The Bronze Age landscape of the Bjäre peninsula, southern Sweden, and its relationship to burial mounds

The environmental context of a prehistoric rock carving on the Bjäre Peninsula, Scania, southern Sweden

“…Although Lingården is located within the lowland zone, the pollen data differs noticeably from other studies on the Bjäre Peninsula by Hannon et al, (2008) that demonstrate a marked increase in cultural impact during the NeolithiceBronze Age (discussed further below). Pollen analysis from Kåremosse, a small fen 4 km south-west of Lingården, showed only 20e40% arboreal pollen by the onset of the Bronze Age, whist pollen from buried soils below five Bronze Age burial mounds indicated a predominantly open landscape, with only 10% arboreal pollen; the remaining forest was dominated by alder in wetland areas and successional species such as birch and hazel on the dry ground (Hannon et al, 2008).…”

“…Investigation of pollen bearing deposits located close to rock carvings provides the opportunity to place these sites into a wider ecological, historical and cultural context. This is particularly important in a region in which other kinds of site, such as Bronze Age round barrows, have already been investigated by pollen analysis (Hannon et al, 2008). From the results of large-scale contract archaeology, it appears that some rock carvings are located close to settlements, whilst others are found in more isolated settings.…”

“…Is this hypothesis supported by pollen analysis in the nearby wetlands? Research in southern Sweden suggests that the densely settled coastal-lowland zones experienced sustained human impact throughout the Bronze Age, whilst the more sparsely settled inland-upland zones retained their woodland cover until the Iron Age, and in some cases, until much later (Berglund, 1991;Bj} orkman, 2001;Sj} ogren, 2006;Hannon et al, 2008). Nevertheless, recent palaeoecological studies in the province of Småland show that human impact was significant in the Växjö area already from late Neolithic with forest clearance and use of fire occurring from 2200 BC and the development of Calluna (heather) heaths (pastureland) from 750 BC (late Bronze Age) Olsson and Lemdahl, in press).…”

“…Pollen analysis from Kåremosse, a small fen 4 km south-west of Lingården, showed only 20e40% arboreal pollen by the onset of the Bronze Age, whist pollen from buried soils below five Bronze Age burial mounds indicated a predominantly open landscape, with only 10% arboreal pollen; the remaining forest was dominated by alder in wetland areas and successional species such as birch and hazel on the dry ground (Hannon et al, 2008). One of these burial mounds (RAÄ VK284) is located c. 1 km north-west of Lingården, and thus within the pollen catchment of sequence L01 (Fig.…”

A case study of the role of climate, humans, and ecological setting in Holocene fire history of northwestern Europe

“…(b) Study sites, small bogs (red dots) and large lakes (blue dots): STV, Stavsåkra; STR, Storasjö; NT, Notteryd; T, Trummen; K, Kansjön. Earlier studies mentioned in the text: B1, Bocksten (Björkman, 1996); B2, Biskopstorp Reserve: Trälhultet, Holkåsen, Kalvaberget (Lindbladh et al,2008); B3, Bohult (Bradshaw et al, 1997); D1, Djäknabygd and N, Nissatorp (Lindbladh and Bradshaw, 1998); D2, Dömestorp (Hannon, 2002); E1, Ekenäs (Valdemardotter, 2001); E2, Eriksberg (refer to Bradshaw, 2010); F, Flahult (Björkman, 1996); H1, Hamneda (Lagerås, 2000); H2, Hällefors, H3, Häggenäs, H, Hälledam, and V, Vashus (refer to Bradshaw, 2010); HA, Hornsö-Allgunnen area and S3, Skärsgölarna (Lindbladh et al, 2003); NS, northwestern Skåne (Lagerås, 2007); O, Osaby out-field (Lindbladh, 1999); K1, Killeröd (Hannon and Gustafsson, 2004); K2, Kåremosse (Hannon et al, 2008); R1, Ryfors (Carlson, 1996); R2, Råshult in-field (Lindbladh and Bradshaw, 1995); S1, Siggaboda (Björkman and Bradshaw,1996); S2, Suserup (Hannon et al, 2000); T, Torup forest (Hultberg, 2008). summers, cold winters, and average precipitation. The study area is located in the hemiboreal vegetation zone of southern Sweden and comprises an enclave of southern boreal vegetation, the Småland Uplands (Ahti et al, 1968).…”