In this paper all the Stone Age and Early Metal Period (ca. 8600 cal BC - 300 AD) radiocarbon dates from the Karelian Isthmus, Russia, are compiled and their archaeological usability assessed using a set of evaluation principles. The quality of radiometric dates from such a large area has rarely been methodologically examined in Finnish or North-West Russian archaeology, and is applied here for the first time on the present material. Special attention is given to the discussion on the deficiencies and limitations of the current data. Based on the 81 dates evaluated as useful, a tentative radiocarbon chronology is presented for the study area. This is generally in sequence with the chronologies of the nearby areas, but suggests some differences especially towards the end of Stone Age, as well as the presence of biases caused by taphonomic and research-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The problems of diagnostics of the beginning of agrarian development of coniferous–broad-leaved forests in northwestern European Russia and its specificity regarding changes in the zonal forest cover and its anthropogenic modifications inherent in the forest and field-meadow landscape based on studying pollen spectra from key sections. It was established that the onset of the agrarian development of the forests in the region under consideration dates back to 2300–2600 cal years BP. Judging by the continuous presence of cultivated plant pollen in the diagrams, it becomes ubiquitous and irreversible after 1500 cal years BP. The corresponding indicators and plants are given. The presence of plant pollen grains in the diagrams makes it possible to establish the time and nature of agrogenic changes in the vegetation composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]