Holocene palaeoenvironments of southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains (southern Far East), reconstructed from palaeontological data

Abstract

Due to the rarity of the archaeological cave sites in Primorsky Krai, the site known as “Perspektivnaya Cave” located in the southern part of the hard-to-reach areas of the the Sikhote-Alin mountain system north-north-east of Vladivostok, is of considerable interest. The first results of its study emphasise the importance of further research since human bones and ceramics were found there, as well as numerous mammal and bird bones, shells of terrestrial molluscs, and spores and pollen. These proxies can be utilised to contextualise the migration and presence of humans within an environmental framework. Palynological studies made it possible to reconstruct the landscapes and climatic conditions of the Early–Late Holocene when forest-steppe landscapes were widespread in the adjacent territory. Mesophilous herbs prevailed in open spaces, steppe plants and ferns on rocky slopes, mixed forests on the mountain slopes, and birch forests and swamps on river floodplains. Detailed studies have revealed the various fluctuations in the vegetation development described in the article. The warmest and most humid conditions were observed in the Middle Holocene, the optimal phase of the Holocene. A moderately warm and drier climate was characteristic of the Early and Late Holocene. The composition and structure of faunas from different periods of the Holocene corroborates the results of palynological studies. The Middle Holocene bird and mammal faunas are the most diverse in composition. The fossil molluscs lived under moderate climatic conditions in broadleaved forests growing near the cave, as well as in open spaces (forest edges or meadows) with well-developed herbaceous vegetation and in places of high humidity. Freshwater mollusc remains indicate that a river with a diverse range of near-water vegetation flowed near the cave.