W. Van Zeist

A postglacial pollen diagram from Lake Van in east Anatolia

Abstract A palynological examination was carried out on sediment cores from Lake Van in eastern Turkey. The dates for the Lake Van pollen record are based upon varve countings. The lower section of the pollen diagram (zones 1–3) reflects predominantly desert-steppe vegetation, in which Chenopodiaceae, Ephedra and Artemisia alternately played a prominent part. Aridity must have been the limiting factor for tree growth. To the south and the west of the lake the desert-steppe was gradually replaced by forest in the period of ca. 6400-3400 years B.P. (zones 4 and 5), suggesting a significant increase in humidity. In the period represented by zone 6, forest vegetation with predominantly oak reached its maximum expansion in southeast Turkey. The decline of Quercus from the beginning of zone 7 onwards points to the cutting of forest. Indications of human activity are relatively few in the Lake Van pollen diagram. A conspicuous feature of the Postglacial vegetational history of the Lake Van area is the late expansion of forest.

Late quaternary vegetation history of western Iran

The palynological results are reported, which were obtained from two lake sites in the Zagros Mountains in western Iran, both situated in the oak-forest belt. The lower part of the Zeribar diagram (ca. 22,500−4,000 B.P.) suggests that during Full-glacial times an Artemisia steppe covered this part of the Zagros Mountains, implying a cool and dry climate. After about 14,000 B.P., gradual changes in the vegetation took place, reflecting an amelioration of climate. Between ca. 10,000 and ca. 6,000 B.P., a savanna with Pistacia and Quercus was present in the Zeribar area. After about 6,000 B.P., the savanna thickened to an oak forest, suggesting an increase in humidity to modern levels. The lower part of the Mirabad diagram reflects a savanna which here also changed into an oak forest.

Preliminary Pollen Studies at Lake Zeribar, Zagros Mountains, Southwestern Iran.

A late Pleistocene Artemisia steppe, implying a cool, dry climate, changed about 13,000 years ago to an oak-pistachio savanna, as the climate became warmer. About 5500 years ago the savanna thickened to an oak forest, presumably reflecting an increase in precipitation or decrease in temperature to modern levels.

Archaeology and palynology in the Netherlands

Abstract This paper presents a survey of some of the results of the palynological study of grave monuments in The Netherlands. Pollen spectra from burial mounds have been compared with synchronous spectra from a nearby lake deposit. The comparison demonstrates that, with some reservation, barrow spectra may be interpreted in the same way as those from peat and lake deposits. Spectra from Neolithic grave monuments (ca. 2500-1700 B.C.) show two distinct types of land use. The palynological results suggest that the people of the Funnel Beaker and Bell Beaker Cultures practised the type of land use described by Troels-Smith, whereas the agricultural practices of the people of the Protruding Foot Beaker Culture correspond to the so-called Iversen “landnam”. Spectra from barrows of the Early and Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1700-1000 B.C.) show a difference between the north and the south of The Netherlands. In the north of The Netherlands farming practice in Early and Middle Bronze Age times did not differ essentially from that of the Neolithic Protruding Foot Beaker Culture. In the south of The Netherlands, agricultural practices corresponded more with those of the Funnel Beaker and Bell Beaker Cultures. It may be concluded from spectra from pre-Roman Iron Age barrows in the north of The Netherlands (ca. 500 B.C.-0) that in this area agricultural practices had not changed since Early Bronze Age times.

Two interesting floral finds from third millennium B.C. Tell Hammam et-Turkman, northern Syria

Charred flower-head remains of Carthamus tinctorius recovered from an Early Bronze Age site in northern Syria indicate that safflower was used as a dye plant. The kernels of Prunus mahaleb probably served as a flavouring agent.