Laminated sediments, human impact, and a multivariate approach: a case study in linking palynology and archaeology (Steisslingen, Southwest Germany)
Tim Kerig|Jutta Lechterbeck
Abstract Situated in the Alpine Foreland, Lake Steisslingen provides sediments covering last 16,000 sidereal years. The exceptional value as an environmental archive is due to large laminated sections, found several long cores. Counting of organic varves allowed establishment a detailed varve-based age model. A high-resolution pollen analysis for period 5457 BC 813 AD was carried out and compared with archaeological mapping 5 km radius around Steisslingen. combined interpretation palynological evidence facilitates reconstruction settlement history evolution landscape over eight millenia. Several important aspects vegetational are illuminated: mathematical ordination method correspondence used extract main dimension explanation from data. single curve generated thought reflect human impact. validity this assumed proxy tested against micro-scale area since Neolithic times. From example, we conclude that impact most and, sense, continuous factor development those landscapes, which settled prehistoric
Quaternary International