THE UPPER PALEOGENE AND NEOGENE DEPOSITS IN THE SAMAKHINSKAYA AND DZHAZATOR DEPRESSIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST PART OF GORNYI ALTAI

The paper provides geological description and the results of palynological and carpological studies of natural outcrops of the Koshagach Formation, exposed in the sides of the Samakhinskaya and the Dzhazator depressions in the southeast of Gorny Altai. The deposits are dated to the Early-Middle Miocene. Older layers of the formation corresponding to the Late Oligocene have not been identified.

Reference values of cadmium concentration in the hair of residents of the Gornyi Altai

Introduction. There is a global trend of increasing the Cd level of the environment because of enlarged compounds content in the industry, agriculture (cadmium-phosphate fertilizers), burning solid and liquid fuels, and solid household waste. Data on the quantitative accumulation of Cd in human hair in various regions of Russia is necessary to determine Cd content reference value to evaluate the degree of its excess among the population. Material and methods. The Cd content in the hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry to evaluate regional values to compare them with the all-Russian reference data. Results. The average value of Cd concentration in the hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk was 0.16 mg/kg; according to this index value, the excess was found in 34.9% of residents, relative to the all - Russian index - in 54.5%. Deviations from the upper limits of the biologically acceptable level were 6.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Discussion. The study results coincide with the literature data on reference values and excess of the local populaton’s biologically acceptable level compared with other regions. There is a low probability of Cd ingestion with food and drinking water in concentrations exceeding acceptable values. Universal sources of Cd human body intake (solid-fuel heating systems, internal combustion engines) determine a homogeneous picture of Cd accumulation in the hair in the Gornyi Altai population in Altai and other regions. Conclusion. The reference values of Cd content in the hair of residents of the administrative center of the Altai Republic correspond to the average values in the variation range of different regions, and the percentage of people who exceed the permissible level among the population of Gorno-Altaisk also does not differ from other industrial regions.

Khyadag and Zunii Gol: Animal Art and the Bronze to Iron Age Transition in Northern Mongolia

The Late Bronze Age Mongolian culture known for its memorial deer stones and khirigsuur burials, the Deer Stone-Khirigsuur complex (hereafter DSK) dating to 1300–700 BCE, displays persistence over several hundred years. Radiocarbon dates from hearths and horse remains associated with these sites show little change in architecture, ritual practice, and iconography, giving the impression of an unchanging mortuary cultural regime. New research demonstrates that deer stones are memorials to recently deceased leaders that display distinctive features of personal identification within the unifying framework of an over-arching religious theme represented by deer-bird iconography. Despite continuity, the DSK complex is not monolithic. This paper presents evidence for regional cultural and chronological variation in deer stone art and ceremonial activity based on research at the Khyadag and Zunii Gol sites in northcentral Mongolia. Areal excavation, detailed survey, and recording of deer stone art revealed the presence at Khyadag of a new class of miniature deer stones and evidence of copper smelting, and at Zunii Gol — an unusual khirigsuur associated with a deer stone carrying elements of Scytho-Saka animal style art. These data indicate geographic and chronological overlap in V. V. Volkov’s deer stone types and changes in deer stone art and khirigsuur ritual in the later period of the DSK complex. In the future, emphasis needs to be given to broad excavation strategies that explore the contextual history of individual DSK sites, dating of Volkov’s Type II and III deer stones, and regional comparisons with Xinjiang, Baikal, and the Mongolian and Gornyi Altai.

FEATURES OF LIPID METABOLISM OF THE INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS OF GORNYI ALTAI

Оценивали параметры липидного обмена в связи с питанием коренного населения Горного Алтая. Выявлено высокое потребление насыщенных и мононенасыщенных жирных кислот, которое у мужчин обратно пропорционально концентрации холестерина в плазме крови. Данная закономерность свидетельствует об активности системы, обеспечивающей липидный гомеостаз. The parameters of lipid metabolism in connection with the nutrition of the indigenous population of the Altai Mountains were evaluated. High consumption of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids was found, which in men is inversely proportional to the concentration of cholesterol in blood plasma. This pattern indicates the activity of the system that provides lipid homeostasis.

Localization zones of ancient and historical earthquakes in Gornyi Altai

The conducted paleoseismological and archaeoseismological studies reveal three zones of concentration of the ancient and historical earthquakes in Gorny Altai which are related to the Kurai Fault zone, Katun, and South Terekta faults. The surface ruptures are detected within the Kurai Fault zone, which were formed in the epicentral zones of the paleoearthquakes that occurred 6500, 5800, 3200, and 1300 years ago and had magnitudes Mw = 6.7–7.6. The recurrence period of the paleoearthquakes is 700 to 2600 years. The detected secondary seismogenic deformations indicate that an epicentral zone of the paleoearthquake with an age of less than 12.5 ka (Mw = 7.2–7.6, intensity I = 10–11), the traces of earthquakes and their clusters with M ≥ 5–5.5 and I ≥ 6–7, which occurred about 150 and 90 ka ago, in the intervals of 38–19 ka ago (with a recurrence period of about 2 ka), and 19–12.5 ka ago are related to the southern part of the Katun Fault. The earthquake of I ≥ 5–6 which damaged the constructions of the Chultukov Log 1 burial mound in the period from IV century B.C. to the beginning of I century A.D. is associated with the northern part of the Katun Fault. In the zone of the South Terekhta Fault, the seismogenic displacements that occurred in VII–VIII centuries A.D. (Mw = 7.4–7.7, I = 9–11) and about 16 ka ago (M ≥ 7, I = 9–10) are revealed. The latter triggered the formation of a landslide-dammed lake which was destroyed by the earthquake about 6 ka ago (M ≥ 7, I = 9–10). Secondary paleoseismic deformations of the ancient earthquakes (M ≥ 5–5.5, I ≥ 6–7) are recorded in the sediments of the Uimon Basin with an age of 100–90 ka and about 77 ka. These results should be taken into account in designing a gas pipeline in the People’s Republic of China, building infrastructure for tourism, and elaborating the seismic zoning maps for the territory of the Russian Federation.