Palaeoclimate and the formation of sapropel S1: inferences from Late Quaternary lacustrine and marine sequences in the central Mediterranean region

Ariztegui, Daniel; Asioli, Alessandra; Lowe, John J.; Trincardi, Fabio; Vigliotti, L.; Tamburini, F.; Chondrogianni, Christina; Accorsi, Carla Alberta; Mazzanti, Marta; Mercuri, Anna Maria; Kaars, Sander van der; McKenzie, Judith A.; Oldfield, Frank

doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(00)00051-1

Cited by 182 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…SST reconstructions for this time period remain ambiguous however, with some authors suggesting cooler conditions (Kallel et al, 1997;Geraga et al, 2000), and others warmer conditions (Emeis et al, 2000;Marchal et al, 2002). In contrast to our own study, the inferred prevailing climate in a number of marine-based studies has also invariably been interpreted as warm and wet (Myers and Rohling, 2000;Rohling and De Rijk, 1999;Ariztegui et al, 2000).…”

Section: Southern Europecontrasting

confidence: 87%

The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

Davis

Brewer

Stevenson

et al. 2003

Quaternary Science Reviews

916

684

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Section: Southern Europecontrasting

confidence: 87%

The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

Davis

Brewer

Stevenson

et al. 2003

Quaternary Science Reviews

916

684

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“…yr BP. Chronologically, this period corresponds to the Sapropel 1 deposits and is synchronous with increased Nile River floods and possibly more humid conditions in the eastern Mediterranean (Ariztegui et al, 2000). This reconstruction is supported by stalagmite data from Corchia cave (northern Italy) that suggest increased of precipitation in the western Mediterranean during the deposition of Sapropel 1 (Zanchetta et al, 2007).…”

Section: Early Holocene Fire Regime and Climate Seasonalitymentioning

confidence: 57%

Climate versus human-driven fire regimes in Mediterranean landscapes: the Holocene record of Lago dell’Accesa (Tuscany, Italy)

Vannière

Colombaroli

Chapron

et al. 2008

Quaternary Science Reviews

216

169

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A high-resolution sedimentary charcoal record from Lago dell'Accesa in southern Tuscany reveals numerous changes in fire regime over the last 11.6 kyr cal. BP and provides one of the longest gap-free series from Italy and the Mediterranean region. Charcoal analyses are coupled with gamma density measurements, organic-content analyses, and pollen counts to provide data about sedimentation and vegetation history. A comparison between fire frequency and lake-level reconstructions from the same site is used to address the centennial variability of fire regimes and its linkage to hydrological processes. Our data reveal strong relationships among climate, fire, vegetation, and land-use and attest to the paramount importance of fire in Mediterranean ecosystems. The mean fire interval (MFI) for the entire Holocene was estimated to be 150 yr, with a minimum around 80 yr and a maximum around 450 yr. Between 11.6 and 3.6 kyr cal. BP, up to eight high-frequency fire phases lasting 300-500 yr generally occurred during shifts towards low lake-level stands (ca 11,300, 10,700, 9500, 8700, 7600, 6200, 5300, 3400, 1800 and 1350 cal. yr BP). Therefore, we assume that most of these shifts were triggered by drier climatic conditions and especially a dry summer season that promoted ignition and biomass burning. At the beginning of the Holocene, high climate seasonality favoured fire expansion in this region, as in many other ecosystems of the northern and southern hemispheres. Human impact affected fire regimes and especially fire frequencies since the Neolithic (ca 8000-4000 cal. yr BP). Burning as a consequence of anthropogenic activities became more frequent after the onset of the Bronze Age (ca 3800-3600 cal. yr BP) and appear to be synchronous with the development of settlements in the region, slash-and-burn agriculture, animal husbandry, and mineral exploitation. The anthropogenic phases with maximum fire activity corresponded to greater sensitivity of the vegetation and triggered significant changes in vegetational communities (e.g. temporal declines of Quercus ilex forests and expansion of shrublands and macchia). The link between fire and climate persisted during the mid-and late Holocene, when human impact on vegetation and the fire regime was high. This finding suggests that climatic conditions were important for fire occurrence even under strongly humanised ecosystem conditions.

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“…This points to an abrupt change to colder/ dryer conditions in the otherwise warm and humid conditions of the early Holocene, in the entire Mediterranean. Ariztegui et al (2000) have tentatively related this dry snap to changes in solar irradiance or cosmic ray flux. However, judging by its chronological position, it appears to be entirely coeval with the increasingly dry period ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Before proceeding, we would like to bring attention to the studies by Ariztegui et al (2000) on Italian continental records and Mediterranean marine sediments, and notably to an interruption in the deposition of Sapropel S1 dating ca. 8000 cal yr BP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Forcing Due to the 8200 Cal yr BP Event Observed at Early Neolithic Sites in the Eastern Mediterranean

et al. 2006

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We explore the hypothesis that the abrupt drainage of Laurentide lakes and associated rapid switch of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation 8200 yr ago had a catastrophic influence on Neolithic civilisation in large parts of southeastern Europe, Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Near East. The event at 8200 cal yr BP is observed in a large number of high-resolution climate proxies in the Northern Hemisphere, and in many cases corresponds to markedly cold and arid conditions. We identify the relevant archaeological levels of major Neolithic settlements in Central Anatolia, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria, and examine published stratigraphic, architectural, cultural and geoarchaeological studies for these sites. The specific archaeological events and processes we observe at a number of these sites during the study interval 8400-8000 cal yr BP lead us to refine some previously established Neolithisation models. The introduction of farming to South-East Europe occurs in all study regions (Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Bulgaria) near 8200 cal yr BP. We observe major disruptions of Neolithic cultures in the Levant, North Syria, South-East Anatolia, Central Anatolia and Cyprus, at the same time. We conclude that the 8200 cal yr BP aridity event triggered the spread of early farmers, by different routes, out of West Asia and the Near East into Greece and Bulgaria.

show abstract

Palaeoclimate and the formation of sapropel S1: inferences from Late Quaternary lacustrine and marine sequences in the central Mediterranean region

Cited by 182 publications

References 54 publications

The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

Climate versus human-driven fire regimes in Mediterranean landscapes: the Holocene record of Lago dell’Accesa (Tuscany, Italy)

Climate Forcing Due to the 8200 Cal yr BP Event Observed at Early Neolithic Sites in the Eastern Mediterranean

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