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      The study of biogenic silica in animal dung deposits from the Moscow Kremlin, Russia Translated title: Estudio de sílice biogánica en depósitos de heces animales en el Kremlin de Moscú, Rusia

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          Abstract

          Several ancient settlements from Central Russia contain animal dung deposits as a part of their cultural layers. This research was focused on animal dung of different ages sampled in the archeological dig in Taynitsky Garden, Moscow Kremlin, Russia. The method of research was microbiomorphic analysis. The distribution of silica microbiomorphs and the composition of phytolith complexes were analyzed as the most informative. It is possible to see that indicators of open waters (diatoms and spicules) were identified only in one sample (the earliest one dated to the beginning of the 15th century). Phytolith complexes also changed: the samples from layers dated to the late 15th and the early 16th centuries include a lot of cereal straw phytoliths. This fact definitely indicates changes in the animals' diet. Phytoliths from mosses and reeds show that those plants were used as animal bedding. An abundance of fragments and unformed silica particles suggests that grasses and herbs were mowed in summer, when the phytolith formation process had not yet completed. It is possible to say that at the end of the 15th century animals consumed water from wells, suggesting that the construction of the Kremlin wall was finished and the area became isolated from the bank of the Moscow River. Also, the animals' diet changed - straw became dominant instead of hay, possibly linked to a political and economical situation in the country. Conclusions are in reasonable agreement with archeological and historical data.

          Translated abstract

          Diversos asentamientos antiguos de Rusia Central contienen depósitos de excremento de animales como parte de sus capas culturales. Esta investigación se enfoca al estiércol animal de diferentes edades, muestreado en una excavación arqueológica en el jardín Tanytsky, dentro del Kremlin de Moscú, Rusia. El método de la investigación fue el análisis microbiomórfico. La distribución de microbiomorfos de sílice y la composición de los complejos de fitolitos fueron analizadas como las más informativas. Es posible observar que los indicadores de aguas abiertas (diatomeas y espículas) fueron identificados únicamente en una muestra (la más joven perteneciente al inicio del siglo 15). Los complejos de fitolitos también cambiaron: las muestras de las capas que corresponden a finales del siglo 15 e inicios del 16 incluyen una gran cantidad de fitolitos de paja de cereal. Este hecho definitivamente indica cambios en la dieta de los animales. Los fitolitos de musgos y carrizos muestran que estas plantas fueron usadas como paja para el ganado. La abundancia de fragmentos y partículas de sílice amorfas sugiere que los pastos y hierbas eran podados en el verano, cuando el proceso de formación de fitolitos no se había completado todavía. Es posible decir que a finales del siglo 15, los animales tomaban agua de pozos, lo que significa que la construcción del muro del Kremlin fue terminado y que el área quedó aislada del banco del río Moscú. También cambió la dieta de los animales - la paja se volvió dominante en lugar del heno, posiblemente en relación con la situación política y económica de la región. Las conclusiones son acordes con los datos arqueológicos e históricos.

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          Dinosaur coprolites and the early evolution of grasses and grazers.

          Silicified plant tissues (phytoliths) preserved in Late Cretaceous coprolites from India show that at least five taxa from extant grass (Poaceae) subclades were present on the Indian subcontinent during the latest Cretaceous. This taxonomic diversity suggests that crown-group Poaceae had diversified and spread in Gondwana before India became geographically isolated. Other phytoliths extracted from the coprolites (from dicotyledons, conifers, and palms) suggest that the suspected dung producers (titanosaur sauropods) fed indiscriminately on a wide range of plants. These data also make plausible the hypothesis that gondwanatherian mammals with hypsodont cheek teeth were grazers.
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            Herbivorous livestock dung: formation, taphonomy, methods for identification, and archaeological significance

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              Ash Bones and Guano: a Study of the Minerals and Phytoliths in the Sediments of Grotte XVI, Dordogne, France

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                bsgm
                Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana
                Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex
                Sociedad Geológica Mexicana A.C. (Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico )
                1405-3322
                August 2012
                : 64
                : 2
                : 171-176
                Affiliations
                [01] Moscow orgnameRussian Academy of Sciences orgdiv1Institute of Geography Russia alexandragolyeva@ 123456rambler.ru
                Article
                S1405-33222012000200002 S1405-3322(12)06400200002
                d92b3af7-d76f-41e9-a7d0-dc6f1e991be4

                This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

                History
                : 15 November 2010
                : 10 January 2012
                : 10 June 2011
                Page count
                Figures: 0, Tables: 0, Equations: 0, References: 29, Pages: 6
                Product

                SciELO Mexico

                Categories
                Articles

                fitolitos,reconstructions,diatoms,phytoliths,dung,Moscow Kremlin,reconstrucción,diatomeas,estiércol,Kremlin de Moscú

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