Reconstructing Woodland Vegetation and its Exploitation by Past Societies, based on the Analysis and Interpretation of Archaeological Wood Charcoal Macro-Remains

Asouti, Eleni; Austin, Phil

doi:10.1179/146141005790083867

Cited by 82 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Wood collection in prehistory/protohistory was normally carried out following the ‘principle of least effort’; thus, in the areas situated closest to the settlements, the taxa found in a charcoal assemblage generally reflect their occurrence in the vegetation surrounding the site (Asouti & Austin ). Archaeological interpretations of the recovery contexts of the Trebbio‐Spinellina site allow the inference that A. alba was used there both as building timber and fuel.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene persistence of Abies alba in low‐mid altitude deciduous forests of central and southern Italy: new perspectives from charcoal data

Pasquale

Allevato

Cocchiararo

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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Questions: Pollen data for Abies alba Mill., a key European tree species, show broad occurrence in the Italian peninsula in the early to mid-Holocene diffusion (until ca. 6000 yr ago) along the Italian peninsula and a strong decline/local extinction starting ca. 5000 yr ago. This decline has been attributed to climate change. Recently, high-resolution pollen studies, mainly in northern Italian sites claim that A. alba disappearance was mainly due to human impact. We examined the presence of A. alba in archaeological sites of southern and central Italy in order to trace the late Holocene history (last 3000 yr) of this tree and enhance understanding of its role in pre-anthropic vegetation and of human involvement in its decline.Location: Central and southern Italy.Methods: Anthracological analysis was conducted in six archaeological layers at the archaeological site of Trebbio-Spinellina (800-600 BC, Sansepolcro, Tuscany). A critical analysis of wood/charcoal literature relevant to Abies in central and southern Italy was used to corroborate the results of Trebbio-Spinellina. Charcoal records from archaeological sites have been compared with the current distribution of A. alba.Results: At Trebbio-Spinellina, A. alba charcoal is present in all contexts examined, together with mesophilous broad-leaf taxa (Quercus deciduous, Carpinus betulus, Ostrya carpinifolia, Corylus avellana). A low charcoal percentage of Fagus sylvatica and Taxus baccata is also found; evergreen taxa are mainly represented by Quercus ilex with occasional shrubs (i.e. Viburnum, Cistus, Erica). In the literature, we identified several peninsular and insular Italian archaeological sites showing charcoal evidence of Abies, accompanied by deciduous oaks, mainly Q. cerris, and other broad-leaf mesophilous trees, dating from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages. All sites, except one, lie at less than 600 m a.s.l., and far from present-day A. alba communities. Conclusion:Results call for a reworking of the prevailing paradigm of A. alba as a relic mountain species. Indeed, A. alba once grew at lower altitudes than currently and was associated with deciduous oaks, mainly Q. cerris, and other mesophilous broad-leaf trees. This evidence calls into question the suitability of the Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) concept usually applied in the floristic approach. The recent population decline is attributable to human activity rather than to climate change. Finally, the persistence of A. alba until the late Holocene calls into question the assumptions that it is a relic species with no potential to expand its spatial range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene persistence of Abies alba in low‐mid altitude deciduous forests of central and southern Italy: new perspectives from charcoal data

Pasquale

Allevato

Cocchiararo

et al. 2014

J Vegetation Science

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“…midden, refuse pit, fills, well fills, ceramic filling). In obtaining and processing the samples we followed the guidelines of the German standards [44,45] regarding sampling and flotation process. The samples were wet floated; afterwards charcoal fragments were selected and counted.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Climate Impacts in Woodland and Forest Steppe Based on Holocene Paleoclimatic Trends, Paleobotanical Change in Central Part of the Carpathian Basin (Hungary)

Náfrádi¹,

Jakab²,

Sümegi³

et al. 2013

AJPS

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The Sirok Nyírjes-tó peat bog provides an almost full Holocene climatic record reconstructed by bog surface wetness investigations based on plant macrofossil analysis. We compared our macrofossil data to anthracological material derived from archaeological sites and to the newest bioclimatological models of the Carpathian basin. On the basis of environmental historical and climatic data we aimed to reconstruct the expected changes of forested areas in the Carpathian Basin. The results indicate that the surface wetness decreases in long term. Parallel to the Sphagnum-peat decline an open forest and forest steppe developed surrounding the bog. The complete disappearance of Sphagna from the area must be linked to a steady drop in rainfall, resulting in at least 50 mm deficit in the local water balance. This could have been achieved by an increased evapotranspiration as a result of elevated temperatures of the summer growth season. This deficit value must have exceeded even 100 mm during the Middle Holocene Transition.

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“…Therefore, wood‐charcoal remains from firewood can be considered a sample of the vegetation in an area, and the results from their analyses provide a picture of the natural vegetation in the past (Chabal ; Chabal et al . ; Asouti & Austin ). The frequency of different species is calculated as its percentage in each sample (Chabal ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mid‐Holocene vegetation dynamics in the Tejo River estuary based on palaeobotanical records from Ponta da Passadeira (Barreiro–Setúbal, Portugal)

Gómez-Orellana

Rego

Badal

et al. 2014

Boreas

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This paper presents the results of pollen and charcoal analyses carried out in the sedimentary formation of Ponta da Passadeira, south of the Tejo River estuary, Portugal. The data provide information regarding the evolution of the coastline and ecosystem of the estuary during the mid and late Holocene. The study focuses on a group of upright woody fossilized tree remains that, together with those identified earlier by García-Amorena et al. (2007), form part of the fossil forest of Ponta da Passadeira. Eight remains were identified as Pinus pinaster, four as Pinus pinea and one as Pinus sp. Two specimens of these species were dated to 6523 and 5805 cal. a BP. Pollen analysis was undertaken in a clay layer located at the same point as the fossil forest, which is currently below sea level; the base of the clay layer was dated to 4906 cal. a BP. The pollen spectra reflect the dynamics of the vegetation that grew on this deposit, whereas the sporopollinic input masks the contribution of the regional vegetation. Wood charcoal remains recovered at an adjacent Final Neolithic settlement were also analysed, and a Pinus sp. specimen was radiocarbon dated to 5050 cal. a BP. The correlation amongst the three records provides key ecological markers for the understanding of the evolution of coastline ecosystems, and helps to clarify and understand the Holocene sea rise on the Atlantic seaboard of Iberia. The geographical location of Ponta da Passadeira is strategic because it enables a more clear definition of the configuration of landscapes that show an inflection point in this area of central Portugal.Luis Gómez-Orellana (luis.gomez-orellana@usc.es) and Pablo Ramil-Rego, GI-1934-TB.

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Reconstructing Woodland Vegetation and its Exploitation by Past Societies, based on the Analysis and Interpretation of Archaeological Wood Charcoal Macro-Remains

Cited by 82 publications

References 27 publications

Late Holocene persistence of Abies alba in low‐mid altitude deciduous forests of central and southern Italy: new perspectives from charcoal data

Late Holocene persistence of Abies alba in low‐mid altitude deciduous forests of central and southern Italy: new perspectives from charcoal data

Future Climate Impacts in Woodland and Forest Steppe Based on Holocene Paleoclimatic Trends, Paleobotanical Change in Central Part of the Carpathian Basin (Hungary)

Mid‐Holocene vegetation dynamics in the Tejo River estuary based on palaeobotanical records from Ponta da Passadeira (Barreiro–Setúbal, Portugal)

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