Korobchyne-kurhan Palaeolithic Sitein the Landscape of the Velyka Vys River Basin

Abstract

On the basis of paleopedological research at Korobchyne-kurhan site with a wide range of existing paleogeographic developments, in the article the main features of the ancient Velyka Vys basin landscape, where the site is located, are reconstructed. The landscape is considered as a system that includes the geological component, relief, hydrographic characteristics, climate, soil cover, flora and fauna. The natural conditions analysis of the time when the site existed provides important information to determination of regional patterns selection of individual physical and geographical environments of the past for human living. With the integration of archaeological and paleogeographic studies it is found out that the main assemblage of stone artifacts at Korobchyne-kurhan site is buried in the vytachiv soils suite, the formation of which occurred during the first two climatic optima of the Middle Pleniglacial. The similar to the modern wavy plain relief with a dense system of ravines and gullies was typical for the ancient landscape of the region where the site is situated. To the Velyka Vys wide valley were directed many of its tributaries and which composed a developed hydrographic basin system. In conditions of temperate climate, warm temperate climate with elements of aridization, there were brown and dark brown Vytachiv soils formed on which forest and forest-steppe flora was grown. A fragment of the northern part of the basin was covered mainly with pine forests with an admixture of spruce, oak, elm, linden and hazel. Forb meadows and Poaceae-Artemisia-Chenopodioideae flora were presented too. The rest part of the basin was dominated by forest-steppe vegetation. Woodlands have been formed mostly of pine with an admixture of birch and broad-leaved tree species. In the valleys, ravines and gullies there were grown broad-leaved coniferous forests with the participation of pine, spruce, oak, elm, linden and hazel. Steppe vegetation is represented by different associations of forb-Artemisia-Chenopodioideae flora. Among the large animals of the Vytachiv time in the basin there are discovered the remains of mammoth, bison, horse and cave lion. Asignificant number of smaller fauna of the region is similar to the modern species found in the forest-steppe. Thus, geomorphologic features of the Velyka Vys basin, partitioned diverse relief of terrain, developed hydrographic system of the river, a favorable climate and Vytachiv soil features contributed to the development of a rich forest and forest-steppe vegetation of the region, which was inhabited by a numerous and varied fauna. In consideration of such comfortable for the human existence natural environment and wealth of biological resources of the Velyka Vys basin in Vytachiv time becomes obvious the reasons for choosing that habitat by primitive societies. The attractiveness of the choice for the site was enhanced by the presence of available stone material resources, outcrops of which are located not far from the site.