Results of pollen study in Strashnaya cave in 2014-2015

Archaeological site Strashnaya Cave is located in Krasnotschekovskii district of Altai region. The stratigraphical structure of the site includes 13 lithological strata about 10 m thick. Strata 1 and 2 relate to Holocene, strata 3-13 - to Pleistocene. In the upper part of Pleistocene 19 horizons of lithic artifacts are found. Radiocarbon dating for strata 3, 5 and 6 reveals the chronological interval of 19-40 kyr BP; however, several dates are infinite. In 2014-2015, 55 samples were collected for pollen study from strata 1-5. Holocene strata reflect not only natural vegetation in the surrounding of the cave, but anthropogenic activity as well. Pollen data from Pleistocene allow to divide some substrata based on the pollen composition.