All about yew: on the trail of Taxus baccata in southwest Europe by means of integrated palaeobotanical and archaeobotanical studies

Uzquiano, Paloma; Allué, Ethel; Antolín, Ferran; Burjachs, Francesc; Picornel, Llorenç; Piqué, Raquel; Zapata, Lydia

doi:10.1007/s00334-014-0475-x

Cited by 32 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…According to Tobolski (2002), the Holocene climatic conditions were never optimal for T. baccata, and its colonisation and long-term survival in the current period is attributed to specific local conditions, which have created ecological islands. An analysis of yew Holocene dynamics in the Iberian Peninsula led Uzquiano et al (2015) to the same conclusions concerning the role of climatic conditions in the Holocene dynamics of the English yew.…”

Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Currently, Fagus sylvatica L. is considered to be the main competitor of yew in the central and northern part of its range (Deforce & Bastiaens, 2007;Dhar et al, 2007;Ruprecht et al, 2010), as well as in the Mediterranean (Piovesan et al, 2009;Uzquiano et al, 2015). In our opinion, the interaction between both species, including the postglacial colonisation pattern of Fagus, might have influenced the expansion of yew in Central Europe and reduced its presence in the vegetation.…”

Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 84%

“…One of the hypotheses aiming to explain the current scattered distribution of T. baccata considers generally unfavourable climatic conditions in the Holocene, compared to those of previous interglacials, especially the Eemian and Mazovian (Holsteinian), (Tobolski 2002;Uzquiano et al, 2015). However, the species abundance was different across its European range in the interglacials (Averdieck, 1971;Beaulieu et al, 2001;Krupiński et al, 2004;Kozáková et al, 2011) and, for example, on the present Polish territory in the Eemian yew was probably not a very common taxon (Noryśkiewicz et al, unpublished data).…”

Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Postglacial migration dynamics helps to explain current scattered distribution of Taxus baccata

Iszkuło¹,

Pers‐Kamczyc²,

Nalepka³

et al. 2016

Dendrobiology

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Taxus baccata L. has a scattered distribution and the decline of yew woodlands is observed across the entire species range. Passively protected populations in the central and northern part of their distribution are declining without human intervention. However, the establishment of new yew populations is observed in habitats that have been significantly transformed by humans. The following question need to be answered: why do yews find better in environmental conditions that have been strongly modified by humans compared to natural systems? The Quaternary history might be the key to understand the current yew situation. As suggested by palaeobotanical studies, pollen of T. baccata was observed at optima of the interglacials, but in subsequent periods, it has been displaced by that of other shade-tolerant species. Pollen diagrams indicate that after the last glaciation, the yew did not appear earlier than other shade-tolerant species and did not have the opportunity to become common in occurrence, as in previous interglacial periods. As a result, yews occur only as relict populations within environmental islands where the competition with other shade-tolerant species is low. The negative human impact on yew is well-documented, but limitations resulting from the biology of this species are also very important. T. baccata is a species whose current scattered distribution may explain the Quaternary history. Yew situation is better in artificial conditions because people reduce competition from other trees species and deer pressure. Possible positive impact of human on yew distribution in the past is also discussed. The current biological condition of this species suggests the need for active protection.

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Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: The Quaternary History Of Taxus Baccatamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Postglacial migration dynamics helps to explain current scattered distribution of Taxus baccata

Iszkuło¹,

Pers‐Kamczyc²,

Nalepka³

et al. 2016

Dendrobiology

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“…However, from the charcoal record alone it is difficult to determine the real significance of Taxus in the landscape. Indeed previous studies have shown that wood macro-remains linked to human settlements can be used only as indicators of the presence of this genus, rather than as a quantitative estimate of the prevalence of Taxus in the landscape (P erez-D ıaz et al 2013; Uzquiano et al 2014). From 6000 cal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

8000 years of vegetation history in the northern Iberian Peninsula inferred from the palaeoenvironmental study of the Zalama ombrotrophic bog (Basque‐Cantabrian Mountains, Spain)

Pérez-Díaz

López‐Sáez

Pontevedra-Pombal

et al. 2016

Boreas

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This paper focuses on pollen, spores, non‐pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) and certain geochemical elements from the ombrotrophic blanket bog of Zalama (Basque‐Cantabrian Mountains, northern Iberian Peninsula), with the support of a robust chronology based on 17 AMS 14C dates. The main results related to the last 8000 years show that, during the early middle Holocene, pines and deciduous forests were the most extensive tree formations. At the beginning of the succession, pines reach 44%, showing regional presence, whereas after 7600 cal. a BP, deciduous forests were particularly abundant. From c. 6500 cal. a BP the pollen diagram constructed from our samples shows the first anthropogenic evidence, linked with the new economic practices related to the Neolithic of the Basque‐Cantabrian Mountains. From 3300 cal. a BP the expansion of Fagus sylvatica is particularly clear, and has since then become one of the dominant forest species in this region. We also discuss the Holocene evolution of other noteworthy plant communities in southwestern Europe, such as Taxus baccata, Juglans and shrublands.

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“…Many reference works and papers discuss the wood as equally toxic (e.g. Deforce and Bastiaens , 226; Uzquiano et al , 230) but it is far less clear whether this is also a significant health risk. Certainly there is a general understanding, both amongst modern‐day woodworkers and amongst Classical authors, that the wood can be harmful.…”

Section: Choosing Yewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bring Me Three Large Beers: Wooden Tankards at Roman Vindolanda

Sands

Horn²

2017

Oxford J Archaeology

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Summary This paper presents, and places in context, two tankard staves and part of a lathe‐turned tankard base, all made from yew wood (Taxus baccata), identified as part of a review of over 1500 wooden small finds from the Roman fort of Vindolanda. These were originally part of large, skilfully produced, communal drinking vessels of a type that has recently been the subject of a major review. Wooden tankards of this type are currently considered to be at their earliest a Late Iron Age phenomenon but one which extends well into the Roman period and which has, so far, been recognized predominantly within Britain. The three elements, found at Vindolanda, must have derived from three separate vessels and come from different periods within the site. This paper explores, adds to and amplifies current thinking on the construction, use and discard of these vessels and, in particular, considers how the tankards were perceived within the context of a Roman fort.

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All about yew: on the trail of Taxus baccata in southwest Europe by means of integrated palaeobotanical and archaeobotanical studies

Cited by 32 publications

References 37 publications

Postglacial migration dynamics helps to explain current scattered distribution of Taxus baccata

Postglacial migration dynamics helps to explain current scattered distribution of Taxus baccata

8000 years of vegetation history in the northern Iberian Peninsula inferred from the palaeoenvironmental study of the Zalama ombrotrophic bog (Basque‐Cantabrian Mountains, Spain)

Bring Me Three Large Beers: Wooden Tankards at Roman Vindolanda

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