Introduction: Markers of Reindeer Husbandry Methodological Seminar

1. Introduction: Markers of Reindeer HusbandryMethodological Seminar David G. Anderson Univ. of Aberdeen NordForsk Researcher Network “RangiferDomus” 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 myresvshumified 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 vsTroels-Smith • Tilia • Modern plant communities vspalynological communities Novyi Kilgol, S-B district

6. Methods and Problems • New Themes • Landscape ethnoecology

7. Methods and Problems • New Themes • Fungal spore analysis

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 periphery Fig 4.6 The shift in the relative importance of the domus and agrios through time. p. 96 Agrios as Centre Domus as periphery

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. Laboratory Conversations ‘Paradoxical’ rises in both dry and damp tolerant plants – a possible ecological marker of reindeer grazing Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

16. Climate Agency: The ‘Natural’ Alternation of Dark and Damp with Dry 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 Poliana – Ostrov – Lake Tolondo Kever – Bazarnaia reka Aian - Perevoz

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 RangiferDomus

21. With thanks to: Ed Schofield, University of Aberdeen Elena Bezrukova, СО РАН Natal’ia Kulagina, СО РАН Mika Lavento, University of Helsinki Peter Jordan, University of Aberdeen The Research Council of Norway The National Science Foundation, USA The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada NordForsk

22. The North Baikal Region • 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 4 Sites: Ozernyi, Ust’-Nichera, Kilgoi, Lake Tolondo

23. North Baikal Evenki-Iakuts

24. Phyto-botanical zones • Zone 1: • Vasiniumuliginosum • Festucaovina • Poapratanesis • Chamaenerionangustifolium • Erigeron acris • Tanasetumvulgare Ozernyi

25. Phyto-botanical zones • Zone 2: • Carexcespitosa • Comarumpalustre • Rubusarcticus • Geranium sp. • Poapratanesis • Trolliuiskytmanovii • Swertiaobtusa Ozernyi

26. Phyto-botanical zones • Zone 3: • Vassiniumuliginosum • Vassiniumvitis-idea • Lonicerapallisi • Festucarubra • Chameenerionangustifolium • Calamagrostisepigeois Novyi Kilgol

27. Phyto-botanical zones 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

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. Lake Tolondo Zhuia River Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

31. Lake Tolondo Zhuia River A unique interrupted hydrological event, and marked by fire at the top Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

32. Lake Tolondo Zhuia River A classic rise in meadow species Tilia chart by Edward Schofield, Univ of Aberdeen

33. 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 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.

40. A Model A sudden drying of a glacial moraine after a significant hydrological event Meadow grasses exploited by migratory wild reindeer, spring and autumn Domestic reindeer kept on the same meadows 4) In the Russian imperial and early Soviet period, new forms of agriculture including garden plots, haying, pasturing of horses with reindeer 5) In the middle Soviet period, intensive haying and seeding of cereals 6) Extensive industrial impacts, burning, in the late Soviet period 7) A period of decline in the post-Soviet period

41. Phosphate Activity Areas Chart and analysis by Mika Lavento

42. Lake Tolondo Zhuia River