Cyclic rhythms of soil formation in the Central Russian Upland in the Holocene

For the first time, on the basis of radiocarbon analysis of slope, balka,* and floodplain deposits, rhythms of soil formation in the Central Russian U pland in the Holocene were revealed. Soils of the following ages were speci fied in the Middle and Late Holocene: Early Atlantic (7690-6620 years BP), Late Atlantic (4950 BP), Subboreal (3800-3330 BP), Subatlantic (1440-1060 B P), and modern soil (younger than 200 years). They developed during the lon g phases of geomorphological stability (lasting for about 1000 years) and w ere preserved in transitional and accumulative positions of the relief. All uvium, proluvium, deluvium, and other Holocene deposits were accumulated in the shorter phases of morpholithogenesis activity, forming 1850-year-long cycles of Pettersson-Shnitnikov together with pedogenesis phases.