Vegetational history and land use: a radiocarbon‐dated pollen diagram from Machrie Moor, Arran, Scotland

Abstract

S U M M A R >•Pollen, plant niiicrofo.ssil iind cliaicoiil annlyses are prfsented from a radiocarbon-datfd sequence of iieat deposits from Machrio Moor, Arran. The deposits began forming at the close of the late glacial and the sequence continued unbroken into recent times. During this period there wa.s a transition at the sire from rich to poor fen and finalhto blanket mire communities. The major deciduous forest tree species were late in migrating to the islanii, probably as a consequence of the sea acting as a barrier to fruit dispersal. The de\ elopment of the local terrestrial vegetation during the I'landrian period was also hea\ily inHuenced by liunian acti\it\\ There is e\idence for mesolithic distiu'batices as earl\' as (S. SOO n.i". and these almost certainly played a role iti depressing tree pollen values, riic lirst cereal pollen grain (cf. Hori/eiiiii) was found at a level dated to ati estimated 5375 n.i". Later, af^riculture was apparently of such an intensity that there were periods during the late Neolithic antl at the transition between the IJronze and Iron .Ages when it could no longer be sustained with the resources available. The latter period coincided with the onset of blanket peat formation. .\ similar episode of reduced agricultural activity IS evident in the I.:)ark Ages. It was followed by a clear resurgence in \'iking and earh' medieval times whicb apparently coincided with the improvement of the climate diuing the so-called 'little optimutn'.

Climate deterioration and land-use change in the first millennium BC: perspectives from the British palynological record

“…Rather than abandoning land (implying significant local population decline), it is possible that land that became unsuitable for crops was converted to pasture. An example is provided by Machrie Moor, on Arran, where an episode of intensive agricultural activity, including cereal cultivation, at 2880 AE 80 BP (GU-1347) (1310e840 cal BC) appears to have been followed by a shift to pastoralism contemporary with podzolisation of surrounding soils and spread of heathland [84]. At this site pastoralism became predominant in the context of ever-expanding areas of blanket mire, but even in areas not susceptible to widespread peat growth such a shift might explain the bias of evidence for increased woodland clearance towards upland areas, with more extensive agricultural practices being adopted in areas becoming marginal for cultivation, requiring more land to support the same population.…”

Long‐Term Vegetation Dynamics and Disturbance History of a Tsuga‐Dominated Forest in New England

“…From 1740 to 1790 land clearance for agriculture and local timber cutting was accompanied by burning of slash and intact forests. The reduction in Tsuga and Fagus and increase in Gramineae and Castanea suggest response to local cutting and fire, whereas the presence of Rumex, Plantago, and Carya suggest pasturage (Emerson 1846, Lutz 19 30b, Cawley 1960, Patterson and Backman 1988, Robinson and Dickson 1988. The reduction in Tsuga and Fagus and increase in Gramineae and Castanea suggest response to local cutting and fire, whereas the presence of Rumex, Plantago, and Carya suggest pasturage (Emerson 1846, Lutz 19 30b, Cawley 1960, Patterson and Backman 1988, Robinson and Dickson 1988.…”

Synchronicity in Climate and Vegetation Transitions Between Europe and North America During the Holocene

“…Numerous case studies have been performed analyzing the regional evolution of the landscape in relation to human activity (e.g., Behr, 1986Behr, , 1988Robinson and Dickson, 1988;Butlin and Roberts, 1995;Berglund, 1991;Ramrath et al, 2000;Tolonen, 1981; among many others). Among the conclusions are that human impacts can show expansions followed by regressions (Berglund, 1988), but there has been an overall trend through time toward increasing human impacts.…”