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

• 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

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.