- Email: [email protected]
Forest composition and human impact during the Neolithic in the Westensee area, Northern Germany
Abstracts / Quaternary International 279-280 (2012) 346–461
421
MULTI-PROXY STUDY OF THE LAST 4500 YR CAL BP SEDIMENT RECORD FROM LAKE SHKODRA (ALBANIA/MONTENEGRO BOUNDARY)
FOREST COMPOSITION AND HUMAN IMPACT DURING THE NEOLITHIC IN THE WESTENSEE AREA, NORTHERN GERMANY
Laura Sadori. University La Sapienza, Italy
Mykola Sadovnik. Institute for Ecosystem Research, University of Ki, Germany
E-mail address: [email protected]
E-mail address: [email protected]
Lake Shkodra is a large (45 km long, 15 km wide) and shallow (mean depth ca. 5 m) karstic lake of sub-elliptical shape, occupying a depression of tectonic origin. It is 5-10 m a.s.l. (the water level oscillates). This means that part of the lake is below sea level (ca. 165 km2). Located at the Albania/Montenegro border it is few km from the Adriatic Sea from which is separated by the steep slopes of the Tarabosa and Rumia mountains. This zone is only 10 to 15 km wide, but has peaks up to 1600 m. Climate in the basin is Mediterranean, but, due to the mountains, with higher rainfall amounts than in Mediterranean areas (2,000-2,800 mm/ year). Three parallel overlapping cores down to the depth of 7.26 m have been used for palaeomagnetic, tephra, isotope, diatom, pollen, and microcharcoal analyses. The chronological framing of the record, spanning approximately the last 4500 years, has been assessed using four radiocarbon dates and four well-known tephra layers. The presence of these characteristic Italian volcanic ashes provides a relatively good chronology for the second half of the Holocene. Lithological analyses, C/N ratio, d13Cc and d13COM suggest that organic matter and bulk carbonate are primarily authigenic. The d18Oc record indicate the presence of two prominent wet phases: one centred at ca. 4300 cal yr BP, and one at ca. 2500-2000 yr cal BP. Pollen record support this interpretation only weakly owing to the poor sensitivity of this area dominated by orographic effects. The physiognomy of the vegetation did not suffer very much from the hydrological changes suggested by oxygen isotopes, being small percentage changes of AP (from 94% to 84%) from 4500 to ca 900 cal yr BP. However, since ca. 900 cal yr BP human impact became apparent with significant decrease in AP% and in pollen concentration. The start of the progressive decline of both arboreal pollen curves could have been generated by forest clearance due to human activity starting in the Middle Age. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF THE SEDIMENTS FROM THE IMPERIAL HARBOUR OF ROME Laura Sadori. University La Sapienza, Italy E-mail address: [email protected]
The ancient port built along the Tyrrhenian coast by Roman Emperor Claudius (1st Cent. AD), and enlarged by Emperor Trajan (beginning of 2nd Cent. AD) was Rome's principal maritime port from the middle of the first century onwards. The remains of the port and of the town raised in the close vicinity are ca. 3 km away from the present coastline, in the Tiber delta. Historical sources report that the imperial harbour was excavated both in terra firma and in lagoons. The harbour town named Portus developed together with the port itself and expanded in the following centuries. This study applies detailed pollen, microcharcoal, plant macroremains and ostracod analyses together with radiocarbon dating of the sediments recovered from two cores drilled in the area of the Claudius harbour. The chronological framing of the cores was carried out using radiocarbon dates, archaeological evidences and historical sources. They cover different periods of time, probably slightly overlapping or not overlapping at all. The dock core shows the first phases of the harbour activities, recording first a marine and then a brackish environment. The plant landscape is typical of a coastal environment and appears rather preserved. The human presence is clear, but not of great impact outside the port area. The channel core (spanning a time period more recent than that of the dock core) records mainly a brackish water environment and a strong human impact related to the presence of Portus, the port town. Plant macroremain and microremain analyses indicate that anthropic indicators (cultivated, ruderal and weed taxa) as well as strong fire use/occurrence, are increasing in the first centuries AD. The combined use of the different paleolimnological analyses allowed to disentangle between natural and human induced changes in the port management of the landscape.
This study focuses on the reconstruction of land use and forest history during the Neolithic period in Westensee moraine region in Northern Germany. By combining of pollen analysis with archaeological data and radiocarbon data, we attempt to identify the interactions between natural processes of the woodland dynamics and human impact. A chronology for three pollen profiles was established from 29 14C AMS radiocarbon dates. The pollen records indicate that different land use practices occurred in the area during the Neolithic. The presence of frequent forest fires between 4100 and 3600 cal yr BC is inferred from the Brunsrade mire archive and interpreted to be caused by hunting people. At Krähenberg, the deciduous forests experienced a reduction in the canopy around 3500 cal yr BC, suggesting increased human impact possibly associated with the construction of the megalithic graves located in vicinity to the study site. Following the period of anthropogenic activity, forest regeneration occurred over a period of c. 500 years. We assumed, that the study site was isolated from settlement and arable fields. The graves were present in a wooden landscape. Although forest disturbance occurred during the Neolithic period, intense human impact associated with arable farming commenced during the Bronze Age. In contrast, the Lünsee pollen diagram suggests the onset of cereal cultivation around 4000 cal yr BC. Only few cerealia-type pollen grains were identified for the Early Neolithic, probably indicating small and local arable fields in the study area. The past vegetation cover was reconstructed applying the LOVE and REVEALS models. The results of the analyses show that Corylus and Tilia are underestimated in the pollen percentages of pollen records. The presence of Tilia as an indicator of forest regeneration and role of Corylus in the Neolithic semi-opened landscapes are yet to be better understood. COMMUNITY STABILITY OR UPWARD MIGRATION? POLLEN RECORDS AS A TOOL TO ADDRESS THE CONSERVATION OF VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES FROM PANTEPUI (NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA) Elisabet Safont. Palynology and Paleoecology Lab., Institut Botànic, Spain E-mail address: [email protected]
The biogeographical province of Pantepui is composed of the summits above 1500 meters of the quartzite/sandstone table mountains –tepuis– located in the Neotropical Guayana region (northern South America). The tepuis contain an amazing vascular plant diversity (nearly 2.500 known species) and high levels of endemism. The Pantepui biomes have lasted in an almost-pristine state of conservation to our days. However, one of the main concerns on this region is the potential effect of the ongoing global warming on the vascular plants. Recent studies suggest a drastic habitat reduction due to upward migration of summit taxa, which can result in the extinction of a number of species due to habitat loss. In order to visualize the best conservation actions, we reviewed the latest palaeoecological results, to obtain information about past responses of vegetation to climatic changes. We used the pollen records from the Chimantá massif (Eruoda, Churí, Amurí, Acopán and Toronó tepuis) and the Guaiquinima massif (SE Venezuela). The pollen results showed that Holocene temperature changes atop the tepuis were not strong enough to modify their plant communities. However, the Churí-tepui is an exception. This Churí site, located close to a vegetation boundary, allowed to infer temperature changes from vertical migrations of plant formations. The observed spatial heterogeneity of vegetation responses to Holocene climatic changes in the tepuian summits prevents any generalization and complicates forecastings in relation to the global warming. We suggest two potential scenarios for the near future: vegetation constancy (VC), and extinction of a number of species by habitat loss (HL). The VC scenario allows the consideration of in situ conservation strategies for the preservation of the tepuian species, while ex situ conservation practices would be needed to assure the survival of species at risk in the HL scenario.
421
MULTI-PROXY STUDY OF THE LAST 4500 YR CAL BP SEDIMENT RECORD FROM LAKE SHKODRA (ALBANIA/MONTENEGRO BOUNDARY)
FOREST COMPOSITION AND HUMAN IMPACT DURING THE NEOLITHIC IN THE WESTENSEE AREA, NORTHERN GERMANY
Laura Sadori. University La Sapienza, Italy
Mykola Sadovnik. Institute for Ecosystem Research, University of Ki, Germany
E-mail address: [email protected]
E-mail address: [email protected]
Lake Shkodra is a large (45 km long, 15 km wide) and shallow (mean depth ca. 5 m) karstic lake of sub-elliptical shape, occupying a depression of tectonic origin. It is 5-10 m a.s.l. (the water level oscillates). This means that part of the lake is below sea level (ca. 165 km2). Located at the Albania/Montenegro border it is few km from the Adriatic Sea from which is separated by the steep slopes of the Tarabosa and Rumia mountains. This zone is only 10 to 15 km wide, but has peaks up to 1600 m. Climate in the basin is Mediterranean, but, due to the mountains, with higher rainfall amounts than in Mediterranean areas (2,000-2,800 mm/ year). Three parallel overlapping cores down to the depth of 7.26 m have been used for palaeomagnetic, tephra, isotope, diatom, pollen, and microcharcoal analyses. The chronological framing of the record, spanning approximately the last 4500 years, has been assessed using four radiocarbon dates and four well-known tephra layers. The presence of these characteristic Italian volcanic ashes provides a relatively good chronology for the second half of the Holocene. Lithological analyses, C/N ratio, d13Cc and d13COM suggest that organic matter and bulk carbonate are primarily authigenic. The d18Oc record indicate the presence of two prominent wet phases: one centred at ca. 4300 cal yr BP, and one at ca. 2500-2000 yr cal BP. Pollen record support this interpretation only weakly owing to the poor sensitivity of this area dominated by orographic effects. The physiognomy of the vegetation did not suffer very much from the hydrological changes suggested by oxygen isotopes, being small percentage changes of AP (from 94% to 84%) from 4500 to ca 900 cal yr BP. However, since ca. 900 cal yr BP human impact became apparent with significant decrease in AP% and in pollen concentration. The start of the progressive decline of both arboreal pollen curves could have been generated by forest clearance due to human activity starting in the Middle Age. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF THE SEDIMENTS FROM THE IMPERIAL HARBOUR OF ROME Laura Sadori. University La Sapienza, Italy E-mail address: [email protected]
The ancient port built along the Tyrrhenian coast by Roman Emperor Claudius (1st Cent. AD), and enlarged by Emperor Trajan (beginning of 2nd Cent. AD) was Rome's principal maritime port from the middle of the first century onwards. The remains of the port and of the town raised in the close vicinity are ca. 3 km away from the present coastline, in the Tiber delta. Historical sources report that the imperial harbour was excavated both in terra firma and in lagoons. The harbour town named Portus developed together with the port itself and expanded in the following centuries. This study applies detailed pollen, microcharcoal, plant macroremains and ostracod analyses together with radiocarbon dating of the sediments recovered from two cores drilled in the area of the Claudius harbour. The chronological framing of the cores was carried out using radiocarbon dates, archaeological evidences and historical sources. They cover different periods of time, probably slightly overlapping or not overlapping at all. The dock core shows the first phases of the harbour activities, recording first a marine and then a brackish environment. The plant landscape is typical of a coastal environment and appears rather preserved. The human presence is clear, but not of great impact outside the port area. The channel core (spanning a time period more recent than that of the dock core) records mainly a brackish water environment and a strong human impact related to the presence of Portus, the port town. Plant macroremain and microremain analyses indicate that anthropic indicators (cultivated, ruderal and weed taxa) as well as strong fire use/occurrence, are increasing in the first centuries AD. The combined use of the different paleolimnological analyses allowed to disentangle between natural and human induced changes in the port management of the landscape.
This study focuses on the reconstruction of land use and forest history during the Neolithic period in Westensee moraine region in Northern Germany. By combining of pollen analysis with archaeological data and radiocarbon data, we attempt to identify the interactions between natural processes of the woodland dynamics and human impact. A chronology for three pollen profiles was established from 29 14C AMS radiocarbon dates. The pollen records indicate that different land use practices occurred in the area during the Neolithic. The presence of frequent forest fires between 4100 and 3600 cal yr BC is inferred from the Brunsrade mire archive and interpreted to be caused by hunting people. At Krähenberg, the deciduous forests experienced a reduction in the canopy around 3500 cal yr BC, suggesting increased human impact possibly associated with the construction of the megalithic graves located in vicinity to the study site. Following the period of anthropogenic activity, forest regeneration occurred over a period of c. 500 years. We assumed, that the study site was isolated from settlement and arable fields. The graves were present in a wooden landscape. Although forest disturbance occurred during the Neolithic period, intense human impact associated with arable farming commenced during the Bronze Age. In contrast, the Lünsee pollen diagram suggests the onset of cereal cultivation around 4000 cal yr BC. Only few cerealia-type pollen grains were identified for the Early Neolithic, probably indicating small and local arable fields in the study area. The past vegetation cover was reconstructed applying the LOVE and REVEALS models. The results of the analyses show that Corylus and Tilia are underestimated in the pollen percentages of pollen records. The presence of Tilia as an indicator of forest regeneration and role of Corylus in the Neolithic semi-opened landscapes are yet to be better understood. COMMUNITY STABILITY OR UPWARD MIGRATION? POLLEN RECORDS AS A TOOL TO ADDRESS THE CONSERVATION OF VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES FROM PANTEPUI (NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA) Elisabet Safont. Palynology and Paleoecology Lab., Institut Botànic, Spain E-mail address: [email protected]
The biogeographical province of Pantepui is composed of the summits above 1500 meters of the quartzite/sandstone table mountains –tepuis– located in the Neotropical Guayana region (northern South America). The tepuis contain an amazing vascular plant diversity (nearly 2.500 known species) and high levels of endemism. The Pantepui biomes have lasted in an almost-pristine state of conservation to our days. However, one of the main concerns on this region is the potential effect of the ongoing global warming on the vascular plants. Recent studies suggest a drastic habitat reduction due to upward migration of summit taxa, which can result in the extinction of a number of species due to habitat loss. In order to visualize the best conservation actions, we reviewed the latest palaeoecological results, to obtain information about past responses of vegetation to climatic changes. We used the pollen records from the Chimantá massif (Eruoda, Churí, Amurí, Acopán and Toronó tepuis) and the Guaiquinima massif (SE Venezuela). The pollen results showed that Holocene temperature changes atop the tepuis were not strong enough to modify their plant communities. However, the Churí-tepui is an exception. This Churí site, located close to a vegetation boundary, allowed to infer temperature changes from vertical migrations of plant formations. The observed spatial heterogeneity of vegetation responses to Holocene climatic changes in the tepuian summits prevents any generalization and complicates forecastings in relation to the global warming. We suggest two potential scenarios for the near future: vegetation constancy (VC), and extinction of a number of species by habitat loss (HL). The VC scenario allows the consideration of in situ conservation strategies for the preservation of the tepuian species, while ex situ conservation practices would be needed to assure the survival of species at risk in the HL scenario.