Low Activity Forms of Cellulosolitic Microorganisms in Archaeological Contexts

Abstract

The results of the study of low-activity forms of cellulolytic microorganisms in the soils of archaeological sites are presented. The objects of the study were soils with traces of wooden structures in the burials of Vyatichi (12th century). To date, traces of wood do not appear at the macro level. The data we obtained are compared with the results of a laboratory experiment to determine the rates of decomposition of cellulose in soils from various archaeological contexts. Cellulolytic activity was determined by the application method. It was shown that the cellulase activity of soils with traces of funerary wooden structures is 20% of the level of modern soils. This suggests the awakening or presence of living low activity forms of microorganisms that have been preserved in the soil for 800 years.