Discussion
The preliminary results of the research demonstrated that the shape
of geometric microliths
varies in the sequence: lunate / triangle / trapezoid. The obtained data do not correspond to the
Trialetian variability of geometric microliths. At the same time the southern Caspian (Komishan, Ali
Tepeh) sites of show the same trend as in Trialetian of change in type of geometric microliths. Also the
similar kind of the trapezoids are presented in the late Mesolithic-early Neolithic materials in
Mangishlak peninsula (Astaf’ev, 2014). Consequently, the obtained results actualizes the general
revision of the archaeological materials of the Southeast Caspian and in particular Trialetian. General
distribution of the currently described sites suggests clear influence of Late Quaternary Caspian sea
transgressions on migration patterns of ancient humans in Central Eurasia. Thus, in Western
Turkmenistan all known sites are located close to the maximum position
of Late Khvalynian
transgression the Caspian Sea (Yanina, 2016). Further research of connections of ancient human
migrations with Caspian Sea region environmental change is of high demand with focus on highstands of
transgressions and formation of the Uzboi and Manych spillways as barriers for the main routes.
Acknowledgements
The study of the lithic collection was supported by the RF President grant (МД-2845.2017.6) and
RFBR № 18-09-00222.
References
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288
FEATURES OF HABITAT OF NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENTS OF AZERBAIJAN IN
ACCORDANCE WITH PALYNOLOGICAL DATA
Taghiyeva Ye.N.
Acad. H. Aliyev Institute of Geography , Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Keywords: Neolithic, Holocene, palynology, natural conditions, climate
Introduction
Habitat – the landscape and climatic conditions, as well as flora
and fauna has played an
important role in the life of ancient man. This condition has been a key factor, defining the
boundaries of settlement of a human and having a strong impact on the properties of the
economy and life of that period.
Relatively cold and very dry conditions at the end of the last glacial period 20-18
thousand years ago (Valdai, Wurm) (Velichko, 2009) led to the fact that almost all the plains
and foothills in Azerbaijan were covered with desert vegetation (Taghiyeva, 2012). The rivers
of this region were shallow, while the pastures were unproductive, and relatedly, there were
no conditions for the existence of big animals, on which the ancient man used to hunt.
Therefore, at that period the Caspian regions were less attractive for humans.
In the period of about 16-15 thousand years ago, warming and melting
of the cover- and
mountain glaciers began, and the amount of precipitation increased. Waters in rivers
dramatically became larger (Belyaev & Georgiadi, 2009.), and during floods riverbeds were
fertilized with silt, and relatedly, foundations for future river civilizations were laid.
Shomutepe, an ancient settlement in the Caucasus associated with
plant-growing- and cattle-
breeding which originated 7510±70 years ago, for the first time was discovered by
I.G.Narimanov in the vicinity of Akstafa city (Narimanov, 1987). Later, a lot of settlements
related to Shomutepe as well as other ancient plant-growing- and cattle-breeding cultures
were discovered, which date back to the 6th-4th millennia BC. These settlements were
emptied and “disappeared” even before the end of the 5th millennium BC, and later, at the
turn of the 5th and 4th millennia BC, no humans settled here for several centuries (Ahundov,
2000). Plant-growing- and cattle-breeding cultures appeared again in Azerbaijan in the second
quarter of the 4th millennium BC (Narimanov et all, 2007 ).
Materials and methods
In the emergence and disappearance of material cultures, the main role
is played by natural
factors, mainly by climate change, and also anthropogenic factors, namely economic activity of
humans. The object of the study is the deposition of the cultural layers of the Neolithic
settlements – Chalagantepe, Leilatepe, Farmantepa, Alkhantepa, Uchoglan, and also the
Soyug-Bulag mound that had been in Azerbaijan since the second half of the 5th millennium
BC up to the 3rd millennium BC. Settlements date back to the time of the Leilatepe and Kura-
Aras cultures. The Leilatepe culture existed until the end of the 4th millennium BC (Ahundov,
2000), after which it “disappeared”. In the second half of the 4th millennium BC, carriers of the
Kura-Aras culture came to Azerbaijan. For several centuries they coexisted with the humans of
Leilatepe ( Ahundov & Almamedov,2009), and then lived here for another thousand years –
until the end of the 3rd millennium BC. (Munchaev, 1975).
The studied sections of Neolithic settlements are located on the plains (Karabakh, Mil
and Garayazi) of 0–400 m of height, in the zone of modern semi-desert landscapes. These
territories concentrated the bulk of the population during its settlement, and the
landscapes
here were subjected to the greatest changes. At present, it is a zone of modern wormwood-
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