Buried karst landforms in the area of a Late Neolithic Settlement near Gortalovo village, Pleven district

Abstract

Archaeological excavations in the area of Gortalovo village, Pleven district (Middle Danube Lowland) found a cultural layer dated to 5000–4850 BC – the Late Neolithic period. The main practice of the agricultural and livestock breeding settlement established there was flint tools production. During the archaeological and interdisciplinary geomorphological field work buried sink-holes were found. Karstic landscape was covered with dark clayish soil, which was sampled for further sedimentological analysis. In the paper are presented the results from grain size analysis, which defines the characteristics of the top-layer and some indications of processes responsible for burying the karst features. The results showed that soil layer was developed on a karstified limestone, covered by loess sediments. The soil layer in the area is defined as heavy clayish chernozem and the middle soil profile responds to the filling of the dolines – darker and clayish.