The Sunghir archaeological site

 

SUNGHIR Seminar 2004 Books CD Contacts

Anthropological findings
Morphology about
Palaeopathology about
Trace elements analyses of bones
Molecular analyses of DNA
How those humans looked like
Ecology and evolution
  Peopling and environment

With the help of the new radiocarbon data, received in 1999-2000 it was defined that ancient man visited this place in the interval between 29000 and 20300 years ago. Analysis of the material allowed dividing this period in two different stages. During the first one, from 29000 to 25500 years ago, the site was mainly a permanent place of dwelling and during the second, from 25000 years ago, it was visited episodically. The first stage could be subdivided in two parts that are separated by a short period of 100 years (28120 - 28000 years ago) when the site was visited periodically.

According to palynologic analysis in the first stage the site was inhabited during the optimal phases of the interstadial warming of the Middle Valdai. During this time pinewoods and fir-woods changed each other, and the valley of the river was swamping.

The second stage is characterised by a large variability of forest structures. A major trend of forests' changing by open landscapes of periglacial type reflects the climate temperature fall.

The investigations of the Upper Palaeolithic site Sunghir allowed to establish for the first time the relationship between climate and settling type of ancient man. Probably, swamping of the bottom of the landslide (soil slip) circus, that made this place not favorable enough for permanent settlements, was also climate-dependent.