Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils on the Multilayered Bronze Age Settlement near the Town of Gai

Physical and chemical properties of the cultural layers on the Ishkinovka ancient settlement (Orenburg oblast) dated to the Middle Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC) are characterized in the article. The results of the study of anthropogenically transformed soils, which includes the “cultural layer” horizon, are provided. It has been established that both on the settlement site and around it there were formed anthropogenically transformed fossil soils, or fossil urban soils, with different degree of initial properties transformation. Besides, new soil horizons had been generated in the natural soil profile. A description of a variety of natural-anthropogenic sub-soils, known as cultural layers, is offered. The process of fossil urban soils formation upon natural fossil soils under human influence in the area of ancient settlements is traced.