A comprehensive palaeoecological study of humic deposits and loess profiles as a tool for understanding past human-environmental relationships at Tripolye Culture Gordineşti II-Stînca goală site, Northern Moldova

Abstract

This study investigates palaeoenvironmental changes during the late 4th and early 3rd millennium BC in N Moldova, focusing on the Gordineşti II-Stînca goală archaeological site. The research employs broad spectrum of bioindicators of non-siliceous and siliceous origin as well as geochemical and sedimentary analyses of dry, humic and mineral deposits. The comprehensive results of studied geoarchives underscores the intricate interplay between environmental conditions and anthropogenic influences on Late Tripolye Culture communities. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the Eneolithic communities, highlighting the importance of alternative analytical approaches and detailed investigations into environmental changes and subsistence strategies in N Moldova during the specified period. The analysed profiles of dry terrestrial habitats represent bioarchives of restricted palaeoecological bioindicators. The record of subfossil plant and animal remains showed scarce representation in both analysed sequences, which was associated with dry conditions. The results demonstrate a predominance of open vegetation at the Gordineşti II-Stînca goală site during pre-occupation, Late Tripolye Culture settlement in 2nd half of 4th mil. BC, and in the post-settlement phases. Local environmental conditions at the hillfort area may not have been suitable for plant cultivation due to the lithological situation. This area might have been used rather for extensive grazing. The forest cover was in the surrounding areas, including slopes of the site promontory. Our results demonstrate that dry mineral and humic deposits including archaeological layers in semi-arid areas could store useful archives for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological reconstructions.