids of the Bkb horizon of the paleosol buried under the fourth earthen construction, there were carbonate accumulations composed of micrite and acicular calcite (Sverchkova et al, 2020), that is, absolutely different as compared with those in the mortar of the cromlech.…”

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The most important fact is not just the large size of this mound but also its creation within a very short time period (several decades) following a single architectural design for several earthen constructions. We studied soils buried beneath each of those constructions or stages and compiled a short-term horizontal pedo-chronosequence and conducted paleoclimatic reconstructions on the basis of paleopedological and palynological analyses (see Sverchkova et al, 2020). In this study, we focus more on the construction process using the chemical composition and micromorphological structure of the earthen materials within the kurgan and an interpretation of their relationships with underlying buried soils in the context of previously conducted paleoclimatic reconstructions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

A geoarchaeological study of the large Early Bronze Age Essentuksky 1 kurgan in Ciscaucasia, Russia

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A geoarchaeological study of the large Essentuksky 1 kurgan in the Stavropol region of Russia analyzed the chemical composition and micromorphological features of the kurgan's earthen materials and established their relationships with buried soils in the context of previously conducted paleoclimatic reconstructions. The kurgan was 5.5-6.0 m high and more than 60 m in diameter, and consisted of four earthen and three stone constructions. It was built in the second quarter of the 4th millennium BC (the Early Maykop culture) using a precise plan and utilizing the building skills and technologies available at that time. The earthen constructions consisted of alternating layers of dark-colored slightly compacted humified and pale-colored dense carbonate-rich materials, which, in the moist state, were rammed down by ancient builders. These materials were sourced mainly from local soils and contained admixtures of river silt and, at the final stage of building, dung. The physicochemical properties of the earthen constructions as well as the paleosols buried under them are indicative of a short-term aridization of the climate within the period of building. A gleyed earth with strong iron staining at the kurgan's base and mortar that held the stone constructions was produced by thoroughly mixing and compacting in a wet state, indicating that they were special construction materials. This kurgan is an example of the ancient earth architecture in the steppe zone of Russia over 5500 years ago.

show abstract

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: A Comparison Of Materials Of the Earthen Constructions And T...mentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Micromorphology Of Materials Of Kurgan Constructionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations