Holocene palynology: II human influence and vegetation change

Abstract

Much palynological research has focused upon the role of humans in influencing the development of vegetation. This continues to be the case in Europe and anthropogenic studies in pollen analysis now extend to most parts of the world. An attempt is made to present some of the major research published between 1985 and mid-1991. The material selected represents a broad range of palynological applications and geographical areas. Methodological aspects include fine resolution, spatial and absolute pollen studies. Area studies concentrate upon Europe (with particular emphasis on the Corylus maximum, the Alnus rise and the Ulmus decline horizons in northwest European pollen diagrams), and to a lesser extent on North America, although available literature from other continents is also examined. It is concluded that a relatively small quantity of literature is devoted to methodology, but that it points the way to likely advances in elucidating human involvement in vegetation change. Fine resolution investigations may enable temporally precise changes in pollen spectra to be discerned and hence remove some of the inadequacies of coarse sampling procedures. Spatial studies reveal the complexity of palaeovegetational landscapes and the role of humans in their disturbance. Optimizing methods in the detection of cereal-type pollen grains provides challenges to both palynologists and archaeologists concerning the evidence for early agriculture. The potential of absolute data in examining human activity in forested areas is also shown. The palynological demonstration of hunter-gatherer and agricultural impacts beyond Europe is welcomed. The increasing use of microscopic charcoal data for investigating fire-vegetation relationships in cultural contexts is promising.