Dynamics of Landscape and Climatic Conditions of the Southern Cis-Urals in the Golden Horde Period Based on the Materials of Settlements of the Chiyalik Culture

Purpose. The article presents the results of a palynological study of sediments from two late medieval settlements of the Chiyalik culture, Yabalakly 1 and 3. These settlements are located in the forest-steppe region on the left bank of the Dema River.

Results. The published spore-pollen analysis for the late Middle Ages was carried out for the first time. A total of 32 samples were studied. As a result of the study, 26 representative spore-pollen spectra were obtained, reflecting the change in vegetation in a continuous column covering the entire Holocene. The obtained data on the spore-pollen composition of the cultural layer deposits made it possible to characterize the paleolandscapes and climate of the Southern Urals in the 13^th – 14^th centuries, when these archaeological sites were inhabited.

Conclusion. The studied palynospectra allow us to conclude that the existence of Chiyalik antiquities in the studied territory is associated with the most favorable warm and humid period, which in the Southern Cis-Urals was replaced by a more arid and cooler period. Similar trends have been observed in both the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the Volga-Ural region. However, the appearance of Golden Horde monuments coincides with a period of cooler and drier climate.

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