Effects of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers on local vegetation in a non-uniform glacio-isostatic land uplift area, northern Sweden

Hörnberg, Greger; Bohlin, Elisabeth; Hellberg, Erik; Bergman, Ingela; Zackrisson, Olle; Olofsson, Anders; Wallin, Jan‐Erik; Påsse, Tore

doi:10.1007/s00334-005-0006-x

Cited by 54 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Given the similarities between AKK D and C, the palynological data from the former (within the renvall), with its superior time range, are interpreted here before drawing comparisons with AKK C. It was considered whether to draw analogies with previous studies of reindeer herding or (Mesolithic) hunter-gatherer impacts on the landscape, but such work in Fennoscandia has focused on different environmental settings, such as on high altitude alpine woodlands and treeless alpine heaths (Salmonsson 2003; Karlsson et al 2007;Staland et al 2011;Bergman et al 2013;Möller et al 2013) or on coastal areas (Hörnberg et al 2005). Extensive logging from the end of the 1800s has destroyed archaeological evidence of both Sami reindeer herding and agricultural settlement (Ö stlund and Bergman 2006).…”

Section: Vegetation and Land Use Reconstructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impacts of Sami reindeer hunting on the environment are believed to have been minimal (Aronsson 1991(Aronsson , 1994, but are distinguishable in the palynological record (Hicks 1993;Bergman et al 2004a;Hörnberg et al 2005;Josefsson et al 2009Josefsson et al , 2010, much like hunter-fisher-gatherer societies with partially related lifestyles (Edwards 1996;Edwards et al 2009; but see Woelders et al 2016). Historical and palaeoecological data place the transition from reindeer hunting to true, intensive reindeer herding around the 17th or 18th century AD (Aronsson 1991;Lundmark 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-resolution palynology reveals the land use history of a Sami renvall in northern Sweden

Kamerling

Schofield

Edwards

et al. 2016

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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The limited availability of historical and archaeological evidence means that much is still unknown about the development of Sami reindeer herding in Fennoscandia in both the recent and more distant past. To address this problem, high-resolution palynological analyses, 14 C and 210 Pb dating were undertaken on two adjacent (\25 m apart) peat profiles collected at a recently abandoned reindeer gathering pen (renvall) near Jokkmokk (*66.6°N, 19.8°E) in the boreal forest of northern Sweden. The aim was to assess the impact of Sami reindeer herding on the local environment through a study of pollen, coprophilous fungal spores, microscopic charcoal and sedimentology. The samples collected from within an annex to the renvall indicate cycles of use and abandonment of the pen on a multi-decadal timescale between *AD 1800-2008, most obviously in the coprophilous fungal spore archive. The pattern and timing of these cycles confirm events previously known only from oral histories. Although the local pollen assemblage zones associated with the phasing of activity were reproducible in a second peat core beyond the boundary of the renvall, the coprophilous fungal spore signal in this paired profile was much less distinctive, possibly due to the typically shorter dispersal distances for these microfossils in comparison to pollen grains.

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Section: Vegetation and Land Use Reconstructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution palynology reveals the land use history of a Sami renvall in northern Sweden

Kamerling

Schofield

Edwards

et al. 2016

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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“…and some single presumed late-Glacial artifacts are recorded indicating a still longer population history [12]. Inside northern Scandinavia, the ice melted earlier than hitherto presumed [13,14], giving way for settlements near the Arctic Circle as early as at 8,600 B.P. in a situation of excellent ecological conditions [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homogeneity in mitochondrial DNA control region sequences in Swedish subpopulations

et al. 2009

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In order to promote mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing in Sweden we have typed 296 Swedish males, which will serve as a Swedish mtDNA frequency database. The tested males were taken from seven geographically different regions representing the contemporary Swedish population. The complete mtDNA control region was typed and the Swedish population was shown to have high haplotype diversity with a random match probability of 0.5%. Almost 47% of the tested samples belonged to haplogroup H and further haplogroup comparison with worldwide populations clustered the Swedish mtDNA data together with other European populations. AMOVA analysis of the seven Swedish subregions displayed no significant maternal substructure in Sweden (F (ST) = 0.002). Our conclusion from this study is that the typed Swedish individuals serve as good representatives for a Swedish forensic mtDNA database. Some caution should, however, be taken for individuals from the northernmost part of Sweden (provinces of Norrbotten and Lapland) due to specific demographic conditions. Furthermore, our analysis of a small sample set of a Swedish Saami population confirmed earlier findings that the Swedish Saami population is an outlier among European populations.

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“…in slash and burn cultivation (Wallin & Segerström, 1994, Larsson, 1995, Emanuelsson, 2001). In addition, small fires, utilized to keep huts warm and prepare food, also produced charcoal (Bennett et al, 1990, Hörnberg et al, 2006, Sergant et al, 2006. However, in many environments, such as the boreal forest, natural fire is an important and recurrent factor (Zackrisson, 1977, Heinselman, 1981.…”

Section: Charcoal In Archaeological and Fire Ecology Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Charcoal Dispersal from Alpine Stallo Hearths in Sub-Arctic Sweden: Patterns Observed from Soil Analysis and Experimental Burning

Hörnberg¹,

Liedgren²

2012

ACH

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To evaluate dispersal patterns and concentrations of macroscopic charcoal particles around Stállo settlements in sub-arctic Scandinavia, their distributions following experimental burning and soil concentrations around an alpine Stállo settlement dating between AD 700 and 1150 were recorded. After the burning 98% of recorded particles were 0.1-0.5 mm long, 90% were dispersed within 40 m of the fire, their mean concentration 40 m from the fire was 0.14±0.08 particles/cm 2 and the concentration decreased with increasing distance. At the settlement, 95% of recorded charcoal particles were 0.1-0.5 mm long, 94% were within 40 m of the hearths, the mean concentration declined with increasing distance, and concentrations were much lower than expected from the experimental burning (e.g. 17.6±2.4 particles/cm 2 , 40 m away). In conclusion: biological archives used for charcoal analysis in archaeological and vegetation history studies should be located ≤40 m from settlements, and data obtained from charcoal analyses should be interpreted cautiously.

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Effects of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers on local vegetation in a non-uniform glacio-isostatic land uplift area, northern Sweden

Cited by 54 publications

References 57 publications

High-resolution palynology reveals the land use history of a Sami renvall in northern Sweden

High-resolution palynology reveals the land use history of a Sami renvall in northern Sweden

Homogeneity in mitochondrial DNA control region sequences in Swedish subpopulations

Charcoal Dispersal from Alpine Stallo Hearths in Sub-Arctic Sweden: Patterns Observed from Soil Analysis and Experimental Burning

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