Northwestern Caucasus Research Articles

About the spatial and chronological relationship between the Mousterian and Micoquian industries of East Europe

The geography of the Middle Paleolithic of East Europe (referring to the European part of the former USSR) shows two main peculiarities. The first is a very uneven (patchy) spatial distribution of sites which form dense local accumulations separated by vast empty spaces. The second is the nearly ubiquitous cooccurrence of the Mousterian and Micoquian industries. Both are present in all major accumulations from Transcarpathia in the west to the Volga-Don interfluve in the east, including also the Prut-Dniester region, the Donets-Azov basin, the Crimean Peninsula and the Northwestern Caucasus. The distribution areas of the two industries in East Europe not merely overlap but coincide (except the Northeastern Caucasus where only Mousterian assemblages are known by now). This pattern does not agree well with the opinion that these industries should be regarded as two independent cultural traditions, unless one assumes they were time-transgressive. In contradiction to some of the available absolute dates, the relative chronology of the Mousterian and Micoquian assemblages seems to corroborate such an assumption. The analyses of the published stratigraphies of the sites where both industries occur in one stratigraphic column shows that, as a rule, the Micoquian tends to overlay the Mousterian. Such a situation was observed at Kůlna (Czechia), Biśnik, Nietoperzowa, Ciemna, Zwierzyniec (Poland), Korolevo 1, Jezupol 1 (Ukraine), Ripiceni Izvor (Romania). The inverse sequence was found in Crimea, at Kabazi 2, Karabi Tamchin and, probably, Shaitan-Koba. Therefore, there are grounds to think that at least in some parts of east Central and west Eastern Europe the two technocomplexes succeeded one another.

Resettlement of Foreign Subjects to North-Western Caucasus in Second Half of 19th Century

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the process of resettling foreign subjects to the North-Western Caucasus in the latter half of the 19th century. The study is based on a wide range of issues, from the reasons for this process, its legal framework, identification of major migration flows, to the course of resettlement and analysis of its results. The author concludes that the resettlement of foreign subjects was initiated by the Russian authorities as part of solving large-scale state tasks of settling a vast territory. It is noted that this territory was cleared of mountain people to be settled by populations loyal to Russian statehood and to develop the region's economy. It is shown that on the part of the Russian authorities, this process was ensured by corresponding legislative acts and measures of material support for migrants. It is claimed that the resettlement of foreign subjects to the North-Western Caucasus had a significant impact on the economic development of the region. The author pays special attention to the issue of adaptation of resettlers in their new place of residence. The conclusion is drawn that their natural-productive adaptation occurred more intensively than their socioethnic adaptation.

Results of breeding work to create genotypes of winter peas with basic economically valuable traits in the conditions of Adygea

The work shows the historical stages of breeding work to create adapted varieties of wintering peas to the soil and climatic conditions of the southern foothill zone of the North-Western Caucasus (Republic of Adygea). In the course of these studies, it was necessary to solve the problem of increasing the winter hardiness of the crop, grain resistance, resistance to viral and fungal diseases, and new varieties should show high yields of green mass and grain of good quality and be more early ripening. The first stages of research were aimed at collecting and studying the source material. In order to increase winter hardiness, winter-hardy pellets and white-flowered, weakly winter-hardy forms were used during hybridization. To increase seed resistance, multi-flowered samples and forms were used; increasing resistance to fungal and viral diseases was achieved by involving the most resistant samples in crosses. The use of highly productive samples in hybridization as the maternal form, and the earliest ripening ones as the paternal form, made it possible to solve the problem of creating varieties of wintering peas that combine early ripening with high yields of green mass and seeds. High-protein samples were involved in crossings to increase the protein content in green mass and grain. Mutant forms were obtained using chemical mutagens and pulsed concentrated solar and laser light. The volume of crosses carried out over the entire period amounted to 600 different combinations.As a result of breeding work on the creation and isolation of new genotypes of wintering peas, possessing a complex of positive economically valuable traits, a collection of 1950 samples was formed, including highly productive forms. A wintering pea variety ADS 85 adapted to local soil and climatic conditions has been created and released.

Spatial Distribution of the Anecic Species of Earthworms Dendrobaena nassonovi nassonovi (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) in the Forest Belt of the Northwestern Caucasus

The mountain forests of the Northwestern Caucasus represent unique refugia for the native biodiversity of flora and fauna. Endemic species are also preserved among soil invertebrates, including the group of earthworms, which are important ecosystem engineers. This study assesses the spatial distribution of the endemic anecic species of earthworms Dendrobaena nassonovi nassonovi Kulagin, 1889 in deciduous, coniferous–deciduous, small-leaved, and conifer forests of the Northwestern Caucasus (a total of 1028 geographical points were surveyed, of which the species was found in 185 points) based on our own field data by modeling the current potential areas using the Maxent software. The D. n. nassonovi potential area maps show a high probability of the species inhabiting mid- and high-mountain forests of the Northwestern Caucasus and being confined to mixed coniferous–deciduous and beech forests. The optimum soil and climatic parameters, as well as a lack of large-scale business operations in the mid- and high-mountain forests, make it possible for these ecosystems to remain suitable refugia, in particular for the endemic anecic species of Caucasus earthworms D. n. nassonovi.

Organic Matter Content and Standard Material Decomposition Rate in Soils of the High Mountain Plant Communities of the Teberda National Park

Soils of the high mountain areas are very diverse by their organic matter content (SOM), by the factors underlying such diversity are still not fully known. In 16 subalpine, alpine and subnival plant communities of the Teberda national park (the north-western Caucasus) we studied physico-chemical and microbiological soil properties, and estimated parameters of standard material decomposition based on the Tea bag index (TBI): stabilization factor (STBI) and decomposition constant (kTBI). We tested the following hypitheses: (1) the SOM is one of predictors of STBI and kTBI in high mountain zone along with other physico-chemical soil properties; (2) the most of SOM content belongs to high STBI and low kTBI values; (3) the SOM content correlates with below-ground plant productivity. The main gradients of the studied soils are water content (automorphic vs. hydromorphic soils) and the concurrent SOM accumulation, as well as the altitudinal gradient with the decrease of soil basal respiration with elevation. The extent of nitrogen enrichment (e.g. SOM quality) of the labile fraction was the best predictor of the decomposition constant. STBI decreased with the increase of total carbon content and the losses on ignition, while the positive link between kTBI and SOM was observed only in automorphic soils. Thus, the soils rich in organic matter typically have low stabilization factor and relatively high decomposition constant. In the plant communities with herbaceous dominants, the SOM content was positively correlated with fine root production, this stresses the important role of productivity in the accumulation of organic matter.

Seismic Deformations at the Ancient Settlement of Raevskoe and Seismotectonics of the Northwestern Caucasus

Seismic Deformations at the Ancient Settlement of Raevskoe and Seismotectonics of the Northwestern Caucasus

Species and Structural Diversity of Coniferous-Broadleaved Mixed Forests of the Pshekha River, North-Western Caucasus

The article presents the species and structural diversity of coniferous-broadleaved forests of the Pshekha river – the largest tributary of the Kuban river. All in all, 7 main types of forest were identified and described: fir-beech fern-forb forest, fir-hornbeam blackberry-forb forest, aspen-hornbeam honeysuckle-small-herb forest, hornbeam-black alder nitrophilic-tall-herb forest, hornbeam-oak rhododendron-blackberry forest, hornbeam-beech blackberry-forb forest and hornbeam honeysuckle-blackberry forest. The composition of the forest flora of the Pshekha river includes 270 species, including 221 species of vascular plants and 49 species of mosses. Floristic diversity of coniferous-broadleaved forests of the Pshekha river is inversely related to the crown density of the stand and the proportion of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis). The highest species saturation was noted in the hornbeam-black alder nitrophilic-high-grass forest type, the lowest – in the fir-beech fern-forb type. Ecological and coenotic structure of coniferous-broadleaved forest types of the Pshekha river depends on the height above sea level, which determines the indicators of the average annual precipitation and average annual temperature – with a decrease in altitude above sea level. m. the proportion of boreal species in the composition of the flora decreases, while the proportion of nemoral and meadow-edge species increases. In the coniferous-broadleaved forests of the river. Pshekha, 11 species of earthworms were identified, belonging to four morpho-ecological groups: epigeic, epi-endogeic and endogeic, as well as anecic. In forests with a high quality of litter (hornbeam-dominated), the greatest contribution to the biomass is made by epigeic (up to 41%) and endogeic (up to 45%) groups of earthworms. In forests with low quality litter (fir- and beech-dominated), the share of endogeic earthworms is high (up to 66%). Anecic worms are mostly confined to forests on moist soils. In all types of forests, Crimean-Caucasian endemics make a large contribution to biomass and abundance: polymorphic species D. schmidti, anecic D. mariupolienis, as well as Mediterranean species: litter D. attemsi (often inhabiting oak and hornbeam deadwood) and proper soil A. jassyensis. Cosmopolitan species (D. r. tenuis, D. octaedra) are numerous among the epigeic worms and often inhabit deadwood of coniferous tree species.

Chemical composition of plant leaves as a functional sign of the formation of alpine plant communities

The content of C, N, P and the N:P and C:N ratios in plant leaves were studied in four alpine phytocenoses of the northwestern Caucasus to find out 1) how much the species found in them differ in chemical composition from random samples from the local flora; 2) how important the values of these characteristics are for dominance; 3) how phylogenetically conservative they are. The leaves of plants of alpine heaths and variegated fescue meadows contain less, and leaves of geranium-kopec meadows and alpine carpets contain more nitrogen compared to a random sample. Dominants of productive geranium-penny meadows contain more nitrogen than non-dominant species; for other communities, the opposite dependence is noted. Components of all communities, except alpine carpets, contain less phosphorus in their leaves compared to a random sample. The dominant species of alpine heaths contain less, and geranium-penny meadows contain more phosphorus in their leaves compared to non-dominant species. The C:N ratio in leaves is higher than random in species of alpine heaths and variegated fescue meadows and lower in other communities. The dominant species have higher C:N ratios compared to the others in all communities, except for geranium-penny meadows. The N:P ratio was higher than random in species of all communities except variegated fescue meadows. All characters except the C:N ratio have significant phylogenetic signal.

Micro-endemism pattern and Wolbachia infection of Quedius obliqueseriatus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), a montane rove beetle endemic of the North-Western Caucasus

We conducted an integrative taxonomic study of a forest floor dwelling montane rove beetle Quedius obliqueseriatus Eppelsheim, 1889. It is one of many endemic species of the North-Western Caucasus, a region considered a global biodiversity hotspot. Examination of the morphological characters in 93 specimens of Q. obliqueseriatus and phylogenetic assessment of the COI barcode for 28 of them, revealed that this species in fact consists of two distinct (p-distance of 4.0%) allopatric lineages, western and eastern. They subtly differ in the structure of the aedeagus, which was not noticed in the previous revision of this species. Nuclear DNA markers (H3, ITS1, ITS2, Wg and 28S) sampled in both lineages, did not show any divergence. Variation of the non-genitalic morphological characters, such as body size or coloration, is continuous across both lineages. Discovery of microendemic lineages within an endemic rove beetle species highlights how little is understood about the patterns and drivers of endemism in arthropods of the North-Western Caucasus. We refrained from the description of a new species due to shortage of data from the area where newly discovered western and eastern lineages meet. As Q. obliqueseriatus was found to be largely infected with Wolbachia, we gave a review of this infection among insects and other arthropods and its impact on speciation. Finally, we described our method of removal of the WolbachiaCOI amplicon by endonuclease restriction enzyme in order to get the desired beetle amplicon from infected specimens.

Rare Earth Elements in Mud Volcanic Water of the North-Western Caucasus

The distribution and abundance of rare earth elements in mud volcanic waters of the North-Western Caucasus were studied. Waters are represented by two types: Na-Cl and Na-HCO3-Cl. All waters are characterized by high TDS (8.1-29.5 g/l), neutral to alkaline pH (7.2–8.9), reduced conditions (Eh from -280 to +92 mV), and methane as the main associated gas. It is established that concentrations of REE vary from 0.18 to 7.02 ppb. Based on REE content and pH mud volcanic waters were subdivided into three groups. In each group the concentration of ∑REE roughly increases as pH decreases. Due to geological conditions the highest concentrations of REE are observed in mud volcanoes located within the oldest Cretaceous sediments within the flexural-fault zones of the North-Western Caucasus and the Taman region. Mud volcanoes connected with the Maikop series (₽3-N1), have lower REE concentrations. For the first time the geochemical and geological data suggest different sources of matter for mud volcanoes of the studied area.

Этногенез и регионогенез в становлении исторической Кабардино-Балкарии

On the path towards a comprehensive historical understanding of the diverse Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, it is crucial to develop an unbiased and compelling scholarly interpretation of the region's origins. The interplay between ethnogenesis and the genesis of the region itself holds great signifi-cance in this endeavor. This article aims to present the primary findings of a study on the ethnopolit-ical history of the Central Caucasus during antiquity and the Middle Ages, with the goal of offering a holistic understanding of Kabardino-Balkaria's genesis as a historical entity. The analysis reveals the lack of a universally accepted consensus within the scientific community regarding any major aspect of the ethnic and ethnopolitical history of the Central Caucasus. Nonetheless, the literature examined does not dispute the autochthonous nature of the Adyghe and Karachay-Balkarian ethnic communities, which encompass the Kabardians and Balkars respectively, acknowledging their deep-rootedness in the region of the Central and North-Western Caucasus. An overly individualistic ap-proach to their historical roots would narrow our perspective on the complexity of historical reality. Conversely, a spatial approach allows us to identify not only cultural elements associated with each ethnic group, but also the interactions, interconnections, and cultural exchanges between them. The formation of Kabarda and Balkaria is not merely the result of the ethnohistorical development of their immediate ancestors, but rather a consequence of the political processes that unfolded in the Central Caucasus, marked by shifts in political dominance. The events occurring towards the end of the 14th century facilitated the emergence of Kabarda and Balkaria as independent ethno-socio-territorial entities, unfolding simultaneously in the flat-foothill and mountainous zones of the Cen-tral Caucasus. The natural and geographical conditions of the territories occupied by Kabardian and Balkar societies laid the foundation for a close and enduring economic, socio-political, and cultural connection. This gave rise to a distinct spatial-temporal entity - the historical Kabardino-Balkaria.

Качество древесного опада как информативный индикатор функциональной классификации лесов

Relevance and goals. In the context of global climate change, the climate-regulating function of forests deserves special attention. There is still no functional classification of forests according to the effectiveness of carbon accumulation function. The aim of this paper is to discuss an approach to such classification based on the assessment of tree litter quality. Objects and methods. To test the approach to the identification of functional types of forests based on the quality of tree litter, taking into account the location in the geochemically linked landscape and the mechanical composition of soil-forming rocks, data on soils and vegetation obtained at 23 testing sites in the subzone of coniferous-broadleaf forests of the European part of Russia on the territory of Bryansk Polesie and Moskvoretsko-Okskaya plain were used. For indirect (Landolt’s ecological scales using the SpeDiv program) assessment of differences in the soil richness in forests belonging to different functional types, the species composition at 160 geobotanical plots in forest sites in the Moscow, Bryansk, Smolensk, Kostroma Regions, Krasnodar Territory, and the Republic of Adygea (Northwestern Caucasus) were analyzed. Results. Examples of functional forest types for coniferous — broad-leaved forests of the European part of Russia are given. The differences in soil carbon stock between forests belonging to different functional types were found, and a preliminary assessment of the influence of the location in the geochemically linked landscape and the mechanical composition of soils on the accumulation of carbon in soils in the same functional forest types is given. Conclusion. Based on the quality of the tree litter, 15 functional forest types were identified, which are confirmed by examples of forests in the subzone of coniferous-broad-leaved forests of the European part of Russia and in the belt of coniferous-broad-leaved forests of the Northwestern Caucasus. The validity of identification of functional forest types for the efficiency of carbon accumulation in soils based on the quality of tree litter, taking into account the influence of “external factors” (the location of forests in the geochemically linked landscape and the mechanical composition of soil-forming rocks), was confirmed by data obtained at 23 sites. Using this approach allowed us to reveal differences in the soil carbon stock and related characteristics of soil fertility estimated on an ecological scale between the functional forest types, identified on the base of tree litter in the mixed, coniferous-broad-leaved forests at the same location in the geochemically linked landscape. Differences in soil carbon stocks in forest ecosystems of the same functional forest types formed on clay loam and sandy loam soil-forming rocks were also revealed. Differences in soil carbon stocks in forests belonging to the same functional type, but formed at different locations in the geochemically linked landscape, have been confirmed: soil carbon stocks were higher in forests at the transit landscapes compared to those in autonomous ones.

Analysis of Contemporary Deformations of the North-Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia Based on GNSS Data

Analysis of Contemporary Deformations of the North-Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia Based on GNSS Data

Analysis of Contemporary Deformations of the North-Western Caucasu s and Ciscaucasia Based on GNSS Data

The field of the contemporary deformation of the North-Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia is described based on GNSS horizontal movement data. It is shown that the deformation velocity is sufficient for the activation of large-scale faults of the region to be followed by seismic events with a moment magnitude of up to 7.0. Yet, the orogenic uplift at a rate of up to 12 mm/yr and the development of its varied, deep-broken relief cannot be explained only by the effect of external horizontal stresses. These processes are conditioned, to a great extent, on internal isostatic forces.

Increasing the adaptive potential of tea plants with the use of growth regulators

The article discusses the possibility of using growth regulators on tea plantations. The accumulation of biologically active substances associated not only with the stability of plants, but also with the nutritional significance of raw materials has been revealed. Activation of synthetic processes is shown. Under the influence of growth regulators during a stressful period, dry matter accumulates more in the leaves; tannins and ascorbic acid, as elements of plant protection from stress. The yield of the plantation increases and the nutritional value increases due to an increase in ascorbic acid in the flushes. The study is aimed at establishing the possibility of increasing the adaptive potential of tea grown in the conditions of the North-Western Caucasus using growth regulators.

Military-Administrative and Demographic Aspects of the Kuban Cossack Settlements Formation on the Adagum Cordon Line in the Trans-Kuban (1860s)

Based on documentary materials, this paper reviews the development of Northwestern Caucasus by the Cossacks in the 1860s. For the development of new territories, a defensive-offensive strategy was used. With the help of fortified settlement structures, the advancement and retention of Russian borders in the trans-Kuban areas were carried out.
 The “inducted” settlements are of particular interest because they were invariably tied to the cordon lines during the settlement period of the Trans-Kuban region. Among them, Cossack villages were the most stable settlement type. The focus of the scientific problem is the civil-settlement aspect and the military-organizational narrative of the Adagum cordon line. Historical settlements arose from a complex interweaving of politics and geography, power, and settlement modus vivendi, reflecting not only the Cossacks' way of life but also their identity.
 The purpose of this paper is to analyze and determine the significance of the Cossack settlement structures throughout the regional historical process to understand the process of development of the Trans-Kuban areas and the emerging network of fortification objects with key settlement structures in the form of fortified stanitsa settlements, as well as the penetration of Russian influence into a new area of the historical region of Kuban.
 This article is intended for historians and anyone interested in the history of the Cossacks.

Archaeological evidence for two culture diverse Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and contacts between them.

Neanderthals were widespread during the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) across Europe and Asia, including the Caucasus Mountains. Occupying the border between eastern Europe and West Asia, the Caucasus is important region regarding the Neanderthal occupation of Eurasia. On current radiometric estimates, the MP is represented in the Caucasus between about 260-210 ka and about 40 ka. Archaeological record indicates that several culture diverse MP hominin populations inhabited the Caucasus, but the region complex population history during this period remains poorly understood. In this paper, we identify for the first time the archaeological evidence indicating contacts between two culture diverse MP Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and discuss the nature of these contacts. Basing on the lithic assemblages that we excavated at Mezmaiskaya cave in the north-western Caucasus (Kuban River basin) and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the north-central Caucasus (Terek River basin), dating from MIS 5 to MIS 3, and comparative data from other MP sites in the Caucasus, we identify two large cultural regions that existed during the late MP in the North Caucasus. The distinctive toolkits and stone knapping technologies indicate that the MP assemblages from Mezmaiskaya cave and other sites in the west of North Caucasus represent a Caucasian variant of the Eastern Micoquian industry that was wide spread in central and eastern Europe, while the assemblages from Saradj-Chuko Grotto and other sites in the east of North Caucasus closely resemble the Zagros Mousterian industry that was wide spread in the Armenian Highlands, Lesser Caucasus and Zagros Mountains. The archaeological evidence implies that two culture diverse populations of Neanderthals settled the North Caucasus during the Late Pleistocene from two various source regions: from the Armenian Highlands and Lesser Caucasus along the Caspian Sea coast, and from Russian plain along the Sea of Azov coast.

Formation of Villages of Psekup Cossack Regiment on Northwestern Caucasus (1864—1871)

Based on documentary materials, the article examines the settlement of the Cossack villages of the Psekup Cossack regiment and the description of the resettlement movement in the North-Western Caucasus. The author focuses, first of all, on the civil-settlement aspect, since historical settlements arose from a complex interweaving of politics and geography, power and settlement way of life, reflecting not only the way of life familiar to the Cossacks, but also the Cossack identity. The Psekup Cossack Cavalry Regiment, which was both a military unit of the Kuban Cossack army and an administrative unit within the Kuban region is considered. It is emphasized that, in fact, a military-civilian administration was formed with the maximum sphere of competence in this territory. The problematic aspects of surveying and land use in the Cossack villages of the regiment are revealed. The purpose of the study is to analyze the processes of development of the Trans-Kuban spaces in the form of fortified stanitsa settlements, as well as the penetration of Russian influence in a new area of the historical region of Kuban. The author comes to the conclusion that the villages of the Psekup cavalry regiment were interconnected with the regimental military organization, acting as a stronghold for securing Russian positions in the TransKuban region.

Geoelectric Model of the Northwestern Caucasus: Three-Dimensional Inversion

Geoelectric Model of the Northwestern Caucasus: Three-Dimensional Inversion

Иммиграция черкесов в Османскую империю в 1820-х – 1850-х гг.

Long before the mass exodus of the Northwestern Caucasus people representatives to the Ottoman Empire during the final stage of the Caucasian War, there were sporadic group and individual mi-grations of Circassians to the Sultan’s possessions, directly or indirectly caused by Russian mili-tary-political expansion in the region. These episodes of the early Caucasian muhajirism, as well as the situation of this settlers in the Ottoman possessions, usually remain outside the attention of researchers. This article, based mostly on the Turkish archival sources and testimonies of contem-poraries introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, reveals the cases of immigrant communities and families from Circassia to the Ottoman territory, traces their relocations and main places of temporary and permanent settlement in Anatolia and characterizes the features of the settlers’ adaptation in their new homeland within the framework of the emerging colonization policy of the Porte during the 1820s–1850s. In this regard, this article clarifies some circumstanc-es of the stay and activity in the Ottoman state of one of the significant figures of the Hadjret re-sistance in the Trans-Kuban region - Prince Hatokshoko Mohammed Asha.