RADIOCARBON CHRONOLOGY OF HOLOCENE PALSA OF BOL’SHEZEMEL’SKAYA TUNDRA IN RUSSIAN NORTH

Abstract

Six palsa mire in Usa River valley and in Vorkuta area in North-eastern part of European Russia were studied in detail. In total 75 new 14C dates from different palsa sections were obtained. In palsa mire near Bugry Settlement 3.2 m high palsa dated from 8.6 to 2.1 ka BP. The permafrost and palsa began 2.1 ka BP. In palsa mire near Usa Settlement low moor peat in 2 m high palsa dated 3690 BP, palsa began to heave at least 3700 BP. A low-moor peat of 2.5 m high palsa indicates the change in the hydrological-mineral regime during 7.1 to 6.3 ka BP, heaving commenced 6 ka BP. A number of 8 14C dates from 5.6 to 2.7 ka BP obtained from peat of 3 m high palsa. Near Abez’ Settlement palsa development began about 2.8 ka BP. There are both large and smaller palsas. Low-moor peat of 3.5 m high palsa is dated between 9180 BP to 6730 BP near Nikita Settlement. In Vorkuta area near Khanovey Settlement the northern most palsa is found. The 14C age of peat at slope of the palsa is much younger, than in an axial part, there is inversion of the dates: the date 3.5 ka BP is between dates 2.9 and 2.8 ka BP. It is probably caused by creep of peat downwards from a summit. This evidenced this frozen mound is real palsa, but not a residual form as a result of erosion.

Keywords

• palsa
• permafrost
• mires
• north-eastern europe
• radiocarbon