B. F. Khasanov

• PhD
• Senior Researcher at Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution

Oak trees were sampled in a flood plain forest in the valley of the Zapadnaya Dvina (Daugava) river (Tver region, Russia). Annual rings of the time period from 1826 to 2010 were studied. Anatomically distinct rings with a stripe of small-sized cells in the innermost part and narrow earlywood vessels located in three to four rows occurred in 1861, 1...

A unique window into the biological history of the Aleutian Islands is provided by the zooarchaeology of early human sites. We focus on the palaeoavifauna hunted by early Aleuts who inhabited Amchitka and Buldir islands (central Aleutians), and Shemya Island (western Aleutians) from c. 3500 yr ago to the present. Most of the seabird species recover...

The results of pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating are presented for two hyrax dung deposits from rock shelters found in the Afroalpine zone of the Bale Mountains (South-Central Ethiopia). Deposits accumulated from about 15,000 to 1500 (cal) years BP and from 7000 (cal) years BP till nowadays, respectively. Pollen spectra of the initial stages o...

Radiocarbon dates (n = 18) from three archaeological sites on Adak Island, Alaska, were analyzed to understand the marine reservoir offset. Samples of marine and terrestrial origins recovered from the same archaeological context were compiled in nine pairs. The mean ΔR value calculated for them totaled 545 ± 10 yr. This value can be regarded as a s...

The Aleutian Islands comprise a unique ecosystem, providing nesting grounds and habitat for more than ten million seabirds. No doubt their numbers were even larger prior to the introduction of foxes and rats, invasive species that have shaped the current population sizes and distributions of bird-breeding colonies. Here we present evidence that the...

Dog burials are known from Egypt from the Predynastic period from c. 3500 BC onward and continue into the Roman era. Different burials have been interpreted in a variety of ways: companion/pet/working animals, associated with divinities, and as guardians. This paper presents a unique interment of a single human and a group of dogs found in the ceme...

In this study, we present new medieval oak tree-ring chronologies developed on the base of subfossil wood collected from the Luchosa and Chernitsa riverine sediments, as well as samples from archaeological excavations and buildings in Vitsebsk and Polotsk (Northern Belarus). Two absolutely dated tree-ring chronologies for 586–1351AD and 1410–1647AD...

The data set presented represents 15 years of collection. It contains tree-ring width measurements from 64 sites of living trees and ten historical chronologies based on archaeological and construction wood up to year 572 CE, altogether 2909 tree-ring series and more than 450000 measured and cross-dated tree rings. It covers the vast territory of E...

In dogs of native breeds ("Hmong," "Phu Quoc," and "Zang Soi"), the features of behavior pre-adapted to interaction with humans and formed in the process of directional selection have been revealed. Behavioral characteristics (contactiveness, activity, playfulness, reaction to the unexpected appearance of an unfamiliar object, and abrupt sounds) we...

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359021660018

We present an overview of the beginning and early years of radiocarbon dating in Russia. Achievements of several major scholars in this field from Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Moscow and Novosibirsk are briefly described. The existing and closed Russian laboratories are also mentioned.

— The vegetation history of the Alсan Creek peat deposit on Shemya Island (the Near Islands of the Aleutian Arc) has been reconstructed. We chose this flat island because there are no volcanoes on it and they have less impact on the vegetation. The sedge tundra dominated until 7000 years ago. Then it was replaced by mire with a noticeable participa...

New oak tree-ring chronologies for European Russia built with subfossil oak wood excavated from the alluvial deposits of the Zapadnaya Dvina (Daugava) River and archaeological samples from Novgorod and Vyazma are presented. They have been matched with the nearest absolutely dated tree-ring chronology constructed in Polotsk (Republic of Belarus) and...

We present new data on regional correction factor (ΔR) conducted for Chukotka, the Commander Islands, and the western Aleutian Islands and summarize data previously published for the other parts of the region. Paired radiocarbon dates of coeval marine and terrestrial materials from the archaeological site Kaniskak were obtained in Chukotka, and one...

Combined archaeological, ecological, and geologic research on Chuginadak and Carlisle Islands in the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM) probed questions about the sustainability of human settlements over the past 4000 years in the face of geologic, ecological, and social hazards. We use a human ecodynamics approach to frame the investigation and prese...

This first zooarchaeological analysis for the Islands of Four Mountains (IFM), Aleutian Islands, Alaska, provides data about local hunter-gatherer resource exploitation over three thousand yr. The majority of zooarchaeological material represents faunal resources that were harvested within several kilometers of villages. Our analysis shows that IFM...

We present the results of multiproxy study of a peat deposit from Carlisle Island (the Islands of Four Mountains, Aleutians). Vegetation on the initial stage of the peat is characterized by heath vegetation dominated by Ericales indicating cold conditions at 7300–6100 cal yr BP. The appearance of Betula and Alnus is the result of long-distance tran...

Using six paired terrestrial and marine organics collected in the Islands of Four Mountains, Alaska, we present a new regional correction factor, ΔR (495±20 yr), for the eastern Aleutians. We compare our ΔR with previous North Pacific marine corrections. Using the ΔR for the eastern Aleutians, we calibrated the radiocarbon dates of 80 human skeleto...

The results of spore-pollen analysis and analysis of non-pollen palynomorphs of the Katcha zoogenic deposit, located in the Harenna Forest (Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia) are presented. It is revealed that bamboo monodominant communities have inhabited areas at altitudes of 2700–2800 m above sea level for at least the past 6500 years. A tr...

We obtained radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) dates with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) of vascular plant samples and a charcoal sample collected from peat deposits near the prehistoric village site informally designated CR-03 on Carlisle Island in the Islands of Four Mountains group, Alaska, to determine the eruption age of the CR-02 tephra. A fine vitric...

This paper presents results of the multiproxy palaeoenvironmental study of three zoogenic deposits, situated at the different altitudes in the Bale Mountains (South-central Ethiopia). Radiocarbon dating, pollen and diatom analyses were used to reconstruct the ecosystems‟ dynamics of the Bale Mountains during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. P...

An interdisciplinary research team conducted archaeological, geological, and biological investigations in the Islands of the Four Mountains, Alaska during the summer of 2014 as part of a three-year project to study long-term geological and ecological patterns and processes with respect to human settlement. Researchers investigated three archaeologi...

The Bering Sea is one of the most productive seas in the world with enormous density and diversity of sea mammals, birds, and invertebrates. But there are no known ancient settlements on the coasts of the Bering Sea (except in the Aleutian Islands) older than 2700 years BP. There are sites to the north and south of the Bering Sea where ancient huma...

The paper discusses the possibility of using carbon isotope composition (ratio of 13C/12C) and nitrogen isotope composition (ratio of 15N/14N) for taxonomic diagnostics of animal bone remains from archaeological sites and other ancient deposits. The world literature pertaining to the use of stable-isotope analysis (SIA) in animal trophic ecology an...

This Chapter is devoted to the study of the dung deposits of wild (rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) and ibexes (Capra ibex)) and domestic (sheep and goats) animals. Investigated deposits were found in the Afroalpine zone of the Bale Mountains (South-Central Ethiopia) and in the central part of the Negev Desert (Israel). We discuss peculiarities of...

For the first time, a complex investigation of bottom sediments is made for Glubokoe Lake, one of the best investigated in Russia in the aspect of long-term (over 100 years) biomonitoring. The study program comprised nonbiological paleolimnological and biological approaches. In spite of extensive information available on the present-day flora and f...

120 лет на берегу оз. Глубокое в Московской области действует биологическая станция (в настоящее время научная станция Института проблем эволюции и экологии им. А.Н. Северцова РАН). Хорошая изученность водоема в гидробиологической части плохо сочетается с недостатком информации об его геологическом прошлом, что и послужило поводом для палеолимнолог...

The combined use of analysis of stable isotopes and archeozoological methods with respect to osteological material from an ancient Eskimo settlement (2370-810 yr BP) made it possible to reveal the main distinguishing features of ringed seal in the past. On the basis of the data obtained, we suppose that in the late Holocene in the Bering Strait, th...

This analysis argues that zoogenic deposits of wild and domesticated animals can be reliably used to reconstruct changes in vegetation and climate histories, as well as the history of husbandry. This study analyzed zoogenic deposits in Mongolia, Middle Asia, the North Caucasus, Israel, and Ethiopia. Radiocarbon dating of dung deposits demonstrates...

To reconstruct the ancient environment of Adak and the surrounding Bering Sea, the Russian Group of Historical Ecology studied natural and archaeological deposits on the north side of Adak Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The stratigraphy and composition of a sequence in the Haven Lake peat bog was compared with those from two archaeological sites...

This analysis argues that zoogenic deposits of wild and domesticated animals can be reliably used to reconstruct changes in vegetation and climate histories, as well as the history of husbandry. This study analyzed zoogenic deposits in Mongolia, Middle Asia, the North Caucasus, Israel, and Ethiopia. Radiocarbon dating of dung deposits demonstrates...

Cases of the development of narrow latewood were studied in the tree rings of oaks from the flood plain forests (south part of Tver region). Data were divided into four grades according to the tree age in the year of narrow latewood formation: less then 50, from 50 to 100, from 100 to 150 and more then 150 years. Analysis of fraction of trees with...

The first finding of a mammoth female skeleton from the Kastykhtakh River valley, Taimyr Peninsula, is described. The skeleton consists of 104 elements including the skull and lower jaw; small distal limb bones, tail vertebrae, and one tusk are absent. There are teeth of the two last changes in the jaws. The skeleton elements have individual featur...

Studies on invertebrate remains from the cultural layer of an ancient Aleut settlement on Adak Island have shown that the faunistic composition of invertebrates in the study area had not changed significantly during the Late Holocene. The traditional mode of natural resource use by the ancient Aleuts had no impact on the abundance of valuable speci...

p>Zoogenic deposits are one of the most important sources of the information on the history of arid ecosystems. Different organic materials form the deposit thus offering an opportunity for palaeobotanic analysis as well as for radiocarbon dating. However, many obstacles arise while dating zoogenic deposits. Some layers can be readily dated by radi...

Zoogenic deposits are among a few promising sources of information on the history of arid ecosystems. To reconstruct the former vegetation of the Negev Desert, we performed palynological analysis of the Atzmaut zoogenic deposit that had been formed over the past 6000 years. The results made it possible to reveal seasonality in the use of this rocks...

Historical ecology, unlike palaeoecology, studies the history of recent ecosystems and their components, dynamics of their structure and functioning during long time periods. Examples of using different objects and methods for studying the long-term dynamics of recent ecosystems, as well as problems of interpreting the results obtained are consider...

The secular dynamics of sea mammal and bird populations of the Bering Sea region over the last several millennia are reconstructed. We identify osteological material from the cultural layers of ancient sea-mammal hunter settlements as well as natural deposits in Chukotka, Kamchatka, and the Aleutian and Commandor Islands. Changes in species composi...

Peat and eolian deposits were studied in Shemya Island, Near Islands, Aleutian Islands. The former began to form about 8000 years BP. Identifications of ash content, rate of decomposition along with macrofossil analyses. Radiocarbon data were obtained for eolian deposits as well as identification of granulometric and mineralogical composition. Acco...

Studies the shores of a lake of a thermokarst origin located 5 km to the south-west of Uelen Village. The thickness of the peat reaches 1.4 m. At the depth of about 30 cm the peat is overlain by loam enriched with vegetation detritus. The peat began forming about 7.8 kyr ago, while the deposition of the loamy silt started not earlier than 4 kyr and...