Reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions of ancient people habitation in the Togootyn Gol River valley (Eastern Mongolia)

Abstract

The paper presents initial materials from the archaeological site of Togootyn gol-V (Eastern Mongolia). At the end of the early and mid-Holocene on the territory of the Eastern Mongolia there was major reorganization of the river network, regional meadow and rich black (chernozem-like) soil was formed. The ancient man settled on the site at the beginning of the mid-Holocene (the end of the Early Neolithic period). Forest-steppe landscapes were developed in the valley of Togootyn gol River. At the Holocene optimum (5.5-4.9 ka), the borderline of the taiga-forest zone shifted 250–300 km to the south of the modern one. Afforestation of the Togootyn gol River valley was highest possible for the entire Holocene period. The archaeological material of this period is typologically similar to the materials of the Baikal region (7.9-4.5 ka) and the northeastern China (7.5-5 ka). On the plains of the Eastern Mongolia the arid stage began about 4–3.5 ka. Significant reduction in atmospheric humidification led to the displacement of the forest vegetation to the foothills of the Khentii Mountains, to the expansion of steppe ecosystems and to the intensification of their xerophytization. The modern zonal distribution of the eastern Mongolian territory landscapes with complete dominance of steppes began in the second half of the late Holocene (Dinesman et al., 1989). At present, in the Togootyn gol River valley dry steppe landscapes are common, and the closest fragments of forest vegetation occupy the upper levels of the Delgerkhaan Mountain.