Postglacial evolution of vegetation and environment in the Scheldt Basin (northern Belgium)

The infill of abandoned river channels is the main information source on postglacial vegetation and landscape evolution in inland northern Belgium. Palynological studies of these deposits also contribute to a better understanding of the environmental context of the numerous archaeological sites in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vegetation History and Archaeobotany
Main Authors: Storme, Annelies, Louwye, Stephen, Crombé, Philippe, Deforce, Koen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
History and Archaeology
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Biology and Life Sciences
Late-glacial
Holocene
Fluvial environment
Palynology
Scheldt
Belgium
MESOLITHIC-NEOLITHIC TRANSITION
LOWER RIVER SCHELDT
CLIMATE OSCILLATIONS
NOORD-HOLLAND
ELM DECLINE
N-BELGIUM
ICE-CORE
NETHERLANDS
MIDDLE
Carr
ice core
Online Access:https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8506719
http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8506719
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-016-0594-7
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8506719/file/8532102
Description
Summary:The infill of abandoned river channels is the main information source on postglacial vegetation and landscape evolution in inland northern Belgium. Palynological studies of these deposits also contribute to a better understanding of the environmental context of the numerous archaeological sites in this area. The results are presented of palynological analyses, including pollen, spores, non-pollen palynomorphs and microcharcoal from the palaeochannel infill at seven sites in the Scheldt and Durme valleys in northern Belgium. Based on the regional vegetation evolution and radiocarbon dating, a biozonation for the Scheldt Basin is constructed encompassing the final Late-glacial and Holocene period. The local taxa show a hydroseral succession from open-water environment, through reed or sedge fen to carr forest. Salix and Viburnum opulus were important elements in the Early Holocene riparian and carr vegetation, but are often underrepresented in pollen diagrams from larger valleys. There are indications for human disturbance and agriculture between 7,000 and 6,400 cal bp. The simultaneous decline of elm and lime in the study area around 4,000 cal bp can be linked to human impact.

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