Paleoecology 

Ryabogina N.Ye., Ivanov S.N.

Reconstruction of landscapes’ look in the Low Tobol basin in the early Middle Ages (by results of spore-and-pollen analysis of buried soil from Ustyug-1 burial ground)

Investigation materials regarding buried soil from Ustyug-1 burial ground for the first time made it possible detailing features of vegetation and look of landscapes in the Low Tobol basin up to medieval time. Subject to analysis being spore-and-pollen data regarding soil from burial mound 2 and a comparative evaluation there of by means of investigation results on background sections of the region.

Buried soil, spore-and-pollen analysis, reconstruction of landscapes, Low Tobol basin, early Middle Ages.

Gasilin V.V., Gimranov D.O., Kosintsev P.A.

Weasel hunting (gen. Martes) by population from the Low Volga basin and South Urals in Holocene

Subject to analysis being a quantity of weasel (gen. Martes) remains in Holocene archaeological sites (settlements, specialized hunting camps, burial grounds, sanctuaries) from forest-and-steppe and steppe zones of the Ural and Low Volga basin, as well as from mountain-and-forest zone of the South Urals. Weasel hunting was relatively constant in Stone Age, increasing in the late Bronze Age and further increasing in the early Iron Age and medieval time. In late Bronze Age they started a specialized weasel hunting. Starting from early Iron Age among the population there were groups of professional hunters, while in the mountain-and-forest zone subject to development being a system of specialized hunting camps. The increase of weasel hunting was caused by growth of demand for its fur.

Weasel, Martes, hunting, Holocene, archaeology, Low Volga basin, South Urals.