Palaeopedological analyses

Abstract

The research was conducted by the Upper Dniester Expedition as part of a joint Polish-Ukrainian project of the Institute of Prehistory (now Faculty of Archaeology) Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the Institute of Archaeology National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv. By describing the Bronze Age and earlier soils, as well as comparing the profiles of ancient soils and those from the barrow surroundings, the following palaeogeographic conclusion may be drawn. In the period preceding the Early Bronze Age (findings dated to 4000 – 3800 BP), the area under investigation must have been occupied by beech-hornbeam forests that contributed to the rise of brown coloure and saturated forest soils. Such soils also form in this area today.