Changes in palaeoenvironment and human migrations in the centre of the Russian plain

The age and genesis of palaeosols buried under barrows and within floodplain sediments in the centre of the Russian Plain have been studied. Palaeosols formed in the time interval from 10000 to 3500 BP are represented by steppe Chemozems attesting to less humid climate, whereas palaeosols dating back to the past 3500 years are represented by Podzolic and Grey Forest soils (Luvisols) attesting to humid climate. The periods of northward migration of steppe tribes into the forest and forest-steppe zone took place in the Middle Bronze Age and in the epochs of Cimmerian and Sarmatian culture (4000-3500, 3000-2700 and 2000-1700 BP, respectively) corresponding to phases with dry climate and the development of steppe Chemozems. Several intervals with active alluviation and soil burial on the floodplains have been identified: 10500, 8000, 4500 and 500 BP, as well as about, 6500 and 2500 BP. These intervals correspond to the periods with colder climate.