{"title":"The Last Hundred Years of Land Use History in the Southern Part of Valdai Hills (European Russia): Reconstruction by Pollen and Historical Data","authors":"E. Novenko, Pavel Shilov, D. Khitrov, D. Kozlov","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The last one hundred years of land use history in the southern part of Valdai Hills (European Russia) were reconstructed on the base of high resolution pollen data from the peat monolith taken from the Central Forest State Reserve supplementing with historical records derived from maps of the General Land Survey of the 18th and 19th centuries and satellite images. According to the created age model provided by dating using radio-nuclides 210Pb and 137Cs, pollen data of the peat monolith allow us to reconstruct vegetation dynamics during the last one hundred years with high time resolution. The obtained data showed that, despite the location of the studied peatland in the center of the forest area and rather far away from possible croplands and hayfields, the pollen values of plants – anthropogenic indicators (Secale sereale, Centaurea cyanus, Plantago, Rumex, etc.) and micro-charcoal concentration are relatively high in the period since the beginning of the 20th century to the 1970s, especially in the peat horizon formed in the 1950s. In the late 1970s – the early 1980s when the pollen values of cereals gradually diminished in assemblages, the quantity of pollen of other anthropogenic indicators were also significantly reduced, which reflects the overall processes of the agriculture decline in the forest zone of the former USSR.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"73 - 81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46458301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Holocene Lake and Shallow Water Sediments at Mograt Island, Sudan","authors":"Annett Dittrich, Sayantani Neogi","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper presents the results of stratigraphic excavation and soil studies carried out at Mograt Island, the largest of the Nilotic islands in Sudan. Due to its restricted insular environments, Holocene alluvial deposits were observed to be interlocked with archaeological remains of different periods, allowing for a combined chronostratigraphic approach to study both cultural and climatic events. To better understand the environmental context through soil components and pedological features at a microscopic scale, soil block samples were accordingly collected and studied by the application of soil micromorphology. This approach provides insights into the history of Nile terrace aggradation through the suspension of Nile sediment loads under stillwater conditions as well as of the periodical establishment of shallow water pools at the islands′ plateaus by the surface run-off from local rains. Since these patterns vary significantly from the present situation, they offer a key to the scenario in which specific early agricultural and animal herding practices evolved.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"21 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45670626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pleistocene Deposits in the Southern Egyptian Sahara: Lithostratigraphic Relationships of Sediments and Landscape Dynamics at Bir Tarfawi","authors":"Christopher L. Hill, R. Schild","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The sedimentological and lithostratigraphic record from north-central Bir Tarfawi documents the presence of Pleistocene basin-fill deposits. Three topographic basins were created as a result of deflation during climate episodes associated with lowering of the local groundwater table. In each case, the three deflational basins or topographic depressions were subsequently filled with sediments; these basin aggradations coincided with changes from arid climate conditions to wetter conditions and a rise in the groundwater table. The oldest and highest sedimentary remnant is associated with Acheulian artifacts and may reflect spring-fed pond and marsh conditions during a Middle Pleistocene wet climate episode. Lithofacies for a lower stratigraphic sequence (the “White Lake”) documents deposition in a perennial lake that varied in extent and depth and is associated with Middle Paleolithic artifacts. A third episode of deflation created a topographic low that has been filled with Late Pleistocene sediments that are associated with Middle Paleolithic artifacts and fossil remains. Lateral and vertical variations in the lithofacies of this basin-fill sequence and the sediments of the “grey-green” lake phases provide a record of changing hydrologic conditions. These hydrologic conditions appear to reflect variations in water-table levels related to groundwater recharge and, at times, local rains.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"23 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/squa-2017-0002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67306773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Zalat, L. Marks, F. Welc, A. Salem, J. Nitychoruk, Zhongyuan Chen, Aleksandra Majecka, M. Szymanek, M. Chodyka, Anna Tołoczko-Pasek, Qianli Sun, Xiaoshuang Zhao, Jun Jiang
{"title":"Diatom Stratigraphy of FA-1 Core, Qarun Lake, Records of Holocene Environmental and Climatic Change in Faiyum Oasis, Egypt","authors":"A. Zalat, L. Marks, F. Welc, A. Salem, J. Nitychoruk, Zhongyuan Chen, Aleksandra Majecka, M. Szymanek, M. Chodyka, Anna Tołoczko-Pasek, Qianli Sun, Xiaoshuang Zhao, Jun Jiang","doi":"10.1515/squa-017-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-017-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study evaluates changes in the environmental and climatic conditions in the Faiyum Oasis during the Holocene based on diatom analyses of the sediment FA-1 core from the southern seashore of the Qarun Lake. The studied FA-1 core was 26 m long and covered the time span ca. 9.000 cal. yrs BP. Diatom taxa were abundant and moderately to well-preserved throughout the core sediments. Planktonic taxa were most abundant than the benthic and epiphytic forms, which were very rare and sparsely distributed. The most dominant planktonic genera were Aulacoseira and Stephanodiscus followed by frequently distribution of Cyclostephanos and Cyclotella species. The stratigraphic distribution patterns of the recorded diatoms through the Holocene sediments explained five ecological diatom groups. These groups represent distinctive environmental conditions, which were mainly related to climatic changes through the early and middle Holocene, in addition to anthropogenic activity during the late Holocene. Comparison of diatom assemblages in the studied sediment core suggests that considerable changes occurred in water level as well as salinity. There were several high stands of the freshwater lake level during humid, warmer-wet climatic phases marked by dominance of planktonic, oligohalobous and alkaliphilous diatoms alternated with lowering of the lake level and slight increases in salinity and alkalinity during warm arid conditions evident by prevalence of brackish water diatoms.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"61 - 69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45347386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Welc, R. Mieszkowski, Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, Ana Konestra
{"title":"An Attempt to Integration of Different Geophysical Methods (Magnetic, GPR and ERT); A Case Study From the Late Roman Settlement On the Island of Rab in Croatia","authors":"F. Welc, R. Mieszkowski, Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, Ana Konestra","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In 2016 within the RED Project Roman Economy in Dalmatia: production, distribution and demand in the light of pottery workshops, 5 selected areas around the Podšilo Bay were geophysically surveyed. During the fieldworks in the Lopar protected area, located in the northeastern part of the Island of Rab a gradiometer, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were used. The main aim of the project was to document presence of the Roman architecture in two areas of the bay’s hinterland as suggested earlier by finds of pottery and glass. Geophysical studies conducted in the Lopar area revealed presence of underground remains of ancient structures, probably from the late Roman period and connected with a ceramic production centre at the present seashore. The most interesting results were obtained for the area no. 4, the site where magnetic, georadar and ERT surveys revealed an ancient regular building at 0.4-0.6 m depth. The survey performed in the Lopar area clearly indicates that integration of different geophysical methods enables detailed and effective identification of buried archaeological structures.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"47 - 59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/squa-2017-0004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49366414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molluscs and Ostracods of the Qarun Lake: Preliminary Report From FA-1 Core in Faiyum Oasis, Northern Egypt","authors":"M. Szymanek","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A research was conducted on the Holocene lake sediments from the full-cored FA-1 drilling at the southern shore of the Qarun Lake in the Faiyum Oasis in northern Egypt. Altogether 10 taxa of molluscs and 8 taxa of ostracods were identified in the examined deposits, with total amounts of 768 and 2872 individuals, respectively. The fauna was investigated with palaeoecological purpose and allowed for preliminary reconstruction of sedimentary environment in the lake. The occurrence of Valvata nilotica Jickeli, 1874 and Gomphocythere sp. in the lower part of the core and a low proportion of carapaces (2.4-28%) indicated freshwater and higher-energy conditions, respectively. Rapid expansion of Cyprideis torosa (Jones, 1850) at a depth of 18 m could point to very short saline episode in the lake. The increase in salinity and drop of water level were evidenced in the uppermost part of the core (4-3.5 m), when the lake was dominated by Hydrobia ventrosa (Montagu, 1803), Cerastoderma glaucum (Poiret, 1789) and C. torosa. The steady sedimentation in a shallow lake was also supported by considerable amount of complete ostracod carapaces (45%). The faunal assemblage and smooth valves of C. torosa suggested salinity of 14-25‰.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"39 - 45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41912320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Welc, Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, Ana Konestra, Tea Rosic
{"title":"Remote Sensing of a Roman Pottery Workshop. Report on a Geophysical Survey Carried out in Crikvenica (Ancient Ad Turres, Croatia)","authors":"F. Welc, Goranka Lipovac Vrkljan, Ana Konestra, Tea Rosic","doi":"10.1515/squa-2017-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2017-0010","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The paper presents results of a geophysical survey conducted in Crikvenica, a town located at the north-eastern Adriatic Sea coast in Croatia. The main aim was to identify extent of a Roman pottery workshop discovered to the north of the present town, at the site known as “Igralište”. The performed magnetic and GPR surveys within the area of the modern playground in Crikvenica revealed a large number of anomalies that may be connected with anthropogenic activity during different periods, both in modern and ancient times. The first group consists of anomalies generated by remnants of the modern underground infrastructure. Magnetic and ground-penetrating radar maps revealed anomalies in the north-western part of the modern playground that can be very likely interpreted as remains of a large ceramic kiln dated back to the Roman Period, similar to the kiln discovered during the excavations located further to the north. Finally, the survey performed within the Crikvenica football stadium clearly indicates that the integration of different Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic methods allows for a detailed and effective identification of buried archaeological structures in large areas.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"34 1","pages":"119 - 130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67306837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Welc, R. Mieszkowski, L. Conyers, J. Budziszewski, Artur Jedynak
{"title":"Reading of Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) Images of Prehistoric Flint Mine; Case Study from Krzemionki Opatowskie Archaeological Site In Central Poland","authors":"F. Welc, R. Mieszkowski, L. Conyers, J. Budziszewski, Artur Jedynak","doi":"10.1515/squa-2016-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2016-0012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Geophysical surveys conducted in order to map tunnels and vertical shafts at the Neolithic chert mining field Krzemionki used a ground-penetrating radar(GPR to test hypotheses regarding orientation, depth and subsurface complexity of these voids.Using two-dimensional reflection profiles the vertical shafts, now mostly filled with lithic debris, were easily visible. Amplitude mapping visualized debris at shaft margins as well as a collapsed material inside the voids. Some shallower horizontal tunnels were also visible as sub-horizontal planar reflections generated from both ceiling and floors of these void spaces. Extension of these interpretations to un-mapped areas of the ancient mining district and complexity of these prehistoric mining features could be examined to determine excavation intensity and exploitation techniques used during the Neolithic.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"33 1","pages":"117 - 130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67306847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Weathering Rind Age Assignment of Neoglacial Deposits in the Okstindan Mountains, Northern Norway","authors":"W. Mahaney","doi":"10.1515/squa-2016-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2016-0013","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Previous soil stratigraphic analysis of soil morphogenesis in the Okstindan Mountains established a Late Neoglacial soil evolutionary sequence based on historically monitored and radio carbon-dated moraine positions over the last ~3.0 cal yr BP. Thus pedon evolution ranged from C/Cu→Ah/Cox/Cu→pedostratigraphic succession of Ah/C/Cu/Lb/ Cub/Ahb/Coxb/Cub pro files with a max i mum rind weathering time of ~1.0 kyr. Following successive re treat phases of Neoglacial ice, weathering rind development continued apace on moraines, each rind population recording weathering time fol lowing successive glacier still stands. The age of the youngest deposits falls within the period 1900-1910 AD, or the last 100 yrs, with variable moraine positions all documented by historical depictions of the position of the Austre Okstindan glacial lobe prior re treating to its present position. The next older group of deposits is considered to have been emplaced near the end of the LIA or around ~1800 AD, with time of rind development set at 200 yr, possibly older. The old est moraine set within the late Neoglacial sequence lies atop a pedostratigraphic column, the upper-most soil radio carbon dated at ~1.0 yr BP. Given the range of mean rind development across this thresh old of deposits, from 0.22 ±0.03 mm in the inner group, 0.66 ±0.07mm in the middle group, to 1.38 ±0.15 mm in the outer, older group, it is clear that finite measurements at several sites within a suite of deposits, some dated by radio carbon, can evenly discriminate be tween deposits in a glacial succession.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"33 1","pages":"131 - 138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67306605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Variability of Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC) of Fen Peats in Vertical Profiles from Eastern and Central Poland in Relation to Function of Peatlands as Natural Geological Barriers","authors":"Paweł Rydelek, A. Bąkowska, Piotr Zawrzykraj","doi":"10.1515/squa-2016-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/squa-2016-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract An analysis of cation-exchange capacity(CEC) variability of peats is presented in vertical pro files from eastern and central Po land. CEC values were com pared with ash con tent (Ac), pH and CaCO3 content. Eight peatlands were selected for re search in the fol lowingareas: War saw Plateau (2 objects), Siedlce Plateau (2 objects), Lubartów Plateau (2 objects), Nałęczów Table land (1 object) and Dobrohusk Depression (1 object). The peatlands represented a fen peat type of similar botanic compositions of sediments, but they differed in the area, peat thickness and drain age conditions. Characteristic regular i ties in CEC variability were noted in the peatlands and there were three types of CEC variability in vertical pro files. Carbonate peats (types 1 and 2) had the high est pH and definitely the high est values of CEC. In vertical pro files, there was also a zonation, but the regularities similar to non-carbonate peats were not observed. Different distribution of phys i cal and chem i cal parameters were establishedin vertical pro files in partly drained peatlands (with a muck layer on top) with non-carbonate peats (type 3) and there were three distinct zones in vertical pro files, with different Ac and CEC. Determination of the vertical CEC variability and other phys i cal and chem i cal parameters in peatlands made it possible to distinguish zones with potentially most beneficial isolation conditions.","PeriodicalId":42625,"journal":{"name":"Studia Quaternaria","volume":"33 1","pages":"111 - 116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/squa-2016-0011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67306653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}