extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology

Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology
of actual solonetzic features and lowered humus acid component. About 2000 years ago,
however, this was interrupted by a shot micro-arid period.
Based on regressive dependency between a number of climatically-sensitive soil
indices and the amount of atmospheric precipitation, the range of variation in climatic
humidity in the territory under investigation over the last 4000 years may be estimated.
These variations were within 380-500 mm.
Various temporal lengths in the soil-forming cyclicity were revealed. The 2000
years- rhythm is the best distinguished. The climate optimum of this rhythm was
observed in the middle of the 3 rd millennium BC, in the middle of the 1 st millennium BC
and in the middle of the 2 nd millennium AD.
MICROBIOLOGICAL SOIL ANALYSIS AS TOOL TO DETECT FUNCTIONAL
AREAS IN HABITATION SITES
Peters S. 1 , Thiemeyer H. 2 , Reinhold S. 3
1
Department of Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt a. M., Germany,
Sw.Peters@em.unifrankfurt.de
2
Department of Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt a. M., Germany,
Thiemeyer@em.unifrankfurt.de
3
Eurasian Department, German Archaeological Institute Berlin, Germany,
sr@eurasien.dainst.de
Soil studies in archaeology usually focus on differences in soil chemistry or micromorphology.
Soils, however, are likewise colonized with a high diversity of different
microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. The microbial communities of soils are changed
in sites inhabited by humans due to the anthropogenic addition of nutrition e.g., urine,
faeces, hairs, bones or other organics during the period the settlements is active.
Microorganisms live of the added nutrients and energy sources because of their specific
metabolic potential which are based on enzymes. Examples for such a metabolic process
are ureases which convert urea into ammonium molecules, or keratinases which degrade
keratin, the protein constituents of hairs, skin or hooves. The microorganisms can take in
poor living conditions adaptation forms and survive in soils for long periods of time.
In a cooperative multidisciplinary project of the Academy of Sciences
Yekaterinburg and the Goethe – University Frankfurt a. M. microbiological soil analyzes
are carried out on the steppe Bronze Age settlements in the southern Trans-Urals.
Previously, the potential of such studies was tested in a multidisciplinary project of the
German Archaeological Institute (S. Reinhold), the Archaeological Institute RAS
(D. Korobov) and the local heritage organization «Nasledie» (A. Belsinkij) at Late
Bronze Age settlements sites in the high mountain zone of the North Caucasus [6].
First microbiological soil analysis to detect functional areas in these sites was
tested by analysis of micro-fungi related to the keratin degradation used to detect areas of
increased keratin impact [4, 5]. Such can be found e.g. in places where animals were
stabled or in areas inhabited by humans. Sterile hair was added to the soil samples and
incubated over a certain period of time [7]. The resulting colonies of keratinophile fungi
were than evaluated by quantities and length. This gave first ideas about the use of rooms
and courtyards at the investigated sites.
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