ИСТИНА

Swidden cultivation is believed to be one of the most-geographically-ubiquitous agricultural systems in the world, spanning from the tropics to the boreal forest zone in both hemispheres. Chronologically, it has been utilized from 3rd millennium BC to 20th cent. AD. Presumably, the swidden technology should be associated with a certain social structure and settlement pattern of agricultural societies. Local technologies may vary in details, but all varieties of swidden cultivation involve deep combustion of wood, aiming to turn charcoal into ash, 2) sowing into ash with a minimal application of tillage tools, 3) short-term use of a cleared land for crops (1-5 years), and 4) a prolonged fallow stage (afforestation) required for the soil rehabilitation. Swidden agriculture is targeting a wide variety of vegetation types, developed mainly on coarse to medium-textured soils in well-drained positions. The short duration of productive stages and long pre- and post- harvesting stages of this agricultural system suggest that all areas suitable for swiddens within the temperate forest zone would be utilized by local populations rapidly, within decades. However, swidden cultivation does not require any durable implements and does not leave distinct archaeological records. Application of a novel combination of stratigraphic, palynological, pedoanthracological, and phytolith analyses in the areas adjacent to archaeological sites allowed us to reveal a specific signature left by the swidden cultivation. The paper presents first results of applying the recently developed techniques to reconstruct traces of swidden cultivation in Russian and Canadian sites located within the temperate forest zone.