Vegetation history Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Pollen and high-resolution charcoal data from Bluff Lake and Crater Lake, California, indicate similar changes in climate, vegetation and fire history during the last 15 500 years. Pollen data at Bluff Lake suggest that the vegetation... more

Pollen and high-resolution charcoal data from Bluff Lake and Crater Lake, California, indicate similar changes in climate, vegetation and fire history during the last 15 500 years. Pollen data at Bluff Lake suggest that the vegetation between c. 15 500 and 13 100 cal. BP consisted of subalpine parkland with scattered Pinus and Abies. After 13 100 cal. BP a relatively closed forest of P. monticola, P. contorta and Abies developed, and fire-event frequency was low. The inferred climate then was cooler and wetter than present. Pinus and Quercus vaccinifolia dominated at both sites during the early Holocene, when conditions were warm and dry. As climate became wetter and cooler in the late Holocene, Abies spp. at both sites and Tsuga mertensiana at Crater Lake increased in importance, displacing Pinus and Quercus. The two lake records have similar trends in fire history, with high event frequencies at c. 8400, 4000 and 1000 cal. BP and low values at c. 4800 cal. BP. The fire and vegetation history at both sites suggests a similar response to large-scale changes in climate during the Holocene.

It forms part of our efforts to understand the landscape history in general, and past vegetation dynamics and modification by humans in particular, in Mývatnssveit, northern Iceland. This field expedition had three specific aims: 1) To... more

It forms part of our efforts to understand the landscape history in general, and past vegetation dynamics and modification by humans in particular, in Mývatnssveit, northern Iceland. This field expedition had three specific aims: 1) To procure sediment sequences from a number of lakes in the Mývatnssveit region. This aim relates to an ongoing project to reconstruct vegetation history using pollen analysis, some results of which are already published [15, 17, 20]. 2) To excavate a number of charcoal productions pits and take samples for radiocarbon dating, to establish the timing of woodland exploitation across the region. 3) To undertake experiments to produce charcoal using traditional Icelandic methods, to improve our ability to interpret the archaeological data from charcoal production pits.

Historical analysis of botanical literature concerning the trees Gilletiodendron glandulosum and Guibourtia copallifera in Mali’s Manding Plateau reveals that the dominant representation of these plants has helped to perpetuate... more

Historical analysis of botanical literature concerning the trees Gilletiodendron glandulosum and Guibourtia copallifera in Mali’s Manding Plateau reveals that the dominant representation of these plants has helped to perpetuate colonial-era theories of vegetation history, African land management, and natural resource politics in West Africa. The French botanist Aubréville described these plants as proof of the theory of vegetation history that blamed poor land management by rural Africans for a steady and continuing destruction of vegetation from its presumed original forest climax. Although Aubréville’s representation of these trees was justified within the 1930s scientific context he worked, subsequent researchers uncritically maintained his conclusions even though the changed scientific context in which they worked did not justify such representation. Subsequent ecological research also failed to substantiate Aubréville’s representation of these trees, yet several influential modern botanical works have uncritically accepted colonial-era botanical literature founded on his ideas. Thus, modern botanical works have perpetuated a simplistic and inaccurate narrative of resource use under an appearance of objectivity. As a result, policy recommendations based on the modern botanical sources remain almost identical to colonial-era policies. Based on the similarity of colonial-era and modern portrayals of these trees, this paper argues that a regional discursive formation recently described by other authors may be expanded to include southern Mali, which carries negative implications for decentralization reform in Mali.

The vegetation of the northern Upper Rhine Graben (southwestern Germany) is reconstructed for the end of the Lateglacial and the Holocene by means of palynological analyses in combination with AMS14c dating. Analogous to adjacent lowland... more

The vegetation of the northern Upper Rhine Graben (southwestern Germany) is reconstructed for the end of the Lateglacial and the Holocene by means of palynological analyses in combination with AMS14c dating. Analogous to adjacent lowland areas, the Younger Dryas climatic deterioration didnotresult in a complete deforestation of the area and open pine woodlands with locally birch stands and shrubs persisted. A subdivision of the Younger Dryas period, into a humid first phase, followed by a dry second phase was also reflected in our records. For the Holocene, the pollen diagrams show two regionally different vegetation developments, related to substrate and variations in annual precipitation: in the south the ‘classical’ succession of pine then hazel is followed by other deciduous trees, whereas in the northern part, pine kept its dominance far into the Subboreal.

In some continental and island sites in the western Mediterranean basin, the Holocene vegetation and climate dynamics seem to show the same patterns in time and space. Nevertheless, different synchronous scenarios have been proposed from... more

In some continental and island sites in the western Mediterranean basin, the Holocene vegetation and climate dynamics seem to show the same patterns in time and space. Nevertheless, different synchronous scenarios have been proposed from other south European, North African and Near Eastern pollen records from around the Mediterranean basin. Striking similarities and synchronisms have been found between Sicily and the Balearic Islands. These islands, although under different bioclimatic influences, show similarities in the main trends of vegetation and climate dynamics during the Post-glacial. Lago di Pergusa is the only natural inland lake in Sicily and because of its geographical location, has a good potential sensitivity to the climatic changes of the Mediterranean basin. Likewise, coastal sediments from Minorca and Majorca, the Balearic Islands, have similar peculiarities. The present-day environmental situation, now that most of the natural vegetation in these islands has disappeared, has been brought about either by a climatic trend towards increasing aridity or an increase in human activities. It seems clear that prehistoric human people alone could not have caused all the environmental changes recorded in the last millennia in both places.

Changes in vegetation cover can significantly affect streamflow. Two common methods for estimating vegetation effects on streamflow are the paired catchment method and the time trend analysis technique. In this study, the performance of... more

Changes in vegetation cover can significantly affect streamflow. Two common methods for estimating vegetation effects on streamflow are the paired catchment method and the time trend analysis technique. In this study, the performance of these methods is evaluated using data from paired catchments in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Results show that these methods generally yield consistent estimates of the vegetation effect, and most of the observed streamflow changes are attributable to vegetation change. These estimates are realistic and are supported by the vegetation history. The accuracy of the estimates, however, largely depends on the length of calibration periods or pretreatment periods. For catchments with short or no pretreatment periods, we find that statistically identified prechange periods can be used as calibration periods. Because streamflow also responds to climate variability, in assessing streamflow changes it is necessary to consider the effect of climate in addition to the effect of vegetation. Here, the climate effect on streamflow was estimated using a sensitivity-based method that calculates changes in rainfall and potential evaporation. A unifying conceptual framework, based on the assumption that climate and vegetation are the only drivers for streamflow changes, enables comparison of all three methods. It is shown that these methods provide consistent estimates of vegetation and climate effects on streamflow for the catchments considered. An advantage of the time trend analysis and sensitivity-based methods is that they are applicable to nonpaired catchments, making them potentially useful in large catchments undergoing vegetation change.

Botanical investigation of archaeological sites situated in the northwest of the region bounded by the rivers Maas, Scheldt and Demer ('MSD region'), west of the city of Breda, has provided a great deal of evidence about the landscape and... more

Botanical investigation of archaeological sites situated in the northwest of the region bounded by the rivers Maas, Scheldt and Demer ('MSD region'), west of the city of Breda, has provided a great deal of evidence about the landscape and its use in the period between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 1500. From pollen analysis, it appears that this cover-sand area gradually lost its woodlands through human activity after the beginning of the Bronze Age (ca. 2000 B.C.). Patches of woodland did survive there, however, until the early Middle Ages. In contrast to the cover-sand area in the vicinity of 's-Hertogenbosch and Oss-Ussen in the northeast of the MSD region, the first large heathlands in the Breda area did not evolve until the early Middle Ages. In late prehistory, land use in this area was not much different from that in the microregion of 's-Hertogenbosch and Oss-Ussen. In the Bronze Age, Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare (hulled six-row barley) and Triticum dicoccon (emmer wheat) were grown. During the Iron Age, Panicum miliaceum (common millet) and T. spelta (spelt wheat) were introduced, but these crops disappeared during the Roman period. The Roman period is remarkable because of the lack of any Mediterranean culinary herbs or exotic fruits. Only pollen of Juglans regia (walnut), found around the transition from the Roman period to the early Middle Ages, indicates the introduction of an exotic tree into the region. From the early Middle Ages onwards, Secale cereale (rye) was the most important cereal, which was grown as a winter crop. In the course of the Middle Ages, arable weeds of the Sclerantho annui-Arnoseridetum plant community appeared, which is associated with the continuous growing of rye.

Detailed palynological studies in two adjoining French Pyrenean valleys, complemented by the study of archives, demonstrate that under similar climatic conditions, the forest history of each valley from the Bronze Age to present time was... more

Detailed palynological studies in two adjoining French Pyrenean valleys, complemented by the study of archives, demonstrate that under similar climatic conditions, the forest history of each valley from the Bronze Age to present time was essentially determined by socio-economical constraints, possibly modified by natural characteristics such as topography. The studies show why the expansion of Fagus (beech) at c. 4000 B.P. was asynchronous on the northern slope of the Pyrenees and emphasize the effects of the human impact on the recent lowering of the tree-line.

A late-Holocene fall in relative sea level in northwest Scotland, from ca. 1.3 mm yr-' to ca. 1.0 mm yr-', is interpreted from lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic and numerical analyses of fossil tidal marsh and... more

A late-Holocene fall in relative sea level in northwest Scotland, from ca. 1.3 mm yr-' to ca. 1.0 mm yr-', is interpreted from lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic and numerical analyses of fossil tidal marsh and acidic peat bog communities elevated by isostatic uplift. Pollen, diatom and stratigraphic data from contemporary depositional environments are used to define the indicative range (+0.2 m) and reference water level (mean high water of spring tides or highest astronomical tide) of thirteen dated sea-level index points. No Holocene intertidal sediments are recorded above +7.7 m OD and all sea-level index points are younger than ca. 4 kyr B.P. In parts of Kentra Moss, beyond the limit of Holocene intertidal elastic sedimentation, raised bog communities were established by at least 8.3 kyr B.P. These age and altitude parameters differ from those interpolated for the "Main Postglacial Shoreline", but support a regional model in which isostatic uplift continues at present in the Kentra Moss area.

We have collated and reviewed published records of the genera Panicum and Setaria (Poaceae), including the domesticated millets Panicum miliaceum L. (broomcorn millet) and Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) in pre-5000 cal... more

We have collated and reviewed published records of the genera Panicum and Setaria (Poaceae), including the domesticated millets Panicum miliaceum L. (broomcorn millet) and Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) in pre-5000 cal B.C. sites across the Old World. Details of these sites, which span China, centraleastern Europe including the Caucasus, Iran, Syria and Egypt, are presented with associated calibrated radiocarbon dates. Forty-one sites have records of Panicum (P. miliaceum, P. cf. miliaceum, Panicum sp., Panicum type, P. capillare (?) and P. turgidum) and 33 of Setaria (S. italica, S. viridis, S. viridis/verticillata, Setaria sp., Setaria type). We identify problems of taphonomy, identification criteria and reporting, and inference of domesticated/wild and crop/weed status of finds. Both broomcorn and foxtail millet occur in northern China prior to 5000 cal B.C.; P. miliaceum occurs contemporaneously in Europe, but its significance is unclear. Further work is needed to resolve the above issues before the status of these taxa in this period can be fully evaluated.

Pollen analyses were performed on sediment samples from ten different Saphar-Kharaba burials dating to the 15th–14th centuries b.c. Along with pollen and spores, a large amount of micro-remains of textile fibres was found near skeleton... more

Pollen analyses were performed on sediment samples from ten different Saphar-Kharaba burials dating to the 15th–14th centuries b.c. Along with pollen and spores, a large amount of micro-remains of textile fibres was found near skeleton bones and especially under big bones. It was established that in all the studied samples 95% of the remains of the clothing and shroud of the deceased was made of Linum (flax) and Gossypium (cotton). Wool fibres were found in very small quantities. Based on pollen spectra and the number of the fibres found in the samples taken from under the skull it became possible to identify the sex of the deceased and especially that of children, which is rather difficult to do using palaeoanthropological methods alone. The discovery of cotton fibres in the burials of the early late Bronze Age is new not only for the Georgian region under consideration, but also for the whole Caucasus. This might indicate trade relations of the peoples of the southern Caucasus wit...

É cologie/Ecology Nouvelles contributions à l'histoire tardiglaciaire et holocè ne de la vé gé tation en Algé rie : analyses polliniques de deux profils sé dimentaires du complexe humide d'El-Kala Pollen analysis from two littoral marshes... more

É cologie/Ecology Nouvelles contributions à l'histoire tardiglaciaire et holocè ne de la vé gé tation en Algé rie : analyses polliniques de deux profils sé dimentaires du complexe humide d'El-Kala Pollen analysis from two littoral marshes (Bourdim and Garaat El-Ouez) in the El-Kala wet complex (North-East Algeria). Lateglacial and Holocene history of Algerian vegetation

Aim The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous forests, is central to understanding the evolution of Australia's terrestrial biota and has long been considered the ancestral biome of the continent. Our aims are... more

Aim The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous forests, is central to understanding the evolution of Australia's terrestrial biota and has long been considered the ancestral biome of the continent. Our aims are to review and refine key hypotheses derived from palaeoclimatic data and the fossil record that are critical to understanding the evolution of the Australian mesic biota. We examine predictions arising from these hypotheses using available molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical data. In doing so, we increase understanding of the mesic biota and highlight data deficiencies and fruitful areas for future research.

HEINSALU, ATKO, VESKI, SIIM and VASSILJEV, JÜRI 2000. Palaeoenvi- ronment and shoreline displacement on Suursaari Island, the Gulf of Finland. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland 72, Parts 1-2, 21-46. The island of Suursaari in... more

HEINSALU, ATKO, VESKI, SIIM and VASSILJEV, JÜRI 2000. Palaeoenvi- ronment and shoreline displacement on Suursaari Island, the Gulf of Finland. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland 72, Parts 1-2, 21-46. The island of Suursaari in the middle of the Gulf of Finland is exceptionally high (175 m a.s.l.). Sediment profiles from one mire and three lakes were in- vestigated

The palynological study of the lacustrine sediments from Lagaccione, a maar-lake near Lago di Bolsena in central Italy, has provided a palaeoenvironmental record for the last 100,000 years. The chronology of the sequence is based on... more

The palynological study of the lacustrine sediments from Lagaccione, a maar-lake near Lago di Bolsena in central Italy, has provided a palaeoenvironmental record for the last 100,000 years. The chronology of the sequence is based on sixteen radiocarbon dates and a tephra layer at the base of the St Germain II s.l. The pollen record, starting during the St Germain I forest phase and ending about 3000 years ago, shows that remarkable changes occurred in the floristic composition, in the structure of the vegetation and in the plant biomass, including also long-lasting periods of open woodlands, often with an appreciable floristic diversity, during the last pleniglacial. Three new vegetational oscillations (Etruria I, Etruria II and Etruria III), characterized by a well-defined vegetation composition and dynamics, have been recognized after the St Germain I forest phase and before the middle pleniglacial interstadials. New evidence has been obtained for a significant diffusion of deciduous trees in the Italian peninsula during the late-glacial.

The study of charcoal produced by five burning episodes that occurred in a rapid succession within a ritual pit dating to the late Iron Age at Raffin Fort, Co. Meath, Ireland, reveals considerable variation in the charcoal assemblages... more

The study of charcoal produced by five burning episodes that occurred in a rapid succession within a ritual pit dating to the late Iron Age at Raffin Fort, Co. Meath, Ireland, reveals considerable variation in the charcoal assemblages resulting from each burning episode. Wood selection processes are considered against the background of information on woodland composition and land-use history provided by a detailed pollen diagram from nearby Emlagh Bog, the chronology of which is based on both AMS 14 C dates and tephra analysis. A human skull fragment lay on top of the charcoal layers but the radiocarbon evidence indicates that the skull predated the burnings by at least a century. This and other evidence indicate a ritual pit with the skull as a human relic. It is suggested that, in this instance, wood selection was neither random nor determined solely by availability or combustibility, but instead may have been informed by socio-religious belief systems pertaining to trees and wood. Early Irish documentary sources, which reveal a complex ethnography of wood and trees in later prehistoric and early historic Ireland, are reviewed. The results shed fresh light on aspects of late Iron Age archaeology in a part of Europe that was outside the direct influence of the Roman world. New information is provided on a distinctive feature in late Holocene Irish pollen records namely the Late Iron Age Lull (ca. a.d. 1-500). During this time, widespread regeneration of woody vegetation took place. In the subsequent early Medieval period renewed farming activity resulted in substantial decline in woodland, a pattern also seen at many other locations in Ireland.

Pollen, microscopic charcoal, palaeohydrological and dendrochronological analyses are applied to a radiocarbon and tephrochronologically dated mid Holocene (ca. 8500-3000 cal B.P.) peat sequence with abundant fossil Pinus (pine) wood. The... more

Pollen, microscopic charcoal, palaeohydrological and dendrochronological analyses are applied to a radiocarbon and tephrochronologically dated mid Holocene (ca. 8500-3000 cal B.P.) peat sequence with abundant fossil Pinus (pine) wood. The Pinus populations on peat fluctuated considerably over the period in question. Colonisation by Pinus from ca. 7900-7600 cal B.P. appears to have had no specific environmental trigger; it was probably determined by the rate of migration from particular populations. The second phase, at ca. 5000-4400 cal B.P., was facilitated by anthropogenic interference that reduced competition from other trees. The pollen record shows two Pinus declines. The first at ca. 6200-5500 cal B.P. was caused by a series of rapid and frequent climatic shifts. The second, the so-called pine decline, was very gradual (ca. 4200-3300 cal B.P.) at Loch Farlary and may not have been related to climate change as is often supposed. Low intensity but sustained grazing pressures were more important. Throughout the mid Holocene, the frequency and intensity of burning in these open Pinus-Calluna woods were probably highly sensitive to hydrological (climatic) change. Axe marks on several trees are related to the mid to late Bronze Age, i.e., long after the trees had died.

A new pollen record from Lago di Vico (core V1) provides fundamental new information towards reconstruction of flora and vegetation history in central Italy during the last 90 000 years. The chronological framework is secured by seventeen... more

A new pollen record from Lago di Vico (core V1) provides fundamental new information towards reconstruction of flora and vegetation history in central Italy during the last 90 000 years. The chronological framework is secured by seventeen AMS14C dates, one40Ar/39Ar date and tephra analyses. At the base of the pollen record, i.e. shortly after the40Ar/39Ar date 87 000±7000 B.P., three phases with significant expansion of trees are recorded in close succession. These forest phases, which stratigraphically correspond to St Germain II (and Ognon?) and precede pleniglacial steppe vegetation, are designated by the local names Etruria I, Etruria II and Etruria III. During the pleniglacial, a number of fluctuations of angiosperm mesophilous trees suggest the presence of tree refugia in the area. The lowest pollen concentration values are recorded at ca. 22 000 B.P. which corresponds with other pollen records from the region. The late-glacial is characterized by an expansion in the arboreal pollen curves that is less pronounced, however, than in other pollen profiles from Italy. The Holocene part of the profile is consistently dominated by deciduous oak pollen. No major changes in arboreal pollen composition are recorded but several marked and sudden declines of the tree pollen concentration suggest that the forest cover underwent dramatic changes. Clear evidence for human impact is recorded only when cultivated crops became important which dates to ca. 2630±95 B.P.

The objective of this study was to estimate the dispersal rate in an organism assumed to be confined to tree stands with unbroken continuity. We used the lichen-forming ascomycete Cliostomum corrugatum, which is largely confined to old... more

The objective of this study was to estimate the dispersal rate in an organism assumed to be confined to tree stands with unbroken continuity. We used the lichen-forming ascomycete Cliostomum corrugatum, which is largely confined to old oak stands. Five populations, with pairwise ...

Archaeobotanical and archaeozoological analyses conducted on Late Neolithic settlement layers at Latsch provide the first data on the subsistence strategy, diet and environmental conditions in the valley of origin of the Alpine Iceman.... more

Archaeobotanical and archaeozoological analyses conducted on Late Neolithic settlement layers at Latsch provide the first data on the subsistence strategy, diet and environmental conditions in the valley of origin of the Alpine Iceman. The results prove that during the Late Neolithic, the valley was occupied by an agro-pastoral society based on the cultivation of Hordeum vulgare (hulled barley), Triticum monococcum

Palynological investigations were carried out in the coastal lowland of northwestern Crete, in the area of Lake Kournas. Results comprise the longest continuous vegetation record (9000 radiocarbon years) for Crete. From about 8500 to 7500... more

Palynological investigations were carried out in the coastal lowland of northwestern Crete, in the area of Lake Kournas. Results comprise the longest continuous vegetation record (9000 radiocarbon years) for Crete. From about 8500 to 7500 BP, open deciduous-oak forest occurred and appears to re ect the driest conditions of the Holocene. After 7500 BP, tree-pollen numbers increase. Some of these tree species are thought to be autochthonous, but for at least six species this is doubted and the presence of their pollen is ascribed to long-distance transport. Up to 6000 BP, the local vegetation included deciduous and evergreen oaks, Pistacia, Phillyrea and a variety of herbs. Only after 7000 BP, some species, e.g., Mercurialis annua, Cynocrambe and spores of Pteridium, might indicate the effects of Neolithic habitation. Towards 6000 BP, plane tree and Styrax (storax) appear; from about 6000 BP, olive is present and human activity becomes more evident. Slowly, pollen types indicative of the exploitation of present-day Mediterranean vegetation, e.g., Poterium and Ericaceae, appear and the presence of the alga Gloeotrichia indicates a rise in phosphate. A striking aspect of the sediment core nearest to the sea is a pumice layer originating from the Theran (Santorini) eruption. From the manner of its deposition it is concluded that no tsunami met the Cretan beach. In uence of the eruption from Thera on the vegetation is hardly visible. Decrease of economically important cultivated plants, e.g., olive, already took place decades, up to about a century, before the volcanic eruption. Around the time of the eruption, the values of some pollen types hardly changed, others increased and another group decreased. This pollen behaviour appears to be explained rather by socio-economic changes, such as withdrawing of the inhabitants to the interior for reasons other than volcanic effects. It is concluded from the pollen cores that no major climatic changes affected northwestern Crete during the Holocene but the rst two millennia of the Holocene tended to be drier than the following period when there was an increase in moisture-demanding trees. It is dif cult to assign changes in the Cretan vegetation to climatic effects in a period when human impact was gathering strength.

Insular occurrences of steppe vegetation are a common feature of the northern Mongolian mountain taiga. Steppe vegetation is limited here to southern slopes, whereas northern slopes and valley bottoms are principally wooded with light and... more

Insular occurrences of steppe vegetation are a common feature of the northern Mongolian mountain taiga. Steppe vegetation is limited here to southern slopes, whereas northern slopes and valley bottoms are principally wooded with light and dark taiga forests. In a case study in the valley of the river Eroo at Khonin Nuga Research Station in the western Khentey Mountains, we searched for evidence of an anthropogenic versus natural origin of steppe vegetation on the southern slopes. Pollen data of three profiles covering the last 2500 years showed continuous presence of steppe throughout the late Holocene with human influence restricted to the recent past. Virtual absence of charcoal in the soil on and beneath three steppe slopes suggested that the present steppe grasslands are not replacing former forests burnt by humans or lightning. The floodplains in the center of the Eroo valley were recently deforested. This is suggested by the pollen analysis and by interviews with local people on landuse history. Steppe grasslands of the study area have probably never been used as pastures. Pastoral nomads traditionally avoided the Eroo valley near Khonin Nuga because of difficult access and high densities of wolves and bears. All our data suggest that the present vegetation pattern of the western Khentey with steppes (and single small Ulmus pumila trees) on south-facing slopes occurring as islands in the mountain taiga is driven by climate and relief and is not the result of human activities as suggested for other regions of Asia.

The history of Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) cultivation since medieval times has been well described on the basis of the very rich documentation available. Far fewer attempts have been made to give a historical synthesis of the events... more

The history of Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) cultivation since medieval times has been well described on the basis of the very rich documentation available. Far fewer attempts have been made to give a historical synthesis of the events that led to the cultivation of sweet chestnut in much earlier times. In this article we attempt to reconstruct this part of the European history of chestnut cultivation and its early diffusion by use of different sources of information, such as pollen studies, archaeology, history and literature. Using this multidisciplinary approach, we have tried to identify the roles of the Greek and Roman civilizations in the dissemination of chestnut cultivation on a European scale. In particular, we show that use of the chestnut for food was not the primary driving force behind the introduction of the tree into Europe by the Romans. Apart from the Insubrian Region in the north of the Italian peninsula, no other centre of chestnut cultivation existed in Europe during the Roman period. The Romans may have introduced the idea of systematically cultivating and using chestnut. In certain cases they introduced the species itself; however no evidence of systematic planting of chestnut exists. The greatest interest in the management of chestnut for fruit production most probably developed after the Roman period and can be associated with the socio-economic structures of medieval times. It was then that self-sufficient cultures based on the cultivation of chestnut as a source of subsistence were formed.

The paper presents a synthesis of the on-site

In 1998, an ancient shipping wharf was brought to light in Pisa, Italy. The shipwrecks found there showed human activity from the Etruscan to the late Roman Empire periods. Sandy sediments burying the ships and related materials show four... more

In 1998, an ancient shipping wharf was brought to light in Pisa, Italy. The shipwrecks found there showed human activity from the Etruscan to the late Roman Empire periods. Sandy sediments burying the ships and related materials show four main periods of catastrophic floods separated by thin muddy layers pointing to phases between flooding episodes. Pollen analyses in these fine grained deposits showed: 1) significant percentages of Abies and Fagus during the pre-Roman period; 2) elements of mixed oak woodland together with hygrophilous plants in pollen spectra dominated by herbs, in the Roman interflood deposits. On the whole, the pollen data show a vegetational change which may be attributed to different climatic conditions, supporting the hypothesis that the Roman period was warmer, even though a significant human influence cannot be excluded. Numerous fresh water genera suggest that the area was a poorly drained alluvial plain. Integration between pollen and sedimentological analyses allows some inferences on the dynamics of the warm Roman period and indicates that the warm climate was punctuated by centuryscale hydro-climatic crises triggering catastrophic floods.

A high-resolution sedimentary charcoal record from Lago dell'Accesa in southern Tuscany reveals numerous changes in fire regime over the last 11.6 kyr cal. BP and provides one of the longest gap-free series from Italy and the... more

A high-resolution sedimentary charcoal record from Lago dell'Accesa in southern Tuscany reveals numerous changes in fire regime over the last 11.6 kyr cal. BP and provides one of the longest gap-free series from Italy and the Mediterranean region. Charcoal analyses are coupled with gamma density measurements, organic-content analyses, and pollen counts to provide data about sedimentation and vegetation history. A comparison between fire frequency and lake-level reconstructions from the same site is used to address the centennial variability of fire regimes and its linkage to hydrological processes. Our data reveal strong relationships among climate, fire, vegetation, and land-use and attest to the paramount importance of fire in Mediterranean ecosystems. The mean fire interval (MFI) for the entire Holocene was estimated to be 150 yr, with a minimum around 80 yr and a maximum around 450 yr. Between 11.6 and 3.6 kyr cal. BP, up to eight high-frequency fire phases lasting 300-500 yr generally occurred during shifts towards low lake-level stands (ca 11,300, 10,700, 9500, 8700, 7600, 6200, 5300, 3400, 1800 and 1350 cal. yr BP). Therefore, we assume that most of these shifts were triggered by drier climatic conditions and especially a dry summer season that promoted ignition and biomass burning. At the beginning of the Holocene, high climate seasonality favoured fire expansion in this region, as in many other ecosystems of the northern and southern hemispheres. Human impact affected fire regimes and especially fire frequencies since the Neolithic (ca 8000-4000 cal. yr BP). Burning as a consequence of anthropogenic activities became more frequent after the onset of the Bronze Age (ca 3800-3600 cal. yr BP) and appear to be synchronous with the development of settlements in the region, slash-and-burn agriculture, animal husbandry, and mineral exploitation. The anthropogenic phases with maximum fire activity corresponded to greater sensitivity of the vegetation and triggered significant changes in vegetational communities (e.g. temporal declines of Quercus ilex forests and expansion of shrublands and macchia). The link between fire and climate persisted during the mid-and late Holocene, when human impact on vegetation and the fire regime was high. This finding suggests that climatic conditions were important for fire occurrence even under strongly humanised ecosystem conditions.

Sediment cores collected along a transect in Crooked Pond, southeastern Massachusetts, provide evidence of water-level changes between 15,000 cal yr B.P. and present. The extent of finegrained, detrital, organic accumulation in the basin,... more

Sediment cores collected along a transect in Crooked Pond, southeastern Massachusetts, provide evidence of water-level changes between 15,000 cal yr B.P. and present. The extent of finegrained, detrital, organic accumulation in the basin, inferred from sediment and pollen stratigraphies, varied over time and indicates low water levels between 11,200 and 8000 cal yr B.P. and from ca. 5300 to 3200 cal yr B.P. This history is consistent with the paleohydrology records from nearby Makepeace Cedar Swamp and other sites from New England and eastern Canada and with temporal patterns of regional changes in effective soil moisture inferred from pollen data. The similarities among these records indicate that (1) regional conditions were drier than today when white pine (Pinus strobus) grew abundantly in southern New England (11,200 to 9500 cal yr B.P.); (2) higher moisture levels existed between 8000 and 5500 cal yr B.P., possibly caused by increased meridonal circulation as the influence of the Laurentide ice sheet waned; and (3) drier conditions possibly contributed to the regional decline in hemlock (Tsuga) abundances at 5300 cal yr B.P. Although sea-level rise may have been an influence, moist climatic conditions during the late Holocene were the primary reason for a dramatic rise in water-table elevations. C 2001 University of Washington.

Pollen analysis was carried out on sediments older than the Wu¨rm pleniglacial (OIS 4), in two new sequences (H and I) derived from the centre of Lac du Bouchet, Massif Central. The inferred vegetation history enables, for the first time... more

Pollen analysis was carried out on sediments older than the Wu¨rm pleniglacial (OIS 4), in two new sequences (H and I) derived from the centre of Lac du Bouchet, Massif Central. The inferred vegetation history enables, for the first time in France, five temperate episodes to be defined which pre-date the last interglacial. These temperate episodes alternate with episodes during which the changes in vegetation are indicative of glacial climates. Comparison of these climatic episodes with the oceanic isotope record shows that the pollen record of sequences H and I from Lac du Bouchet spans the time interval from OIS 9c (Ussel interstadial) to OIS 5e (Ribains/Eemian interglacial). In the organic sediments from the Amargiers interstadial (OIS 9a), a trachytic layer, Ar/Ar dated to ca 275 ka, enables a correlation to be established with the upper part of a sequence derived from the nearby Praclaux crater, the lower part of this sequence being of Holsteinian age (OIS 11c). The cross-dating of the pollen sequences from Lac du Bouchet (cores H, I and D) and from Praclaux provides a complete record from the Massif Central, southern France, of successive glacial and interglacial episodes that span the last ca. 400 ka, that is the interval from the Holsteinian to the Holocene.

Attributable risks (ARs) for bladder cancer were computed in relationship to cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, low intake of vegetables, histoy of cystitis, and occupation using data from a casecontrol study conducted in northern l&y... more

Attributable risks (ARs) for bladder cancer were computed in relationship to cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, low intake of vegetables, histoy of cystitis, and occupation using data from a casecontrol study conducted in northern l&y between 1985 and 1993. Cases were 431 patients with histologically confirmed bladder cancer, and controls were 491 patients admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute, nonneoplastic, and non-urinary-tract diseases. Overall, the AR estimates were 49% for cigarette smoking, 23% for coffee consumption, 16% for low intake of vegetables, 12% fot history of cystitis, and 4% for occupation. These five factors together explained more than 70% of bladder cancer cases in this population. The AR for cigarette smoking was significantly higher among men (56%) than women (17%), whereas coffee consumption, low vegetable intake, and cystitis were more important (but not significantly so) among women. These results suggest that more than 2500 of the 5400 deaths due to bladder cancer in ltaly in 1990 could have been prevented by the elimination of cigarette smoking. With some appropriate dietary modification and intervention to prevent urinary tract infections and occupational exposures, this figure could approach 4000 avoidable deaths. Thus, bladder cancer could become a rare cause of death in this population. Ann Epidemioi 1995;5:42 7--431.

Recent work suggests that historical fire frequency has been overestimated east of the prairie-woodland transition zone, and its introduction could potentially reduce forest herb and shrub diversity. Fire-history recreations derived from... more

Recent work suggests that historical fire frequency has been overestimated east of the prairie-woodland transition zone, and its introduction could potentially reduce forest herb and shrub diversity. Fire-history recreations derived from sedimentary charcoal, tree fire scars, and estimates of Native American burning suggest point-return times ranging from 5-10 years to centuries and millennia. Actual return times were probably longer because such records suffer from selective sampling, small sample sizes, and a probable publication bias toward frequent fire. Archeological evidence shows the environmental effect of fire could be severe in the immediate neighborhood of a Native American village. Population density appears to have been low through most of the Holocene, however, and villages were strongly clustered at a regional scale.

Archaeological excavations at North-Bohemian sandstone rock shelters have uncovered complex evidence of intermittent human presence since the Late Palaeolithic to recent times. In this paper, we investigate the history of Holocene... more

Archaeological excavations at North-Bohemian sandstone rock shelters have uncovered complex evidence
of intermittent human presence since the Late Palaeolithic to recent times. In this paper, we
investigate the history of Holocene woodlands based on charcoal assemblages from stratified sandy
accumulations under archaeologically investigated rock shelters. In total, we carried out anthracological
analyses of eight profiles excavated under rock shelters.
Our study shows that the number of charcoal taxa correlated with local environmental diversity
around the rock shelters. Charcoals of Pinus sylvestris were abundant in all the profiles analysed. Profiles
in bottom parts of valleys recorded a higher abundance of broadleaf tree charcoal. The abundance of oak
gradually decreased from the Bronze Age onwards, as oak got replaced by pine, and locally beech, fir and
spruce. Today, several of the recorded woody species are rare or even absent in the sandstone region
under study.
We focused on comparing anthracological results with results of pollen analyses carried out in the
same areas. Our results demonstrate that when results from different types of archives are compared, it is
possible to gain a more differentiated insight into local vegetation composition. This may carry wide
methodological implications.

The objective of this study was to estimate the dispersal rate in an organism assumed to be confined to tree stands with unbroken continuity. We used the lichen-forming ascomycete Cliostomum corrugatum, which is largely confined to old... more

The objective of this study was to estimate the dispersal rate in an organism assumed to be confined to tree stands with unbroken continuity. We used the lichen-forming ascomycete Cliostomum corrugatum, which is largely confined to old oak stands. Five populations, with pairwise distances ranging from 6.5 to 83 km, were sampled in Östergötland, south-eastern Sweden. DNA sequence data from an intron in the small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene was obtained from 85 samples. Nearly all molecular variance (99.6%) was found within populations and there were no signs of isolation-by-distance. The absolute number of immigrants per population per generation (estimated to 30 years), inferred by Bayesian MCMC, was found to be between 1 and 5. Altogether, evidence suggests abundant gene flow in the history of our sample. A simulation procedure demonstrated that we cannot know whether effective dispersal is ongoing or if it ceased at the time when oaks started to decrease dramatically around 400 years BP. However, a scenario where effective dispersal ceased already at the time when the postglacial reinvasion of oak had reached the region around 6000 years BP is unlikely. Vegetation history suggests that the habitat of C. corrugatum was patchily distributed in the landscape since the early Holocene. Combined with the high dispersal rate estimate, this suggests that the species has been successful at frequently crossing distances of at least several kilometres and possibly that it has primarily been limited by the availability of habitat rather than by dispersal.

In 1998, an ancient shipping wharf was brought to light in Pisa, Italy. The shipwrecks found there showed human activity from the Etruscan to the late Roman Empire periods. Sandy sediments burying the ships and related materials show four... more

In 1998, an ancient shipping wharf was brought to light in Pisa, Italy. The shipwrecks found there showed human activity from the Etruscan to the late Roman Empire periods. Sandy sediments burying the ships and related materials show four main periods of catastrophic floods separated by thin muddy layers pointing to phases between flooding episodes. Pollen analyses in these fine grained deposits showed: 1) significant percentages of Abies and Fagus during the pre-Roman period; 2) elements of mixed oak woodland together with hygrophilous plants in pollen spectra dominated by herbs, in the Roman interflood deposits. On the whole, the pollen data show a vegetational change which may be attributed to different climatic conditions, supporting the hypothesis that the Roman period was warmer, even though a significant human influence cannot be excluded. Numerous fresh water genera suggest that the area was a poorly drained alluvial plain. Integration between pollen and sedimentological analyses allows some inferences on the dynamics of the warm Roman period and indicates that the warm climate was punctuated by centuryscale hydro-climatic crises triggering catastrophic floods.

Palaeobotanical analysis and radiocarbon dating of lake sediments from Bachalpsee (2265 m a.s.l.), a small lake above the present-day timber-line in the northern Swiss Alps reveals that the region was already deglaciated during the... more

Palaeobotanical analysis and radiocarbon dating of lake sediments from Bachalpsee (2265 m a.s.l.), a small lake above the present-day timber-line in the northern Swiss Alps reveals that the region was already deglaciated during the Younger Dryas. The sediment record is dominated by long-distance transported pollen that originates from lowland vegetation but the plant macrofossils give evidence of the local vegetation development. Comparison with palaeobotanical results from three sites along an altitudinal transect permits the reconstruction of the regional timber-line history. Throughout the entire Holocene the catchment of Bachalpsee consisted of a mosaic of open meadows and dwarf shrubs (Salix, Vaccinium, Rhododendron). Chironomid and cladoceran assemblages suggest that the early to mid-Holocene was the warmest interval at Bachalpsee. Comparison of the palaeobotanical results with those from the mire "Feld" (2130 m a.s.l.) in the vicin-Communicated by W. Tinner

A pollen record obtained from a 2.2-m sediment succession deposited in a small lake in the province of Västerbotten, north-eastern Sweden, reveals the presence of continuous forest cover since 8,500 calendar years before present (cal... more

A pollen record obtained from a 2.2-m sediment succession deposited in a small lake in the province of Västerbotten, north-eastern Sweden, reveals the presence of continuous forest cover since 8,500 calendar years before present (cal B.P.). Forest with abundant Pinus (pine) and Betula (birch) initially colonized the area, followed by a dominance of deciduous trees, primarily Betula, from ca. 8,000 to ca. 3,200 cal B.P. Pollen accumulation rates of Quercus (oak), Ulmus (elm) and Tilia (linden) suggest the possible local presence of these thermophilous tree species during this period. The climate gradually became colder and moister around 3,500 cal B.P. and an increased abundance of Sphagnum spores indicates paludification. Picea (spruce) became established around 3,200 cal B.P. and less than 500 years later this was the dominant tree species around the lake. The fire frequency as inferred from charcoal particles exhibits a general increase from ca. 3,000 cal B.P. with subsequent charcoal accumulation maxima at around 2,800 cal B.P., 1,700 cal B.P. and in recent time. The human influence on vegetation was significant during the last 200-300 years. Soil erosion increased substantially and fern spores amount to ca. 55% of the total pollen assemblage in the uppermost samples. These results suggest an extensive anthropogenic impact on the local forest ecosystem, with abundant logging, burning and ditching in the vicinity of the lake. Independent evidence of sub-recent human-induced environmental change is provided by historical accounts. Complementary information on catchment soil development and aquatic nutrient status was provided by records of magnetic susceptibility and elemental carbon, and nitrogen contents obtained from the same sediment core.

Detailed Late-glacial and Holocene palaeoenvironmental records from the northern Apennines with a robust chronology are still rare, though the region has been regarded as a main area of potential refugia of important trees such as Picea... more

Detailed Late-glacial and Holocene palaeoenvironmental records from the northern Apennines with a robust chronology are still rare, though the region has been regarded as a main area of potential refugia of important trees such as Picea abies and Abies alba. We present a new high-resolution pollen and stomata record from Lago del Greppo (1,442 m a.s.l., Pistoia, northern Apennines) that has been dated relying on 12 terrestrial plant macrofossils.

Two pollen diagrams from near the Chuya Basin, Russian Altai, are presented together with results from geomorphological archives. The Kuray Range profile (2330 m a.s.l.) is situated just above the forest line and starts with the weak... more

Two pollen diagrams from near the Chuya Basin, Russian Altai, are presented together with results from geomorphological archives. The Kuray Range profile (2330 m a.s.l.) is situated just above the forest line and starts with the weak cooling of the middle Atlantic period (ca. 6500–5900 b.p.) that bisects the Holocene optimum, as in other parts of Siberia. Taiga (boreal coniferous forest) with Picea obovata established afterwards but was displaced at ca. 5300 b.p. by the pronounced cooling of the early Sub-boreal. A gradual recovery of taiga stopped and it disappeared around 3400 b.p. at the end of the middle Sub-boreal. Since then the climatic and vegetational conditions much resemble those of the Sub-atlantic. In the last two millennia, three climatic declines are documented in the second diagram from the Tarkhata Valley (2210 m a.s.l.) from the dry limit of Larix sibirica: a cold and wet one around the 5th century a.d., a cold and dry one around a.d. 1200 and the Little Ice Age which started around a.d. 1600. In addition, several of the climatic periods and especially local human influence can be proved by the geomorphological findings. Most of the climatic changes seem to be connected with socio-ecological changes in Asia and even Europe, with movements of the Huns and Mongols, which show the possible dimensions of global climatic change. Hints of teleconnections between Siberia, the Mediterranean and the Himalayas via the North Atlantic and the Arctic Oscillation are discussed.

Modern pollen samples provide an invaluable research tool for helping to interpret the quaternary fossil pollen record, allowing investigation of the relationship between pollen as the proxy and the environmental parameters such as... more

Modern pollen samples provide an invaluable research tool for helping to interpret the quaternary fossil pollen record, allowing investigation of the relationship between pollen as the proxy and the environmental parameters such as vegetation, land-use, and climate that the pollen proxy represents. The European Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) is a new initiative within the European Pollen Database (EPD) to establish a publicly accessible repository of modern (surface sample) pollen data. This new database will complement the EPD, which at present holds only fossil sedimentary pollen data. The EMPD is freely available online to the scientific community and currently has information on almost 5,000 pollen samples from throughout the Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean regions, contributed by over 40 individuals and research groups. Here we describe how the EMPD was constructed, the various tables and their fields, problems and errors, quality controls, and continuing efforts to improve the available data.

We describe a new palaeobotanical site at Bubano quarry on the easternmost Po plain, northern Italy. Pollen and macrofossils from river and marsh sediments demonstrate the occurrence of Picea in a Pinus sylvestris forest growing in a... more

We describe a new palaeobotanical site at Bubano quarry on the easternmost Po plain, northern Italy. Pollen and macrofossils from river and marsh sediments demonstrate the occurrence of Picea in a Pinus sylvestris forest growing in a radius of some tens of kilometres south of the sedimentation place, at the beginning of the Late-glacial interstadial. The Late-glacial and Holocene history of Picea in the northern Apennines is reconstructed on the basis of the palaeobotanical record. The sharp climatic continentality increase eastwards across the northern Apennines from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic coast is considered significant for the survival of Picea during the Late-glacial. The most critical phase of survival is related to the moisture changes and consequent Abies competition associated with the last glacial-interglacial transition and the early Holocene. The residual spruce populations expanded during the middle Holocene. The history of Picea in the northern Apennines is a case of ineffective interglacial spread of tree populations from pre-existing stands of LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) and Late-glacial age.

A vibrocore from the sea floor of the southern North Sea provides a *1,500-year record of early Holocene vegetation history and mire development in a landscape now 33 m below sea-level. Pollen, plant macrofossil and geochemical analyses... more

A vibrocore from the sea floor of the southern North Sea provides a *1,500-year record of early Holocene vegetation history and mire development in a landscape now 33 m below sea-level. Pollen, plant macrofossil and geochemical analyses of an AMS 14 C dated sand-peatmarine mud sequence document the paludification on Pleistocene sands *10,700 cal BP, the subsequent development of eutraphentic carr vegetation and the gradual inundation by the transgressing sea *9,350 cal BP. Pinus-Corylus woodland prevailed on terrestrial grounds after hazel had immigrated *10,700 cal BP. Salix dominated the carr vegetation throughout 1,300 years of peat formation, because Alnus did not spread in the Borkum Riffgrund area until 9,300 BP. Brackish reed vegetation with Phragmites established after inundation and siliciclastic marine sediments were being deposited. This article also examines the detection and suitability of key horizons indicative of marine influence. XRF-Scanning provides the most detailed results in the briefest possible time to pinpoint spectra best suitable for AMS 14 C dating of classical key horizons such as start of peat formation and transgressive contact. The combined application of botanical and geochemical methods allows determining new key horizons indicative of marine influence, namely the earliest marine inundation and the onset of sea-level influence on coastal ground water level.

The exploration of Lateglacial vegetation history in Schleswig-Holstein is elaborate and comprehensive. Despite being one of the most studied areas, regarding to the Lateglacial, no biostratigraphy covering the complete Lateglacial and... more

The exploration of Lateglacial vegetation history in Schleswig-Holstein is elaborate and comprehensive. Despite being one of the most studied areas, regarding to the Lateglacial, no biostratigraphy covering the complete Lateglacial and Early Holocene periods without hiatus have so far been recovered. In this paper we present a bio-stratigraphy of the Nahe paleolake, therewith intending to deal with this desideratum. The special strength of the presented sequence is expressed in the fact that these are the only palynologically investigated sequentially annual laminated limnic sediments of the Lateglacial in Schleswig-Holstein. These laminated sediments, as well as radiocarbon dating of botanical macrofossils and three geochemically confirmed cryptotephra layers (Laacher See Tephra, Vedde Ash and Saksunarvatn Ash), provide excellent chronological control and allow for a Europe-wide correlation. Particularly important is a complete discussion of the vegetation history and the spatial proximity to Late Paleolithic sites, which renders it possible to evaluate potential human-environment-interaction long before classical palynological human indicators occur.

Pollen analyses were performed on sediment samples from ten different Saphar-Kharaba burials dating to the 15th-14th centuries B.C. Along with pollen and spores, a large amount of micro-remains of textile fibres was found near skeleton... more

Pollen analyses were performed on sediment samples from ten different Saphar-Kharaba burials dating to the 15th-14th centuries B.C. Along with pollen and spores, a large amount of micro-remains of textile fibres was found near skeleton bones and especially under big bones. It was established that in all the studied samples 95% of the remains of the clothing and shroud of the deceased was made of Linum (flax) and Gossypium (cotton). Wool fibres were found in very small quantities. Based on pollen spectra and the number of the fibres found in the samples taken from under the skull it became possible to identify the sex of the deceased and especially that of children, which is rather difficult to do using palaeoanthropological methods alone. The discovery of cotton fibres in the burials of the early late Bronze Age is new not only for the Georgian region under consideration, but also for the whole Caucasus. This might indicate trade relations of the peoples of the southern Caucasus with India, where at that time cotton textiles were manufactured.