extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology

Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology
of fir-tree in forest landscapes (to 50-60 %), and a reduction of the share of pine, birch,
alder, aspen and broad-leaved species of trees. At this time swamping processes become
more active, and the water level of the Pskovsko-Chudskoye lake continues to rise
(approximately to 27 m absolute mark).
The filling of the Pskovsko-Chudskaya depression with lacustrine waters made
human settlements on this territory impossible. At the atlanticum period of the Holocene
these are the banks of estuaries and rivers that become suitable for the settlement.
This may be confirmed by the discovery of the Middle and Late Neolythic time
settlements on the Belaya Struga Lake and on the left bank of the river Obdyox, which
after the filling of the Pskovsko-Chudskaya depression with lacustrine waters were
situated along the ancient bank line [5]. The Kamenka river basin also becomes
perspective for the Neolythic men settlement. For example the cape-like promontories at
the riverhead of the estuary of the Kamenka river became especially attractive. Most
probably the further search for the Neolythic settlements in the Kamenka river basin will
make it possible to confirm this hypothesis.
The improvement of the climatic environment at the atlanticum period, which was
the climatic optimum of the Holocene, could have also contributed to the settlement
promotion. At this time average temperatures of July and January were 1-2º C higher than
at present, and annual quantity of precipitations was 25-50 mm larger as compared to
that of today. These factors influenced the fitolandscapes of Kamno settlement vicinity.
The share of fir-tree in its forestry phytocenoses increases ( more then 5 %) and the share
of broad-leaved species of tree (elm, oak, linden, hazel) increases to 10-12 %. In
phytocenoses of grassy vegetation the number of preboreal and boreal xerophile species
of plants decreases. Due to underground-water level raising and the mouths of the
Kamenka river and its gullies flooding swampy landscapes are formed.
At the beginning of the subatlanticum period of Holocene the climatic conditions
changed to the furher lowering of a temperatures and the increase of dryness. The average
temperatures of July and January at this period become 1-2º C lower than today. The
precipitation decreases 25-50 mm as compared to modern number. By this reason the
share of fir-tree and broad-leaved trees in a forest associations of a local landscapes
changed (to 5 %) quotes and the share of pine and birch raised.
However, in the middle of subatlanticum period of the Holocene raising of
temperatures which was named as «a small climatic optimum of the VIII–XII centuries»
in paleogeography was observed. The average temperatures of July and January were 0,5-
1º C higher then modern and the precipitation quantity was 25-50 mm higher than that
at present.
Such improvement of climatic conditions provoked a new migration of fir-tree
into local forest formations on the divide of the Velikaya and the Kamenka rivers. At the
same time the share of broad-leaved trees (to 8-12 %) and alder (to 15-20 %) increases.
It is to that period of time that the earliest and archaeologically confirmed
evidence of settlement of the territory of the ancient settlement Kamno and its vicinity
refers. The lowest layer of the ancient settlement Kamno exhibits trustworthy traces of
the existence of a large fortified settlement and several smaller settlements of the VIII-IX
c. in its vicinity. Leaving the issues connected with the origin of the early population of
Kamno outside the limits of our article we can obviously trace its appearance in the
riverhead of the Kamenka to migration processes.
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