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The northwest-trending Altai Mountains of central Asia expose a complex network of thrust and strike-slip faults that are key features accommodating intracontinental crustal shortening related to the Cenozoic India-Asia collision. In this study, we investigated the Quaternary slip history of the Fuyun fault, a right-lateral strike-slip fault bounding the southwestern margin of the Altai Mountains, through geologic mapping, geomorphic surveying, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) geochronology. At the Kuoyibagaer site, the Fuyun fault displaces three generations of Pleistocene– Holocene fill-cut river terraces (i.e., T3, T2, and T1) containing landslide and debris-flow deposits. The right-lateral offsets are magnified by erosion of terrace risers, suggesting that river course migration has been faster than slip along the Fuyun fault. The highest Tp2 terrace was abandoned in the middle Pleistocene (150.4 ± 8.1 ka uppermost OSL age) and was displaced 145.5 +45.6/–12.1 m along the Fuyun fault, yielding a slip rate of 1.0 +0.4/–0.1 mm/yr since the middle Pleistocene. The lower Tp1 terrace was abandoned in the late Pleistocene and aggraded by landslides and debris flows in the latest Pleistocene–Holocene (36.7 ± 1.6 ka uppermost OSL age). Tp1 was displaced 67.5 +14.2/–6.1 m along the Fuyun fault, yielding a slip rate of 1.8 +0.5/–0.2 mm/yr since the late Pleistocene. Our preferred minimum slip rate of ~1 mm/yr suggests the Fuyun fault accommodates ~16% of the average geodetic velocity of ~6 mm/yr across the Altai Mountains. Integration of our new Fuyun slip rate with other published fault slip rates accounts for ~4.2 mm/yr of convergence across the Chinese Altai, or ~70% of the geodetic velocity field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent results indicate contrasting Holocene moisture histories at different elevations in arid central Asia (ACA). However, relatively little is known about Holocene temperature changes at different elevations. Here we report an independently dated peat brGDGTs‐based MBT'5ME record from the Narenxia peatland (NRX) in the southern Altai Mountains. The record suggests a long‐term warming trend since ~7.7 cal. kyr bp, with a warmer stage during ~7–5.5 cal. kyr bp, a cold stage during ~5.5–4 cal. kyr bp, and a warming trend over the last ~4 kyr. The long‐term warming trend indicated by the NRX MBT'5ME record is largely consistent with Holocene temperature records from nearby sites covering an altitudinal range of ~1700–4100 m above sea level. This consistent long‐term warming trend at different elevations differs from the long‐term Holocene drying/wetting trends at high/low elevations of the Altai Mountains. We propose that the warming trend and consequent permafrost thawing at high elevations could have resulted in increased meltwater runoff, which would have contributed to the long‐term wetting trend at low elevations. Our findings potentially provide an improved understanding of regional climate change and associated water resource availability, with implications for their possible future status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A high-resolution pollen record in a peat sequence from the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang, China, allows reconstruction of the regional vegetation and climate changes that occurred during the Holocene. Pollen distributions from the sequence indicate that the vegetation community in the Altai Mountains region transitioned through five general phases: forest and desert steppe, wet steppe, desert steppe, steppe, and finally forest and desert steppe. These vegetative phases imply that the regional climate changed from a cold and dry early Holocene to a warmer and wetter early-mid Holocene and then to a cold and rather dry mid-Holocene that was followed by a cool and wet late Holocene and finally by warm and dry conditions for the last millennium. These regional changes in climate are roughly consistent with local changes previously reconstructed from organic geochemical paleoclimate proxies in the same peat sequence by Zhang et al. (2016), but with some minor but important differences that reflect local factors. Regional comparisons reveal that the Holocene climate changes in the Altai Mountains are generally consistent with those of most arid central Asian regions that are influenced mainly by westerlies. However, they are out-of-phase with the climate histories of regions controlled by the Asian monsoons, indicating that the Asian monsoons did not extend to the high-altitude mountain regions of arid central Asia during the Holocene. We postulate that the regional Holocene moisture variations have been mainly modulated by NAO variations that affected transport of water vapor from the North Atlantic Ocean by the westerlies. Moreover, local factors that include topography of the mountains and glacial meltwater events in the high-altitude regions also contributed to the climate changes in the Altai Mountains. In addition, air temperatures related to summer insolation of the Northern Hemisphere might have played an important role in modulating moisture in the region, but only after the local montane ice-sheets had disappeared by the mid-Holocene. Highlights • Pollen records from a peat sequence from Xinjiang Altai Mountains reveal Holocene vegetation changes. • Pollen-based reconstruction of Holocene climate changes in the Altai Mountains. • Comparisons of Holocene climate changes in Altai Mountains with arid central Asian and monsoonal Asian regions. • Explanations proposed for Holocene vegetation and climate changes in the Altai Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, researchers have directed greater focus toward understanding Bronze (3200–800 BC) and Iron Age (800 BC–AD 400) economies of Central Asia. In this article, we synthesize paleobotanical data from across this broad region and discuss the piecemeal archaeological evidence for agriculture in relation to environmental records of vegetation and climate change. The synthesis shows that agricultural products were present in northern Central Asia by the mid-3rd millennium BC; however, solid evidence for their spread even further north into the Altai Mountains and southern Siberia only comes from the late 2nd and early 1st millennia BC. The earliest crops introduced into Central Asia likely came as a mixed package of free-threshing wheat, naked barley, and broomcorn millet, an assemblage pioneered further south along the northern foothills of the Central Asian mountains. Further east, in Mongolia, and debatably to the west of Central Asia, in the steppe of northern Kazakhstan and the southern Ural region of Russia, the earliest evidence of agriculture (with a similar mixed assemblage) is considerably later, roughly late 1st millennium BC. The lack of clear-cut early evidence for agricultural goods either east or west of the Central Asian mountain belt suggests that agriculture spread northward along these mountains, based on an agropastoral system pioneered millennia earlier at higher elevations of lower latitudes. Additionally, moister regional environmental conditions in the northern mountains after 3000 cal. BC may have increased the favorability of adopting an agricultural component in the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debatable aspects of age, stratigraphic position, and natural conditions of the oldest stratified Early Paleolithic Karama site in the Altai Mountains are critically revised. The extensive geological, stratigraphic, and paleontological data allow the sufficiently well-substantiated assumption that accumulation of the Karama Formation and existence of the Early Paleolithic Karama site correspond to a long period of climate warming in the Early Pleistocene correlated with the Tiglian of northwestern Europe lasting from 2.23 to 1.59 Ma. The age model proposed for the formation of the Quaternary sequence in the Anui River valley, which includes the artifact-containing deposits of the Karama site, seems to be the most probable one proceeding from interpretation of available data on the geological structure, stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and paleontological and lithological properties of Upper Cenozoic sequences observable both in the Anui River valley and in Siberian areas adjacent to the Altai mountainous region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades there have been numerous studies of Holocene moisture variations in arid central Asia (ACA). However, these available records show contradictory results regarding the long-term trends. Moreover, most hypotheses that have been proposed to reconcile contradictory interpretations have failed to resolve the inconsistencies. Therefore, an up-to-date and comprehensive study incorporating all published high-quality records from the whole of ACA is urgently needed to determine the potential reasons (such as proxy interpretations, geomorphological context, precipitation seasonality) for these contradictory moisture reconstructions. We present a compilation of 36 records of the Holocene moisture evolution of ACA that are supported by reliable chronologies. The compilation reveals an overall long-term wetting trend (31 out of 36 records) during the Holocene, and it also shows that the records with inconsistent variations were based mainly on pollen assemblages from the Altai Mountains and on stalagmite δ18O records. The complex patterns of pollen-based precipitation reconstructions from the Altai Mountains can at least partly be attributed to the varying influences of temperature on vegetation change at different elevations. Additionally, the stalagmite δ18O records were significantly affected by the moisture source and water vapor transport pathways, which adversely affected their reliability as a direct regional moisture indicator. After excluding the records based on ambiguous proxies, we found almost no significant differences between the long-term moisture trends in the remaining records. Therefore, we suggest that the previous contradictory moisture reconstructions are caused mainly by proxy ambiguity. Finally, by preliminarily reconciling the trends of moisture evolution, isotopic variations, temperature changes, and vegetation dynamics in ACA, we attempt to present a possible framework of the circulation-hydroclimate-ecosystem evolution in ACA during the Holocene. • An up-to-date comprehensive review of Holocene moisture variations of ACA. • A long-term wetting trend is dominant in ACA during the Holocene. • The contradictory moisture reconstructions are mainly caused by proxy ambiguity. • Temperature strongly affects vegetation changes in high-elevation Altai Mountains. • Changes in water vapor sources are critical for interpreting δ18O records in ACA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Altaian artistic culture from the standpoint of historical localities. Topics covered include the acquisition by the local historical object of an independent ontological status, and the ontological object's implementation of the existential content of historical time and Altai landscape complex. Also noted are a curious Siberian letter (1827), and works of G.D. Grebenschikov and V.M. Shukshin.

The article reports on the variety and scope of museum life in Altai Region as of 2014. Topics discussed include museum documentation, and the coverage of nature, history, ethnography and art development in both traditional, and highly specialized museums like church and memorial repositories. Also mentioned are the displays in such museums as the Altai State Museum of Local History, and the Historical Museum of Mining Development.

The article discusses the world view of the Altai people as of 2014. Topics covered include the cultural and religious interaction amongst various Altai inhabitants for thousands of years, Altaian mythology and iconography, and the tolerant co-existence of Altai pagans with Buddhism and Christianity. Also explored are the beliefs of Burhanism and shamanism, and the possible unification of Altaians by the doctrine of Tengrianism.

The article discusses the universal mythological constant World Mountain Sumeru of Central Asian nations. Topics covered include the geographical, historical and cultural realities of the Altai, and the presentation of the birth of the world in myths as an appearance from waters of a primeval ocean of a primeval mountain. Also noted is the echoing by surviving poetical images of the original myth on the origin of the world.

The article discusses civilized mankind's ecological consciousness development based on traditional Altai doctrine. Topics covered include the need to change modern man's regard for the environment, the view of all cosmic space as a living organism, and an analysis of space ecology from the viewpoints of Altai religious doctrine and of modern science. Also noted is the connection in the Sacred Lands of all information grids in the planetary sphere of mind.

The article offers a poetic view of Altai as a holistic and complex cultural phenomenon as of 2014. Topics discussed include the spatial, geographical, cultural, and historical sense of the region, and the significant developing power, intercultural contacts, and spiritual potential of Oecumene of Altai Region. Also mentioned is the possible definition of Altai culture as a sacred phenomenon of the world that can develop intercultural dialogue at the present time.

The article discusses Altai as a Eurasian melting pot wherein varied ethnic groups, cultures, and religions conglomerate as of 2014. Topics covered include the historical traditions of international cooperation in Altai, its continuing spirit of unity based on common spiritual values, and its need for mutual solutions for current common problems. Also mentioned are the main problem of the formation of the Eurasian person and the values of such a personality.

The article explores the preservation of national cultures in a globalized world and the need to understand cultural developments as of 2014. Topics discussed include their application in the Altai region and its neighboring states, and the importance of a different approach on unique regional features to develop a cultural philosophy. Also mentioned is the engagement of the heuristicity of Eurasian culture concept in addressing this challenge.

The article traces the old North Silk Route to Sumeru, Altai, Siberia as of 2014. Topics covered include Altai's description as The Golden Mountains with its generous waterways and snowy peaks, and rich flora and fauna, its hosting of varied ethnic and linguistic groups throughout history, and its industries and political system. Also given are a narrative and photographs on the pilgrimage along the Silk Route.

The article discusses the specific geo-ecological and social functions of Altai as of 2014. Topics covered include the country's location on the borders of Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan, its isolation arising from its complicated orography and characteristic climate and topography, and its continental function as a regulator and redistributor of air and water masses. Also mentioned are Altai's low population count, poor socio-economic development, and attraction of tourists.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the analyses of various aspects of life by scientists living in the Altai including the nature and culture of the Altai, the environment and the economy, and spiritual values and meanings.

The Altai Mountains are a key area for understanding the development of the Altai Tectonic Collage and accretionary orogen. However, the orogenic processes, particularly their early stage, have not been well understood. In this work, we undertake zircon U-Pb dating of six Paleozoic synorogenic plutons in order to better define the early magmatic and tectonic evolution of the Chinese Altai Mountains. The results revealed three Paleozoic granitic plutonic events at ca. 460, 408, and 375 Ma. These ages, along with the structural patterns of the plutons, suggest two periods of regional deformation, 460–410 Ma and 410–370 Ma. The granitoids mainly follow the tholeiitic and calc-alkaline trends and are mostly I type. Sr-Nd isotopic analyses indicate that the sources of the granitoids contain both old continental and younger (juvenile) mantle-derived components. Chemical, isotopic, and structural features suggest that the plutons were formed mainly in continental arc settings and that the subduction and accretion processes began at ca. 460 Ma and culminated at ca. 408 Ma. Thus, the Altai orogen was mainly built up during early-middle Paleozoic time, rather than during late Paleozoic time. Furthermore, the southern Altai terrane comprises not only Silurian to Devonian island arcs but also old continental fragments. With these new constraints, we present a new model to account for the tectonic evolution of the Altai orogen. This model proposes that early-middle Paleozoic Altai orogenic processes could have experienced formation of an active continental margin, the splitting of this margin to form a back-arc oceanic basin, and the final closing of the back-arc basin. Consequently, the opening and closure of back-arc basins along active margins is probably a common process in the central Asian accretionary orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The millennial- and centennial-scale variability of Holocene climate in arid central Asia (ACA) is poorly understood, due to the lack of high-resolution records, especially of temperature. We present a high-resolution (~45-yr) peat α-cellulose δ13C record spanning the last ~11,030 years from a well-dated peat core (ATM10-C7) from the Altai Mountains in ACA. It is interpreted as a summer temperature record and exhibits millennial- and centennial-scale variability. The millennial-scale variability corresponds well to North Atlantic ice rafting events, implying a climatic link between the North Atlantic and the ACA via the Westerlies. The centennial-scale cold events were synchronous with stages of low solar activity. Spectral and cross-spectral analyses demonstrate that summer temperature and solar activity have a common cyclicity, and we therefore suggest that solar activity was the fundamental driver of the centennial-scale variability of summer temperature in ACA during the Holocene. • A high resolution Holocene peat α-cellulose δ13C record from the Altai Mountains. • Altai peat reveals millennial and centennial-scale summer temperature variability. • There is a climatic link between the North Atlantic and ACA on millennial scale. • Century-scale temperature variability in ACA is highly sensitive to solar forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altai Mountains have been a long-term boundary zone between the Eurasian Steppe populations and South and East Asian populations. To disentangle some of the historical population movements in this area, 14 ancient human specimens excavated in the westernmost part of the Mongolian Altai were studied. Thirteen of them were dated from the Middle to the End of the Bronze Age and one of them to the Eneolithic period. The environmental conditions encountered in this region led to the good preservation of DNA in the human remains. Therefore, a multi-markers approach was adopted for the genetic analysis of identity, ancestry and phenotype markers. Mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed that the ancient Altaians studied carried both Western (H, U, T) and Eastern (A, C, D) Eurasian lineages. In the same way, the patrilineal gene pool revealed the presence of different haplogroups (Q1a2a1-L54, R1a1a1b2-Z93 and C), probably marking different origins for the male paternal lineages. To go further in the search of the origin of these ancient specimens, phenotypical characters (i.e. hair and eye color) were determined. For this purpose, we adapted the HIrisPlex assay recently described to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In addition, some ancestry informative markers were analyzed with this assay. The results revealed mixed phenotypes among this group confirming the probable admixed ancestry of the studied Altaian population at the Middle Bronze Age. The good results obtained from ancient DNA samples suggest that this approach might be relevant for forensic casework too., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)