Palaeovegetation and environment during Weichselian stadials and interstadials at Mamontovaya Kurja and Sokolova in the Pechora basin, northern Russia

Abstract

The vegetation and climate history of the Pechora area of northwestern Russia during the Early- and Mid Weichselian have been studied. Sediments from two sites have been analysed in this study; from Sokolova and Mamontovaya Kurja. The results show that the vegetation successional sequence found at Sokolova, most probably represent vegetation types of the Early Weichselian. The vegetation changed from an open shrub tundra, or grass tundra during the pre-Brörup stages, to an open birch forest, with some scattered spruce during the Brörup interstadial. The vegetation sequence at Mamontovaya Kurja possibly reflects two different warming periods (interstadials) of the Weichselian. The first one occurring around 37 ka BP, the second around 27- 30 ka BP (correlating to the Ålesund interstadial). The vegetation at Mamontovaya Kurja showed minor changes throughout the studied section. The vegetation was probably an open grass steppe or steppe tundra throughout the time period studied. In the upper part of the section the vegetation seems to have changed to a drier type. This appears to reflect a climatic deterioration. Increased eolian activity is reflected in the sequence by almost complete disappearance of pollen grains in the uppermost layers.

The age of the lowermost pollen assemblage at Mamontovaya Kurja has not yet been resolved, but datings of these sediments are currently being undertaken.