GIS-based palaeogeographical reconstructions of the Baltic Sea shores in Estonia and adjoining areas during the Stone Age
Date
2017-04-19
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Abstract
Läänemeremaadest on leitud palju kiviaegseid asulakohti, mille arheoloogiline leiumaterjal viitab rannasidusale elatusviisile, kuid mis asuvad tänapäeval merest kaugel. Käesolevas doktoritöös rekonstrueeriti meretaseme muutused, paleorannavööndid ja –maastikud kiviaegsete asulakohtade ümbruses Narva-Lauga klindilahes, Tallinna kesklinnas ja Ruhnu saarel, et välja selgitada nende asulakohtade paiknemine omaaegses maastikus. Selleks kasutati geoinfosüsteemipõhist lähenemist, milles korreleeriti ruumiliselt ja ajaliselt mitmed loodusteaduslikud ning arheoloogilised andmestikud.
Paleogeograafiliste rekonstruktsioonide alusel leiti, et Narva-Lauga piirkonnas oli kiviaegne küttide-kalurite-korilaste asustus seotud seal u. 7000-5000 aastat tagasi eksisteerinud ulatusliku laguuni kallastega. Ruhnu saarel rajati u. 7200 ja 6200 aastat tagasi kiviaegsed jahilaagrid otse rannavööndisse, vaid mõne meetri võrra meretasemest kõrgemale. Samuti Tallinna kesklinnas Vabaduse väljaku alal 5000 aasta eest, mis sel ajal moodustas osa avatud lahe rannast. Rekonstruktsioonid näitasid, et asustusmuster muutus u. 4700 aastat tagasi, mil asulakohti hakati rajama sisemaale seoses üleminekuga põlluharimisele ja karjakasvatusele.
Töö tulemused kinnitavad loodusteaduslike andmete ja geoinformaatiliste meetoditega arheoloogilisi hüpoteese Eesti ja lähialade kiviaegse asustuse paiknemise kohta, täpsustavad rannasidusa elatusviisiga ajajärgu kestust ning kiviaja inimeste elupaigaeelistusi ja kohastumust erinevat tüüpi rannikutel. Seeläbi aitab töö kaasa kultuuripärandi tõlgendamisele ja väärtustamisele.
In the Baltic Sea region many Stone Age settlement sites have been found, which show evidence for shore-connected habitation, but are presently located far from the seashore. In this thesis, past sea level changes and palaeolandscapes around Stone Age settlement sites in Narva-Luga lowland, Tallinn city centre and on Ruhnu Island were reconstructed in order to define the location of the settlements compared to their contemporary shoreline and coastal setting. Geographic information system approach was used for palaeogeographical modelling based on spatio-temporal correlation of datasets originating from several natural science and archaeological research disciplines. Palaeogeographical reconstructions show that in Narva-Luga area hunter-fisher-gatherer settlements were located on the shores of a large lagoon, which existed there c. 7000-5000 years ago. On Ruhnu Island hunting and fishing camps were established directly in the beach zone, only a few metres above sea level at about 7200 and 6200 years ago. Similarly, in Tallinn, 5000 years ago a camp was established on the beach of the wide palaeo-bay, which shore crossed the city centre at that time. The reconstructions showed that this settlement pattern changed c. 4700 years ago, when areas away from the coast were chosen for habitation, indicating a shift in subsistence strategy towards farming. Using data of natural sciences and methods of geoinformatics, the results of this thesis prove archaeological hypotheses about Stone Age settlement pattern and preferred settlement locations, specify the period of the shore-bound habitation and adaption of Stone Age people on different types of coasts. Thus this study contributes to interpretation and valuation of cultural heritage.
In the Baltic Sea region many Stone Age settlement sites have been found, which show evidence for shore-connected habitation, but are presently located far from the seashore. In this thesis, past sea level changes and palaeolandscapes around Stone Age settlement sites in Narva-Luga lowland, Tallinn city centre and on Ruhnu Island were reconstructed in order to define the location of the settlements compared to their contemporary shoreline and coastal setting. Geographic information system approach was used for palaeogeographical modelling based on spatio-temporal correlation of datasets originating from several natural science and archaeological research disciplines. Palaeogeographical reconstructions show that in Narva-Luga area hunter-fisher-gatherer settlements were located on the shores of a large lagoon, which existed there c. 7000-5000 years ago. On Ruhnu Island hunting and fishing camps were established directly in the beach zone, only a few metres above sea level at about 7200 and 6200 years ago. Similarly, in Tallinn, 5000 years ago a camp was established on the beach of the wide palaeo-bay, which shore crossed the city centre at that time. The reconstructions showed that this settlement pattern changed c. 4700 years ago, when areas away from the coast were chosen for habitation, indicating a shift in subsistence strategy towards farming. Using data of natural sciences and methods of geoinformatics, the results of this thesis prove archaeological hypotheses about Stone Age settlement pattern and preferred settlement locations, specify the period of the shore-bound habitation and adaption of Stone Age people on different types of coasts. Thus this study contributes to interpretation and valuation of cultural heritage.
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Keywords
rannikualad, asustus, kiviaeg, paleogeograafia, rekonstruktsioon (aj.), geoinfosüsteemid, settlement system, Stone Age, paleogeography, reconstruction (hist.), geographic information systems, Eesti, Estonia