sergeogrИзвестия Российской академии наук. Серия географическаяIzvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya2587-55662658-697510.31857/S2658697525030071sergeogr-2966Research ArticleЭВОЛЮЦИЯ ПРИРОДНЫХ СИСТЕМEVOLUTION OF NATURAL SYSTEMSПалеоэкологические условия периода миграции ранних гоминид в Северной Армении по данным фитолитного анализаPhytholiths Tell the Natural History of Northern Armenia During Migration of Homo ErectusГольеваА. А.GolyevaA. A.

Москва

Moscow

Golyevaaa@yandex.ruХохловаО. С.KhokhlovaO. S.

Пущино, Московская область

Pushchino

Институт географии РАНРоссияInstitute of Geography, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian FederationИнститут физико-химических и биологических проблем почвоведения РАНРоссияInstitute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Federation202510122025893420436Copyright © Гольева А.А., Хохлова О.С., 20252025Гольева А.А., Хохлова О.С.Golyeva A.A., Khokhlova O.S.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://izvestia.igras.ru/jour/article/view/2966

На археологическом памятнике Карахач на севере Армении в педоседиментах второй половины нижнего плейстоцена и начала среднего плейстоцена, содержащих раннеашельские каменные орудия древних гоминид (Homo erectus), был проведен комплексный геоархеологический анализ с упором на фитолитные данные. Целью настоящего исследования являлось определение особенностей климата и ландшафта, обусловивших формирование и функционирование педоcедиментов упомянутого памятника в период колонизации Евразии мигрантами-гоминидами из Африки. Работы проводились в бывшем песчаном карьере с вулканическим происхождением песков Карахач (N 41°00.491ʹ, E 44°00.154ʹ, 2274 м над ур. м.), прорезающем подножие склона Джавахетского вулканического хребта. Образцы на фитолитный анализ были отобраны из слоев с признаками палеопедогенеза. Комплексы фитолитов в педоседиментах оказались сходны и состояли из видов разных местообитаний, таких как сухие степи, влажные луга, хвойные и лиственные леса. Подобные комплексы, как правило, характерны для понижений рельефа, аккумулирующих различные мелкие частицы, принесенные с возвышенностей. Большинство педоседиментов на исследуемом участке формировались под сообществами растений С3, за исключением наиболее древнего педоседимента (слой 12), в котором обнаружена незначительная доля растений С4 типа фотосинтеза. Обнаружение фитолитов С4 типа фотосинтеза хорошо согласуется с данными изотопного состава С в изученных слоях. Полученные результаты позволили реконструировать региональный палеоклимат для периода 1.9–1.75 млн л. н. Для него характерны резкие колебания месячных осадков и температуры, жаркое и сухое лето, холодная и влажная зима. К концу исследуемого периода, ~1.75 млн л. н., климат стал более влажным. Данные фитолитного анализа, а именно исчезновение фитолитов C4-растений и значительное увеличение доли лесных растений, показали постепенное похолодание климата.

Phytolith analysis was carried out on pedosediments of the second half of the Lower Pleistocene and the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene containing early Acheulean stone tools of ancient hominids (Homo erectus) at the Karakhach archaeological site in northern Armenia. The aim of this study was to determine the climate and landscape features that determined the formation and functioning of pedosediments of the Karakhach archaeological site during the colonization of Eurasia by hominid migrants from Africa, mainly based on the analysis of phytolith complexes. The work was carried out in a former sand quarry with volcanic origin of Karakhach sands (N 41°00.491', E 44°00.154', 2274 m above sea level), cutting through the foot of the slope of the Javakheti volcanic ridge. Samples for phytolith analysis were taken from layers with potential signs of paleopedogenesis (1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12). The phytolith assemblages from these pedosediments were similar and consisted of species from different habitats such as dry steppes, wet meadows and coniferous and deciduous forests. Such assemblages are generally typical for topographic depressions that accumulate various fine particles brought from higher elevations. The majority of pedosediments at the study site developed under communities of C3 plants, with the sole exception of the oldest pedosediment (layer 12), which was formed under vegetation with a minute share of C4 plants. The results allowed reconstructing regional paleoclimate for the 1.9–1.75 Ma ago period. It had sharp fluctuations in monthly precipitation and temperature, with hot and very dry summers and cold and wet winters. Towards the end of the study period, ~1.75 Ma ago, the climate became more humid. The data of phytolith analysis showed a gradual cooling of the climate, based on the disappearance of phytoliths of C4 plants and a significant increase in the proportion of forest plants.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.