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Copyright of Archeologické Rozhledy is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Archaeology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents new data describing the Holocene environmental history of the Briaunis palaeolake, Eastern Lithuania. Shortly before 9600 cal yr BP, sedimentation began in an oligotrophic deep-water basin, whereas the Early Holocene instability of the environmental regime caused the influx of detrital sediment into the basin. A birch forest dominated in the surrounding landscapes, and at ca. 9600 cal yr BP, the spread of Ulmus, Alnus, Populus and Corylus began, suggesting a short-lived climatic amelioration. A subsequent drop of the water table and increasing influx of the terrigenous material continued from 9600 to 9300-9200 cal yr BP. The ensuing climatic stability caused the formation of a deciduous forest and the regional spread of Picea. Some instability, i.e. a decline in the thermophilous species, as well as the appearance of boreal and northern alpine diatoms, could be associated with the so-called "8.2 ka event". This reversal was followed by amelioration and prospering of the water plants typical of the Holocene climatic optimum from 7900 to 7200-7100 cal yr BP. At aproximatelly 6600-6500 cal yr BP, a small rise of the water table was documented and bog-forming processes dominated until ca. 3600-3400 cal yr BP, when a small-scale deepening of the basin occured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Holocene environmental change and environmental archaeology are important components of an international project studying the human-earth interaction system. This paper reviews the progress of Holocene environmental change and environmental archaeology research in the Yangtze River Valley over the last three decades, that includes the evolution of large freshwater lakes, Holocene transgression and sea-level changes, Holocene climate change and East Asian monsoon variation, relationship between the rise and fall of primitive civilizations and environmental changes, cultural interruptions and palaeoflood events, as well as relationship between the origin of agriculture and climate change. These research components are underpinned by the dating of lacustrine sediments, stalagmites and peat to establish a chronology of regional environmental and cultural evolution. Interdisciplinary and other environment proxy indicators need to be used in comparative studies of archaeological site formation and natural sedimentary environment in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Valley. Modern technology such as remote sensing, molecular bioarchaeology, and virtual reality, should be integrated with currently used dating, geochemical, sedimentological, and palaeobotanical methods of analysis in environmental archaeology macro- and micro-studies, so as to provide a greater comprehensive insight into Holocene environmental and cultural interaction and change in the Yangtze River Valley area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study is focused on the Palaeo--Nemunas delta morphogenesis and development during Late Glacial and Holocene time span. Geomorphometry and morphological features of the submerged delta were recognized for the first time on the submarine Curonian (Kuršių Plateau in 1986-1992. This paper presents a pilot study applied in 2006-2008 and is based on multi-beam echo sounder and side-scan sonar images data. Two geological sections across the Palaeo--Nemunas delta are compiled from the data of core studies. Geo-morphologic, sedimentological, biostratigraphical and radiocarbon AMS14C and IR-OSL analyses suggest that Palaeo-Nemunas'delta begun to develop in the palaeotopography of this area during Preboreal time and ended at the second half of Boreal. The basal residual level of the Ancylus (A2) regression phase was identified in the delta trunks at a depth of 41.3-39.9 m and dated 9.31-8.87 ka BP (8300-8000 14C kyr BP). This residual layer is overlapped by marine depositional Litorina (L1-2-3)--Post-Litorina complexes up 2 m thick and supported by 7.40&plusm0.5 ka BP; 6.80±0.5 ka BP (IR-OSL, RLQG 1881-118, 1882-118); 6.87±45 ka BP (6030±2514C kyr BP); 4.66±110 ka BP (4100±25 14C kyr BP, UGAMS #03138, 03139). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]