Soils of archaeological monuments as reference objects for studying the history and modern state of steppe ecosystems

In the article, the results of paleosoil studies on archaeological monuments are presented as an example of ibtegrated studies of natural and historical heritage. As an example, the territory of Stepnoye forestry, which was included in the Il’men State Reserve of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was considered. This object is widely known due to the fortified settlement Arkaim (XX-XVII centuries BC), which is located on the territory of the forestry. The Arkaim Reserve consists of a dozen sites located in various areas of the Chel’yabinsk region and associated with the simultaneous monuments of the Bronze Age, known as the “Country of Cities”. Paleosoils of a number of studied archaeological sites within these areas are included in the Red Book of Soils of Russia. The article presents especially valuable results of soil-archeological works on these sites.