Beech Leaves and Twigs used as Winter Fodder: Examples from Historic and Prehistoric Times

Haas, Jean Nicolas; Karg, Sabine; Rasmussen, Peter

doi:10.1179/env.1996.1.1.81

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The wood fodder was usually exploited during the winter seasons when grazing was not possible. This strategy has been documented in other archaeological sites and recorded ethnographically (Haas et al, 1988;Rasmussen, 1993;Karg, 1998). The presence of faecal spherulites in all the samples is a clear indicator of the dung deposition in the cave (Brochier et al, 1992;Canti, 1997, Canti, 1999.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Formation processes through archaeobotanical remains: The case of the Bronze Age levels in El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Cabanes

Burjachs

Expósito

et al. 2009

Quaternary International

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El Mirador site has a sequence formed by burnt dung resulting from pastoral activities during the Bronze Age and the Neolithic period. Because there is a high sediment variation in the profile, facies descriptions were used to guide the archaeologists in their work. Paleobotanical and mineralogical analyses were used to describe and understand the formation of the facies from the MIR 4 level. Furthermore, the paleobotanical results serve to reconstruct the landscape in Atapuerca during the Bronze Age. Most seeds recovered are from Triticum aestivum/durum, but other cereals and also Leguminoseae and fruits have been identified. Charcoal analysis has yielded mainly deciduous and evergreen Quercus. Pollen analysis has revealed a low arboreal cover, with Pinus, Quercus and riverside trees. Most of the pollen record corresponds to herbs, such as Poaceae and Asteraceae. All these results indicate a mosaic of different biota with forest, pastureland and cultivated fields near the site. Most of the phytoliths come from the leaves and stems of festucoid grasses. However, there are some differences in the phytolith type and number, the amount of faecal spherulites, the mineralogical composition and the percentage of multicellular structures that indicate that not all the facies in the site have been formed in the same way. Thus, the work carried out has demonstrated that some facies are related more to agricultural activities than to pastoralism activities, and that other facies have been affected by incipient diagenetic processes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Formation processes through archaeobotanical remains: The case of the Bronze Age levels in El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Cabanes

Burjachs

Expósito

et al. 2009

Quaternary International

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“…In contrast, most tree species were strongly reduced by fires and other human disturbances such as logging, pollarding and browsing (e.g. Haas, Karg, & Rasmussen, ; Haas & Schweingruber, ; Pott, ; Tinner et al., ). Most interestingly, some tree species such as F. sylvatica and A. alba seem to have fully recovered and even expanded after forest disruptions (within c .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and mechanisms of synchronous succession trajectories in primeval Central European mixed Fagus sylvatica forests

et al. 2019

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1. Natural succession trajectories of Central European forest ecosystems are poorly understood due to the absence of long-term observations and the pervasive effects of past human impacts on today's vegetation communities. This knowledge gap is significant given that currently forest ecosystems are expanding in Europe as a consequence of global change.2. Annually laminated sediments were extracted from two small lowland lakes (Moossee 521 m a.s.l.; Burgäschisee 465 m a.s.l.) on the Swiss Plateau. We combine high-resolution palaeoecological and quantitative analyses to assess changes in vegetation during the Neolithic. We test for regionally synchronous land-use phases and plant successional patterns that may originate from complex interactions between human and climatic impacts. 3. Mixed Fagus sylvatica forests dominated the Swiss Plateau vegetation over millennia. During the period 6,500-4,200 cal year bp, pronounced forest disruptions accompanied by increased fire and agricultural activities occurred at c. 6,400-6,000 cal year bp, 5,750-5,550 cal year bp, around 5,400 cal year bp and at 5,100-4,600 cal year bp. Biodiversity increased during these land-use phases, likely in response to the creation of new open habitats. After decades to centuries of land-use, arboreal vegetation re-expanded. In a first succession stage, heliophilous Corylus avellana shrubs were replaced by pioneer Betula trees. These open arboreal communities were out-competed within 150-200 years by late-successional F. sylvatica and Abies alba forests. Most strikingly, cross-correlations show that these successions occurred synchronously (±11 years) and repeatedly over large areas (>1,000 km 2 ) and millennia. 4. Synthesis. First notable human impact shaped the primeval mixed Fagus sylvatica forests in Central Europe from c. 6,800-6,500 cal year bp on. Agrarian societies were susceptible to climate changes and we hypothesize that climate-induced, simultaneous agricultural expansion and contraction phases resulted in synchronous regional forest successions. Currently, forests are expanding in Central Europe as a result of land abandonment in marginal areas. Our results imply that mixed Fagus sylvatica forests with Abies alba and Quercus may re-expand rapidly in | 1393 Journal of Ecology REY Et al.

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“…En este sentido, la explotación preferente de Quercus, tanto caducif olios como perennifolios, si bien puede estar determinada por el tipo de formación vegetal, también puede ser debida al uso de estas especies como forraje en los momentos en que el rebaño se hallaba estabulado. Según datos etnográficos y arqueológicos la alimentación del ganado durante el invierno se basaba en el consumo de forraje arbóreo (Rasmussen, 1993;HalsteadyTierney, 1998;Haas et al, 1998;Badal, 1999;Akeret^ía/., 1999). Los períodos de lluvias y nieve, así como la escasez de ramón y la falta de pastos durante estas épocas del año obligaban a realizar una previsión, podando las ramas jóvenes que se guardaban para ser utilizadas en invierno (Halstead y Tierney, 1998).…”

Section: Restos Vegetalesunclassified

La sierra de Atapuerca durante el Holoceno: datos preliminares sobre las ocupaciones de la Edad del Bronce en la Cueva de El Mirador (Ibeas de Juarros, Burgos)

et al. 2002

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RESUMENLas excavaciones arqueológicas iniciadas en 1999 en la cueva de El Mirador de la sierra de Atapuerca han permitido documentar hasta el momento una sucesión estratigráfica holocena de unos 2,5 m de potencia, formada por niveles del Neolítico y de la Edad del Bronce. Los datos preliminares sobre las ocupaciones de la Edad del Bronce señalan el uso de la cueva como redil, zona de habitat y espacio sepulcral. Durante su uso como redil se llevó a cabo la quema periódica del estiércol depositado en el interior del corral. Es la primera vez que dicha práctica se documenta en la Meseta y, en el ámbito europeo, en contexto geográfico continental. El uso como cueva sepulcral viene seña-

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Beech Leaves and Twigs used as Winter Fodder: Examples from Historic and Prehistoric Times

Cited by 29 publications

References 2 publications

Formation processes through archaeobotanical remains: The case of the Bronze Age levels in El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Formation processes through archaeobotanical remains: The case of the Bronze Age levels in El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Causes and mechanisms of synchronous succession trajectories in primeval Central European mixed Fagus sylvatica forests

La sierra de Atapuerca durante el Holoceno: datos preliminares sobre las ocupaciones de la Edad del Bronce en la Cueva de El Mirador (Ibeas de Juarros, Burgos)

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