Archaeobiological Research of the Moscow Kremlin Cultural Layer of the 14th — Early 15th Centuries (Taynitsky Garden)

The article discusses the findings of extensive archaeobiological studies conducted on the wet cultural layer excavated in the Tainitsky Garden of the Moscow Kremlin. These studies utilized various methods, including archaeobotanical (both micro- and macroremains), archaeoentomological and archaeoparasitological techniques. Due to the anthropogenic origin of the cultural layer, reconstructing its environment proves challenging. One of the research objectives was to understand how various archaeological components ended up in this layer. In urban settings, the accumulation of materials in the cultural layer can arise not only from natural processes but also from human activities. Sources of plant remains may include household waste, leftovers from cereal processing and storage, hay, as well as excrement from domestic animals and humans. The latter is indicated by the presence of helminth eggs found in the layer (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura / T. suis, Diphyllobothrium sp., Capillariidae sp., Oxyuris equi). Furthermore, archaeobotanical data provide indirect evidence of excrement in the layer. For instance, a high concentration of edible plant seeds, such as raspberry (Rubus idaeus)) suggests the presence of human excrement, while coprophilous fungi spores and sedge seeds (Carex) indicate animal dung. Additionally, the taxonomic composition of the entomofauna supports the idea of decomposing organic matter, including dung, within the cultural layer. The presence of bark beetles, spruce bark scales, and spruce needles may suggest that bark was removed from spruce logs at the settlement rather than during logging.