PALEOPEDOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE KHRINNYKY (SHANKIV YAR)

Abstract

A Holocene soil complex has been studied in six sections. In well-developed sections, a Holocene pedocomplex consists of five separate soils: a dark-grey forest soil (Subatlantic period), a dark-grey forest soil (Subboreal), separated by the Velbar cultural layer; weak Mollisol with podzolic features (Atlantic period), Sod-Podzolic soil (Boreal), Cambisol (Preboreal). The gran-size analysis perfomed has confirmed the morphological characteristics of the separate soils of the Holocene soil complex.
 The features of relic relief and soil cover in the studied area caused space structure of settlements. On the Late Pleistocene dune and it slope were located settlements. In the northern part of the river terrace on the most fertile soils the agricultural lands were situated. During almost entire Holocene in the southern part of terrace on the dunes pines woods were grows. Investigation of the relic dune near to the archaeological site showed that two phases sand accumulation were caused by forest clearance (Eneolithic and the early Middle Age).
 The stratigraphic position of cultural layers is related to soil horizons of the pedocomplexes and polygenetic soils. Based on changes in soil morphology in natural and human-transformed soils, the main evolutionary phases in anthropogenic transformation of elementary soil processes and soil covers have been revealed, particularly Non-agrarian (Paleolithic — Neolithic), Early Agrarian (Eneolithic — Early iron age), Transformational (Rome age — Early Middle age), Turbulent (Slaviс period), Degradation (Poland-Lithuanian period), Geochemical (New and Modern period — XIX—XX centuries).