Climate and vegetation of the antique Tanais (the 3rd century BC – 5th century AD) based on the data of paleopedological and paleobotanic analyses

The chrono-sequence of paleosols buried under stone buildings of the antique Tanais related to different chrono-intervals within the time of the city’s existence (from the second half of the 3rd century BC to the middle or the end of the 5th century AD) was studied using paleopedological, biomorphic and palynological analyzes; and reconstruction of climate and vegetation was proposed. The climate of the initial period of life of the city was similar or slightly more humid than current conditions. Morphological and physicochemical properties of paleosols dated back to the turn of the 3rd–2nd and the second half of the 2nd centuries BC are similar to those of modern ordinary chernozems. Palynological spectra indicate the development of meadowsteppe vegetation, and microbiomorphic analysis shows the richness of the flora of surrounding the city spaces. There is a noticeable share of cultural cereals as well as ruderal species in the pollen spectra. Reed plants and coniferous trees were widely used for economic needs. The significant climatic aridization occurred at the turn of the era, i.e., during the 1st century BC – 1st century AD. In the paleosols dated back to the 1st century AD, the maximum values of carbonates and gypsum content, pH, maximum share of exchangeable magnesium and sodium in the composition of exchange bases were detected. Spore-pollen spectra are xerophytic, they do not contain pollen of broad-leaved trees, the species composition of herbs is poor, the Chenopodiaceae and Graminea plants predominate. The share of pollen of cultural cereals is noticeably lower than previously. According to archaeological data, the city experienced a devastating ravage, a series of fires and destruction and was restored very slowly. Palinological spectra of the 4th century AD are characteristic for the steppe conditions, and also the share of pollen of pine increases, which can serve as an indicator of its expansion in the floodplain forests in the middle reaches of the Don River. The share of species associated with anthropogenic impact on the vegetation cover is lower than that for the early period of Tanais functioning and prosperity, which may indicate an incomplete recovery of past economic activity.

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