Introduction: Markers of Reindeer Husbandry

Methodological Seminar

David G. Anderson Univ. of Aberdeen

NordForsk Researcher Network “Rangifer Domus” site.uit.no/rangiferdomus

2

Nordforsk Researcher Network

To develop new methods

To broaden collaboration across the Nordic world and internationally

To assist in gathering samples – sharing laboratory facilities

Opening seminar, Tromsø Museum, Nov 2011

3

Scandinavian and Russian conversations on pollen analysis Pollen analysis as an aid to geological

research Pollen analysis describing climate change Trees – Grasses – Cereals – Plants &

Animals Reindeer Husbandry in the past

Milking corrals Habitation sites

Reindeer Husbandry Today Milking corrals Habitation sites Ust’-Nechera, Bodaibo

district

4

Methods and Problems

Sampling Peat myres vs humified peat and calcified soils Unbroken columns vs. samples from selected

strata Small slivers of soil (1 cc) vs large blocks

5

Methods and Problems

Descriptions and Representations Soil categories: colour and texture vs Troels-

Smith

Tilia

Modern plant communities vs palynological communities

Novyi Kilgol, S-B district

6

Methods and Problems

New Themes Landscape ethnoecology

7

Methods and Problems

New Themes Fungal spore analysis

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth b

elow s

urfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

% TLP

Athyri

um

Botryc

hium

50 100 150

Lyco

podiu

m

20 40 60 80

Polypod

iacea

e

Selagin

ella

20 40 60 80

Sphag

num

Gelasin

aspo

ra-ty

pe (H

dV-1

/2)

Chaeto

mium

-type

(HdV

-7A)

20

Sordar

ia-typ

e (H

dV-55A

)

Sporo

rmiel

la-typ

e (H

dV-113

)

Arnium

-type

(HdV-2

61)

Podos

pora

-type

(HdV-3

68)

20

Bysso

theciu

m a

lpestr

is

104 179

137 371 482699 1062 10541020 1039 10531003 1034 1046998 1042 10411060 1034 10361022 1039 10131038 1007 10481076 1003 10071012 1015 10321030 992 10041026 1027 1044828 1029 10001000 998 10121003 1012 781873 1030 10331003 833 911720 879 1004

694

686

1010

288

140

177

166

520

483

870

SUM T

LP

50000 100000

grains cm -3

Pollen

conc

entrat

ion

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-1b

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

FUNGICRYPTOGAMS

2 4 6 8 10

Total sum of squares

CONISSLitho

logy

8

9

Preface: Evocative Landscapes

10

Лайда - Laida

11

TheQuestion of Agency in Space

Ian Hodder - The Domestication of Europe

A symbolic opposition of Domus and Agrios Domus as

Centre

Agrios as Centre

Agrios as periphery

Domus as periphery

Fig 4.6 The shift in the relative importance of the domus and agrios through time. p. 96

12

Domus as viewed by both Homo Sapiens and Rangifer

Botanical Conversations: What plants speak to us of.

Laboratory conversations: Searching for and representing ‘hard’ data that gives voice to landscape forms

Ethnographic Conversations: Tracking the Yearly Round of People, Moose, and Reindeer

Topogenesis: the mutual interest of rangifer and other species in similar places

13

The ‘paradox’ of swampy dry places

14

Botanical Conversations

15

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth

belo

w surfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

20 40 60 80 100

% TLP

TREES

SHRUBS

HEATHS

HERBS

Abies s

ibiric

a

Larix

20

Picea

obov

ata

20 40 60

Pinus s

ibiric

a

20 40

Pinus s

ylves

tris

20 40

Betul

a se

ct N

anae

20

Dusch

ekia

Pinus p

umila

Artemisi

a

Astera

ceae

Cheno

podi

acea

e

Cichor

iacea

e

Cyper

acea

e

20 40

Erical

es

Fabac

eae

Poace

ae

Polygo

num a

mph

ibium

20

Polygo

num a

vicula

re-ty

pe

Ranun

culac

eae

Rosac

eae

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

TOL-1b

HEATHS & HERBSSHRUBSTREES

Litho

logy

Silt Sand Humified organics Diatom and clay-rich horizon Burnt horizon

Laboratory Conversations

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

‘Paradoxical’ rises in both dry and damp tolerant plants – a possible ecological marker of reindeer grazing

16

Climate Agency: The ‘Natural’ Alternation of Dark and Damp with Dry

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

0 100

D C / L C

0

5

1 0

1 5

2 0

2 5

3 0

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

-37 -36 -35 -34 -33

N G R IP

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6

D o n g g esta lagm ite

3 54 0

5 0

O Z Y -1

O Z Y -2

O Z Y -3

Dep

th, c

m

Age

, yr B

P

L P Z

Analysis by Elena Bezrukova

17

Ethnographic Conversations: The Yearly Round

• Winter in the uplands – shallow snow

• Early spring migration to grass meadows

• Summer smoke fires (smudges) and shade

• Spring and autumn coralling

•A mixed economy- porterage, moose hunting, milking, forestry

18

Landscape Ethnoecology• Local landscape terminology

often does not easily translate into botanical categories.

• Often these terms mix qualities of agency, biophysical qualities, function, and climate.

• Examples: Moss as a type of earth; ‘Good’ places

• Ethnoecologies help to identify problems in how formal science classifies the world

19

Topogenesis

Aian - Perevoz

Kever – Bazarnaia reka

Poliana – Ostrov – Lake Tolondo

20

Conclusions

Human-Rangifer relationships are an ‘emplaced’ relationship.

This creates complex interstitial categories which complicate geophysical analysis or often appear as ‘static’ or ‘error’.

In adjudicating the debate between climate created space, and anthropogenesis, it seems that both work together to create ‘good’ places

Rangifer are neither wild nor tame. Homo Sapiens is part of the Rangifer Domus

21

With thanks to:

Ed Schofield, University of AberdeenElena Bezrukova, СО РАНNatal’ia Kulagina, СО РАНMika Lavento, University of HelsinkiPeter Jordan, University of Aberdeen

The Research Council of NorwayThe National Science Foundation, USAThe Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaNordForsk

22

The North Baikal Region

4 Sites: Ozernyi, Ust’-Nichera, Kilgoi, Lake Tolondo

• strong continental climate mediated by Lake Baikal• relatively late end to glaciation• high tundra plateaus interspersed with steppe-like refuges•Centrally involved in the fur trade from 18th century and gold mining from the mid-19th century

23

North Baikal Evenki-Iakuts

24

Zone 1:• Vasinium uliginosum• Festuca ovina• Poa pratanesis• Chamaenerion angustifolium

• Erigeron acris• Tanasetum vulgare

Phyto-botanical zones

Ozernyi

25

Zone 2:• Carex cespitosa• Comarum palustre• Rubus arcticus• Geranium sp.• Poa pratanesis• Trolliuis kytmanovii• Swertia obtusa

Phyto-botanical zones

Ozernyi

26

Zone 3:• Vassinium uliginosum

• Vassinium vitis-idea• Lonicera pallisi• Festuca rubra• Chameenerion angustifolium

• Calamagrostis epigeois

Phyto-botanical zones

Novyi Kilgol

27

Conclusions - There is no single marker of either human habitation or reindeer trampling. - However, the concept of a sinantropic (companion) plant community captures the visual feel of a reindeer herding area- This concept overlaps with ethnoecological terminology

Phyto-botanical zones

28

Spore and Pollen Analysis

Attempt to trace plant-family communities into the past

An attempt to identify bio-indicators of reindeer husbandry Esp. plant communities distinguished by orders Coprophilious fungus

High resolution 0.5cm resolution (different than standard practice in Russian archaeology)

Use of Lycopodium markers to measure pollen accumulation rates

29

Lake Tolondo, Zhuia river

30

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth

belo

w surfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

20 40 60 80 100

% TLP

TREES

SHRUBS

HEATHS

HERBS

Abies s

ibiric

a

Larix

20

Picea

obov

ata

20 40 60

Pinus s

ibiric

a

20 40

Pinus s

ylves

tris

20 40

Betul

a se

ct N

anae

20

Dusch

ekia

Pinus p

umila

Artemisi

a

Astera

ceae

Cheno

podi

acea

e

Cichor

iacea

e

Cyper

acea

e

20 40

Erical

es

Fabac

eae

Poace

ae

Polygo

num a

mph

ibium

20

Polygo

num a

vicula

re-ty

pe

Ranun

culac

eae

Rosac

eae

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

TOL-1b

HEATHS & HERBSSHRUBSTREES

Litho

logy

Silt Sand Humified organics Diatom and clay-rich horizon Burnt horizon

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

31

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth

belo

w surfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

20 40 60 80 100

% TLP

TREES

SHRUBS

HEATHS

HERBS

Abies s

ibiric

a

Larix

20

Picea

obov

ata

20 40 60

Pinus s

ibiric

a

20 40

Pinus s

ylves

tris

20 40

Betul

a se

ct N

anae

20

Dusch

ekia

Pinus p

umila

Artemisi

a

Astera

ceae

Cheno

podi

acea

e

Cichor

iacea

e

Cyper

acea

e

20 40

Erical

es

Fabac

eae

Poace

ae

Polygo

num a

mph

ibium

20

Polygo

num a

vicula

re-ty

pe

Ranun

culac

eae

Rosac

eae

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

TOL-1b

HEATHS & HERBSSHRUBSTREES

Litho

logy

Silt Sand Humified organics Diatom and clay-rich horizon Burnt horizon

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

A unique interrupted hydrological event, and marked by fire at the top

32

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth

belo

w surfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

20 40 60 80 100

% TLP

TREES

SHRUBS

HEATHS

HERBS

Abies s

ibiric

a

Larix

20

Picea

obov

ata

20 40 60

Pinus s

ibiric

a

20 40

Pinus s

ylves

tris

20 40

Betul

a se

ct N

anae

20

Dusch

ekia

Pinus p

umila

Artemisi

a

Astera

ceae

Cheno

podi

acea

e

Cichor

iacea

e

Cyper

acea

e

20 40

Erical

es

Fabac

eae

Poace

ae

Polygo

num a

mph

ibium

20

Polygo

num a

vicula

re-ty

pe

Ranun

culac

eae

Rosac

eae

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

TOL-1b

HEATHS & HERBSSHRUBSTREES

Litho

logy

Silt Sand Humified organics Diatom and clay-rich horizon Burnt horizon

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

A classic rise in meadow species

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

33

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth

belo

w surfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

20 40 60 80 100

% TLP

TREES

SHRUBS

HEATHS

HERBS

Abies s

ibiric

a

Larix

20

Picea

obov

ata

20 40 60

Pinus s

ibiric

a

20 40

Pinus s

ylves

tris

20 40

Betul

a se

ct N

anae

20

Dusch

ekia

Pinus p

umila

Artemisi

a

Astera

ceae

Cheno

podi

acea

e

Cichor

iacea

e

Cyper

acea

e

20 40

Erical

es

Fabac

eae

Poace

ae

Polygo

num a

mph

ibium

20

Polygo

num a

vicula

re-ty

pe

Ranun

culac

eae

Rosac

eae

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

TOL-1b

HEATHS & HERBSSHRUBSTREES

Litho

logy

Silt Sand Humified organics Diatom and clay-rich horizon Burnt horizon

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

A classic rise in meadow species, with a decline in light shrubs

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

34

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth b

elow s

urfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

% TLP

Athyri

um

Botryc

hium

50 100 150

Lyco

podiu

m

20 40 60 80

Polypod

iacea

e

Selagin

ella

20 40 60 80

Sphag

num

Gelasin

aspo

ra-ty

pe (H

dV-1

/2)

Chaeto

mium

-type

(HdV

-7A)

20

Sordar

ia-typ

e (H

dV-55A

)

Sporo

rmiel

la-typ

e (H

dV-113

)

Arnium

-type

(HdV-2

61)

Podos

pora

-type

(HdV-3

68)

20

Bysso

theciu

m a

lpestr

is

104 179

137 371 482699 1062 10541020 1039 10531003 1034 1046998 1042 10411060 1034 10361022 1039 10131038 1007 10481076 1003 10071012 1015 10321030 992 10041026 1027 1044828 1029 10001000 998 10121003 1012 781873 1030 10331003 833 911720 879 1004

694

686

1010

288

140

177

166

520

483

870

SUM T

LP

50000 100000

grains cm -3

Pollen

conc

entrat

ion

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-1b

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

FUNGICRYPTOGAMS

2 4 6 8 10

Total sum of squares

CONISSLitho

logy

Sharp rises in coprophillious fungus associated with domestic animals

Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

35

Conclusions – Pollen Analysis No clear plant marker of reindeer

husbandry Coprophillious fungus provides the best

indicator Model of plant communities provides a

second marker – esp ‘paradoxical’ co presence of dry and wet types

Possible occupancy dated to 10th Century by plant communities, 17th Century by fungal markers

36

Conclusions – Pollen Analysis Potentially interesting interaction with

climate caused change Reindeer herding camps are placed on special

‘interzonal’ places between alpine tundra and taiga, often on an ancient, gravelly moraine

These interzonal places provide ‘affordances’ for a ‘good place’ to live.

Interzonal places if not used by people with deer might well be colonized by migratory wild deer, who in turn attract people

A ‘hearth’ of domestication?

37

Conclusions – Reflections on Methods and Colloboration Our group also worked in an international

collaborative setting supported by a reindeer herding community.

The project served as meeting point of different methods in archaeology, ethnography and palynology, enskilling the practitioners Emphasis on fine resolution records Attention directed to new plant and pollen

types Increased attention to vernacular models of

landscape

38

Conclusions – Reflections on Methods and Colloboration However, we encountered a severe

problem with permafrost requiring the use of ‘dried’ myres – which produces patchy or noisy results.

We continue to debate with colleagues about the impact of large scale climate change on the production of these meadows which afford a place for life.

39

40

A Model1) A sudden drying of

a glacial moraine after a significant hydrological event

2) Meadow grasses exploited by migratory wild reindeer, spring and autumn

3) Domestic reindeer kept on the same meadows4) In the Russian imperial and early Soviet period, new forms of

agriculture including garden plots, haying, pasturing of horses with reindeer5) In the middle Soviet period, intensive haying and seeding of cereals6) Extensive industrial impacts, burning, in the late Soviet period7) A period of decline in the post-Soviet period

41

Phosphate Activity Areas

Chart and analysis by Mika Lavento

42

Lake Tolondo Zhuia River

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

Depth b

elow s

urfa

ce (c

m)

(Bulk) 7026 ± 44

(Bulk) 2890 ± 85

(Macro) Modern(Macro) 1085 ± 30

(Bulk) 669 ± 30

(Macro) 191 ± 30

14 C yr B

P

% TLP

Athyri

um

Botryc

hium

50 100 150

Lyco

podiu

m

20 40 60 80

Polypod

iacea

e

Selagin

ella

20 40 60 80

Sphag

num

Gelasin

aspo

ra-ty

pe (H

dV-1

/2)

Chaeto

mium

-type

(HdV

-7A)

20

Sordar

ia-typ

e (H

dV-55A

)

Sporo

rmiel

la-typ

e (H

dV-113

)

Arnium

-type

(HdV-2

61)

Podos

pora

-type

(HdV-3

68)

20

Bysso

theciu

m a

lpestr

is

104 179

137 371 482699 1062 10541020 1039 10531003 1034 1046998 1042 10411060 1034 10361022 1039 10131038 1007 10481076 1003 10071012 1015 10321030 992 10041026 1027 1044828 1029 10001000 998 10121003 1012 781873 1030 10331003 833 911720 879 1004

694

686

1010

288

140

177

166

520

483

870

SUM T

LP

50000 100000

grains cm -3

Pollen

conc

entrat

ion

LPAZ

TOL-1a

TOL-1b

TOL-2a

TOL-2b

TOL-2c

TOL-2d

TOL-2e

TOL-3

FUNGICRYPTOGAMS

2 4 6 8 10

Total sum of squares

CONISSLitho

logy