Phytholiths Tell the Natural History of Northern Armenia During Migration of Homo Erectus

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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