Pedogenetic Features of Habitation Deposits in Ancient Towns of European Russia and their Alteration under Different Natural Conditions

Abstract

Over the centuries, layers of habitation deposits (or archaeological cultural layers) of up to 5–10 m in thickness have formed in towns and cities of European Russia. These specific deposits may be referred to as urbo-sediments. They consist mainly of the remains of buildings constructed out of wood, stones, bricks, or other materials and may also include traces of manure and diverse municipal wastes. Their composition and morphology depend on the natural conditions of the territory. In the humid northern forest regions of European Russia, the accumulation of wood remains, manure, and other organic substances is active. Thus, organic urbo-sediments are formed and the decomposition of organic matter in the deposits is hampered due to the high moisture content. In the ancient and medieval towns in the semiarid zone of southern Russia, such deposits consist of remains of mudbrick or adobe made of loess. Over the course of time, these deposits have been transformed as a result of the impact of pedogenetic processes developing under humid conditions in the North and under arid conditions in the South. In ancient towns in the forest zone with humid climate and poor drainage conditions, thick urbo-organic layers, consisting of a peatlike mass saturated with woody remains, have formed, whereas in the steppe zone, urbo-mineral sediments have developed.