Search

The North American Monsoon (NAM) is a critical component of the hydrologic cycle in southwestern North America. However, our understanding of the long‐term evolution of this monsoon system is incomplete due to a paucity of long‐term paleoclimatic records from the core and periphery of the NAM domain. C. Routson et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl099772) leverage a new compilation of Holocene proxy records to generate a new composite index of NAM evolution over the Holocene. They identify a relationship between NAM strength and the latitudinal temperature gradient over the Holocene. The authors suggest that shifts in the strength of the westerlies altered NAM convection via ventilation, a process whereby the large‐scale circulation imports low moist entropy air into the monsoon domain. These results highlight the importance of paleoclimatic records, especially from past "warm" intervals, for generating new insights about the evolution of regional monsoons. Plain Language Summary: The North American Monsoon is a circulation that brings summer rain to regions of the US southwest and western Mexico. Despite the fact that this circulation provides a majority of the precipitation in many parts of the arid southwest, we do not fully understand the factors that govern long‐term changes in this monsoon. A new paper by C. Routson et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl099772) uses proxy indicators of past summer rainfall, stretching from Central America to Arizona, to reconstruct changes in the monsoon over the geologic epoch known as the Holocene, or the last 11,000 years of Earth history. The results of this study suggest that Holocene changes in the temperature difference between the equator to pole, known as the "latitudinal temperature gradient," exerted an important influence over monsoon strength in the southwest. This has implications for the future of the summer monsoon, especially as the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere are expected to warm in the future. Key Point: The strength North American Monsoon tracks changes in the position of the midlatitude westerlies over the Holocene [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most entrenched binary oppositions in archaeology and anthropology has been the agriculturalist vs hunter-gatherer-fisher dichotomy fuelling a debate that this paper tackles from the bottom-up by seeking to reconstruct full past diets. The Japanese prehistoric Jōmon cultures survived without fully-developed agriculture for more than 10,000 years. Here we compile a comprehensive, holistic database of archaeobotanical and archaeozoological records from the two ends of the archipelago, the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and the southernmost island-chain of Ryukyu. The results suggest Jōmon diets varied far more geographically than they did over time, and likely cultivated taxa were important in both regions. This provides the basis for examining how fisher-hunter-gatherer diets can fulfil nutritional requirements from varied environments and were resilient in the face of environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the career of John Birks as a pioneering scientist who has, over a career spanning five decades, transformed palaeoecology from a largely descriptive to a rigorous quantitative science relevant to contemporary questions in ecology and environmental change. We review his influence on students and colleagues not only at Cambridge and Bergen Universities, his places of primary employment, but also on individuals and research groups in Europe and North America. We also introduce the collection of papers that we have assembled in his honour. The papers are written by his former students and close colleagues and span many of the areas of palaeoecology to which John himself has made major contributions. These include the relationship between ecology and palaeoecology, late-glacial and Holocene palaeoecology, ecological succession, climate change and vegetation history, the role of palaeoecological techniques in reconstructing and understanding the impact of human activity on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and numerical analysis of multivariate palaeoecological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores paleoenvironmental and paleoecological information that may be obtained from small‐mammal assemblages recovered at central Alaska archaeological sites dated to the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene (14,500–8,000 cal B.P.). Small‐mammal remains in these open‐air sites are primarily related to deposition by natural death causes and as such provide information on site paleoenvironments and landscape heterogeneity. Their presence within archaeological occupations likely relates to anthropogenic disturbance and features that would have favored burrow construction. The co‐occurrence of small‐mammal remains and archaeological occupations provides a chronological framework of presence in the locality for most recorded small‐mammal species. Small‐mammal remains document faunal turnover between Pleistocene and Holocene communities. The near‐contemporaneity of species that strongly differ in their ecological requirements suggest that the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene in central Alaska was a period of dynamic change that may have been characterized by patchy vegetation distribution, rather than the climax communities seen today. In addition to the biogeographical value of small‐mammal remains the paleoenvironmental information that they provide help to characterize the ecology of early human settlers in the region and the processes behind human dispersal in Beringia and the Americas at the end of the Ice Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Intersecciones en Antropología is the property of Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales 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 article discusses the field of paleolimnology, which studies lake and wetland sedimentary profiles to understand past environmental changes. These sedimentary archives provide valuable information about natural and human-induced changes in the environment, allowing researchers to investigate the interactions between past climate dynamics and human activities. The article highlights the importance of accurate dating methods and the integration of modern environmental data into paleoenvironmental studies. It also presents several case studies from different regions, showcasing the diverse applications of paleolimnology in studying climate change, biogeochemical cycles, environmental pollution, and species invasions. The article concludes by emphasizing the growing importance of paleolimnology and its contribution to our understanding of long-term environmental changes. [Extracted from the article]

This paper reviews the Mesolithic in the northwest Atlantic and inland area of the Iberian Peninsula and it is considered in the overall context of the rest of the Peninsula. The Cantabrian Mountains are the northern boundary of the study area, which excludes the adjoining coastal area. In addition to the geographical, geological and environmental settings, the chronology and human remains are also reviewed, paying special attention to the specific characteristics of each of the main sites. The primary faunal, plant remain, bone and stone industry - including raw material supply, technology and typology - features of the main settlements are also presented. All of the above allow us to discuss the similarities and peculiarities of the Mesolithic of this area in relation to other regions of the Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of disarticulated ossicles of recent sea cucumbers from Campos Basin, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from various Holocene strata, obtained by micropaleontological methods, resulted in the identification of at least eight holothurian taxa, belonging to the five of the seven orders of Holothuroidea: Apodida (Synaptidae, Chiridotidae), Dendrochirotida (Psolidae and Cucumariidae), Holothuriida (Holothuria), and Molpadiida (Molpadiidae, Eupyrgidae). Our paper endorses the importance of studies of recent fauna based on isolated ossicles for taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and ecology. This study represents the first effort at the study of recent fauna of sea cucumbers based on the analysis of preserved ossicles in marine sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAccording to archaeological data, Otaria flavescens and Arctocephalus australis were exploited at the mouth of the Santa Cruz River by hunter-gatherers in the late Holocene. These studies suggest the past existence of reproductive colonies from where individuals of different ages were taken, highlighting the offspring available in the austral summer. This paper presents new information on sex, age, and season of death based on the study of teeth growth layers and rings recorded on canines of both species recovered in three archaeological sites located in Punta Entrada, on the southern bank of Santa Cruz River. The results confirm that otariids were captured in the austral summer and show that winter and spring were also important seasons. Prey included females, pups, and adult males captured according to the abundance of each age group at different seasons of the year. These data are in agreement with those obtained from other lines of evidence, such as osteometry and sclerochronology, which indicate this sector of the Patagonian coast was occupied recurrently to hunt otariids as one of the main resources taken by hunter-gatherers when visiting Punta Entrada at different times of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland fluvial systems respond to hydroclimate changes on Quaternary timescales, yet deciphering the palaeoenvironmental histories they preserve is often complex. Whilst hydrological signals are preserved in sediment stores as variations in sediment amount, character, and composition, studies in dryland settings such as Namibia that link sedimentological and compositional changes to palaeoflow are limited. Focusing on the Huab River, Skeleton Coast, this paper presents the first integrated study of textural, compositional, and stratigraphic features from a Namibian fluvial archive. Petrographic and heavy mineral assemblages from Raman laser spectroscopy are combined with lithostratigraphic and particle size analysis. Together with a chronology established through 42 optically stimulated luminescence ages, we reconstruct provenance, changes in river style, and fluvial response to climate. The Huab lithostratigraphic record details periods of flashy ephemeral flow interbedded with flow within well‐defined channels. Compositional assemblages indicate that humid conditions during the early to mid‐Holocene resulted in activation of sediment stores across the catchment. Episodic discharge within an ephemeral river from 12 to 9 ka was followed by a more sustained river flow in a channelized system from 7 to 5 ka. During the late Holocene, better hydraulic sorting, increased mechanical breakdown of polycrystalline grains, and flash flood lithofacies suggest that flow occurred within a more arid climate. This fine‐scaled analysis of an ephemeral fluvial system indicates the utility of assessing compositional changes to distinguish between depositional regimes. This is an important approach for reconstructing fluvial response to climate and for obtaining palaeoenvironmental records from complex sedimentary archives in dryland river settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a review on more than hundred years of palaeoenvironmental research in Sweden; from early descriptions of peat and tufa deposits in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to multiproxy transfer function studies in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries CE. Research on Holocene climate variability has a long history in Sweden and many ideas and concepts about changes in temperature and precipitation during the Holocene originated in Fennoscandia. The Holocene climate evolution in Sweden follows a pattern in common for many northern latitude records with a rapid warming starting at the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary at c. 11 650 cal a BP, followed by the middle Holocene thermal maximum between c. 8000 and 5000 cal a BP. A change to colder and wetter conditions starts c. 4000 cal a BP and lasts until the late 1800 s CE. There is evidence for climatic anomalies such as the 8.2 and 4.2 ka BP events and the Little Ice Age (LIA) but only inconclusive evidence for other events, such as the 10.3 ka BP event. The main pattern of Holocene climate and environmental evolution is well known for most parts of Sweden, but the present review also shows that several research questions remain to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, wildlife is one of the most important sources of zoonoses, and it is a major concern for public health. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of wildlife as a reservoir and source of infectious diseases in the past. South America presents a wide diversity of wildlife. In the south of the continent, Argentina shelters a large diversity of neotropical carnivores. Although the paleoparasitological studies on carnivores have been increasing in southern Argentina, most of the efforts have been focused in a handful of sites located in western Patagonia. In this paper, two coprolites of felid found in Cueva Galpón, an initial late Holocene mortuary site from northeast Patagonia (Argentina), were studied for paleoparasitological purposes. Samples were processed by rehydration and homogenization, filtered and processed by spontaneous sedimentation. The samples were assigned to Puma concolor (puma) or Panthera onca (jaguar). Microscopic observations revealed that both coprolites were positive for parasite remains. High parasite richness was observed. Six nematodes, one cestode, and one coccidian morphotypes were reported. This is the first time that Gnathostoma sp. and Spirocerca sp. were recovered from holocenic times from Patagonia. This finding implies that some diseases such as taeniasis, spirocercosis, gnathostomosis, ascariasis, and coccidiosis could be present in holocenic wildlife from Patagonia prior to the Spanish colonization and domestic animal introduction. The overall results suggest that felids could have played a role as reservoirs and source of some parasitic species, some of which are zoonotic. Therefore, this animal could have entailed a risk agent for human health in the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are one of the most abundant and important mammals in ecosystems. However, their fossil record is scarce and fragile, making them difficult to find. Accordingly, there is no record of this group in the volcanic islands of the mid-Atlantic Ocean apart from the Canary Islands. This paper studies the first bat fossil record of the Canary Islands (Spain). The material studied is found within two Quaternary lava tubes, Cueva de los Verdes on Lanzarote and Cueva Roja on the island of El Hierro. The dental and humeral morphology and biometry are analysed and compared with current specimens. Among our results we highlight the first fossil data of two species endemic to the islands of the mid-Atlantic Ocean, Plecotus teneriffae and Pipistrellus maderensis, the former from the Canary Islands and the latter from the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. We also confirm the presence of Pipistrellus kuhlii in the fossil record of the island of Lanzarote. No differences are observed between the dental morphology of the current and the fossil populations of P. maderensis and Pl. teneriffae. In the case of P. kuhlii, the populations of the Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula show differences in the paraconule with respect to the populations from central Europe. Palaeoecological studies of these taxa suggest that these islands presented a similar habitat when the sites were formed to the present-day habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents data on the geochemical processes of postsedimentation transformations of boggy deposits at early diagenesis and the redistribution of chemical elements, including biogenic ones, in the Holocene sections of peat bogs in the Baraba forest-steppe in southern West Siberia. The contents of Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg, Sb, Cd, Cu, and Zn were found out to increase in the upper layers of the peat, whereas the S, N, Ca, and Sr concentrations increase in the middle parts of the peat profiles. The distribution character of various physiological groups of microorganisms in the peat profiles of Ubinskoe and Sherstobitovo peatlands lead to the conclusion that the nitrogen and carbon cycles are more active than that of sulfur. The activity of microorganisms leads to a decrease in pH and Eh in the vertical sections of the peatlands. The high values of , , TOC, and the chemical oxygen demand in the bog waters of Ubinskoe and Sherstobitovo bogs indicate that active biochemical decomposition and oxidation of organic matter proceed in these bogs. According to their predominant ions, the waters of the bogs belong to the hydrocarbonate class of the calcium group and are characterized by elevated concentrations of Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn, which is caused by the acid composition of the waters. The low pH values of the bog waters and the oxidizing environment facilitated the development of goethite–hydrogoethite mineralization in the upper horizon of peat profiles. The formation of hematite and anhydrite in the middle parts of the peat profiles was probably caused by paleofires. The authigenic minerals formed in the process of early diagenesis are, first of all, pyrite and less often siderite, calcite, and kaolinite. Under reducing conditions, nanoparticles of native Ni and Ni–Cr intermetallic compounds can be formed, and amorphous silica can be deposited at the dissolution of aluminosilicate minerals from the upper peat horizons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding life history of natural forest and woodland is important as we need to prepare for, to cope with and to tackle problems associated with the ongoing global environmental changes. The present paper focuses on one of the world's terrestrial biomes, the arctic tundra, which is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. A severe threat to tundra is global warming, which causes permafrost to melt affecting species survival, and which releases soil-bound carbon in the form of greenhouse gases. Tundra vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses and lichens - a woodland type of vegetation dominated primarily by birch shrubs. The aim of this paper is to summarize and highlight my thirty three years of genetic studies of birch woodlands in Iceland, from the discovery of introgressive hybridization in birch and estimating the extent of introgression, to uncovering past hybridization events since the end of the last glaciation about 9000 years ago. The studies use different approaches, from cytogenetic and botanical, to molecular and palynological. The overall results show clearly that hybridization between B. nana and B. pubescens is widespread in Iceland; the resulting gene flow via introgressive hybridization is bi-directional; and that the process is continuous through time and space. Iceland could be considered a birch hybrid zone, harbouring genetic variation which may be advantageous in subarctic regions. However, waves of hybridization associated with climate warming could drive one of the species into extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates a detailed geomorphological map (scale 1:50,000) of the marine and transitional terraces (glacio-lacustrine to marine) and raised shorelines linked to Holocene glacio-eustasy and neo-tectonics in the northern area of the Brunswick Penìnsula (Chilean region of the Strait of Magellan). The mapped area is located in Tierra del Fuego between the Segunda Angostura and Seno Otway. This map is the result of geomorphological field survey data integrated with the interpretation of aerial photographs and remote sensing imagery. The survey has allowed the mapping of a sequence of terraces and raised shorelines to be completed. The sequence mainly consists of four orders of marine and glacio-lacustrine terraced deposits, with elevations ranging from 25 to 1 m above mean sea level. The map also presents other landforms and deposits, with their formation linked to littoral, fluvial, glacial and aeolian processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Relaciones de la Sociedad Argentina de Antropología is the property of Sociedad Argentina de Antropologia 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.)

Climate variability has probably affected the frequency and distribution of debris flows and snow avalanches throughout the Holocene. In this paper, we reconstruct the Holocene history of debris flows and snow avalanches by investigating outcrops in colluvial fans surrounding lake Anestølsvatnet in western Norway and sediment cores penetrating the lake-floor deposits. We made a detailed map of the surface deposits around the lake. The formation of a large end moraine that dams the lake was radiocarbon dated to 10,200-10,800 cal. yr BP, and correlates to the Erdalen event, a Preboreal glacial oscillation. There are colluvial fans and debris-flow paths and snow-avalanche paths eroded on the steep slopes around the lake. On the western slopes, the fans are dominated by snow avalanches, and on the eastern slopes by debris-flow activity. Three of the lake cores were taken distal to the largest avalanche fan on the western slope, Storeskreda ('Storeskreda' means 'the big landslide'). Clasts > 2 mm in the lake sediments are interpreted as traces of snow avalanches and sorted sand layers as being derived from debris flows. Loss-on-ignition and magnetic susceptibility measurements document an increased silt content in the lake sediments after c. 6000 cal. yr BP, probably due to the reappearance of local glaciers in the area. Our combined data from the onshore outcrops/pits and lake sediments shows almost continuous snowavalanche activity and debris-flow activity throughout the last 10,000 years. However, there may have been an increase in the snow-avalanche activity over the last 5000 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR 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.)

Background: This paper describes a landslide swarm generated by exceptionally high two-day rainfall (c. 300 mm) associated with a stationary cut-off low pressure system over northern Tasmania in early June 2016 and investigates evidence for previous slope instability. The landslide swarm occurred in a recently harvested plantation in the Inglis River catchment at Oldina, south of Wynyard in north-west Tasmania. Within a relatively small area of plantation underlain by weathered Permian tillite and minor siltstones more than thirty rapid earthflows, rotational and translational landslides occurred. Many landslides also occurred in the nearby Forth and Mersey River catchments. Methods: Field observations combined with a digital elevation model produced from high-resolution drone imagery were used to describe the morphology of the Oldina landslides, and to calculate the mass of soil, sediment, and woody debris displaced. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal exposed in landslide backwalls enabled palaeo-landslides and periglacial activity at Oldina to be dated. Results: An estimated 48,400-72,310 t of soil, sediment and woody debris was carried downslope by the major landslides but has been retained within the plantation area. The total sediment loss from the affected upper catchments is likely to be greater than the above estimate as the contribution from small riparian landslides, sheet, gully, and rill erosion has not been accounted for, nor has streambank erosion and sediment transported off the study site been measured. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal in sediments indicated that two landslides had evidence of previous instability in the Holocene. Most ages indicated that previous instability dated to 35-15 cal ka BP, i.e., to a time when the climate was cold and dry and freeze-thaw processes in a sparsely vegetated landscape were active. Conclusions: During planning for harvest the soils developed on Permian tillite were correctly described as having a low to moderate risk of landslide erosion. This study concludes that the landslides initiated in June 2016 resulted from exceptionally heavy rain falling on harvested steep and hilly land coupled with the decline in root strength of the harvested trees. The frequency of such a combination of circumstances may increase if high-intensity rainfall increases in Tasmania as the result of climate change. To improve the long-term stability of this terrain and the overall sustainability of plantation forestry it is recommended that landslides and riparian areas are seeded with native vegetation, and that the current assessment of landslide risk for this terrain is re-evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the distribution of Pinus koraiensis in the south of the Russian Far East in the past based on palynological and chronological data. The aim is to determine the chronological timing of the spatial migration of Pinus koraiensis and to correlate it with climate fluctuations explaining the changes of the geographical range of Pinus koraiensis in the south of the Russian Far East during the Marine Isotope Stages MIS 5 (127 000--71 000 BP), MIS 3 (57 000 BP -- 28 000 cal BP), MIS 2 (28 000--11 700 cal BP), and MIS 1 (11 700 cal BP -- to present). The consideration of the obtained pollen fossil data suggests that the range of Pinus koraiensis was in the south of the Russian Far East during MIS 5, as it was proved based on significant pollen grain percentage in the sediments of this age. Pinus koraiensis was widespread along with Pinus densiflora, Quercus, Ulmus, Juglans, Carpinus, and Phellodendron. During MIS 3, Pinus koraiensis was a component of birch-fir and birch-broadleaved forests. In MIS 2, Pinus koraiensis disappeared from the vegetation of this region. In the early Holocene, Pinus koraiensis expanded its range northward and again appeared in the vegetation of the south of the Russian Far East. Soon enough, it became one of the leading components in spruce-fir forests with Quercus and Ulmus. The increase in its proportion in the vegetation in the Holocene coincided mostly with the periods of warming climate from 11 700 to 11 500 cal BP, from 10 100 to 9300 cal BP, from 8800 to 5300 cal BP, from 4700 to 3500 cal BP, and from 2600 to 1800 cal BP. In the present case, the most diverse vegetation with Pinus koraiensis was typical of the Holocene optimum of the south of the Russian Far East from 8800 to 5300 cal BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus 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 Special Issue of The Holocene contains 16 research papers based on a symposium at the 11th International Meeting of the European Union of Geosciences held in Strasbourg in April 2001. The aim of the symposium was a state-of-the-art assessment of empirical studies of postglacial marine and terrestrial climatic archives and their integration with numerical climate models. This editorial places the individual papers in the broader context of natural climate variability and anthropogenic impacts on the global climate system, regional differences in climate between maritime and continental areas, and the need for an improved theoretical basis for understanding the underlying causes of environmental change. The focus of the Special Issue is the dynamic and relatively well-understood climate of the North Atlantic and the European realm, where, in relation to the steepest offshore temperature gradient on Earth, observational data are abundant and many recent advances have been made in climate reconstruction from proxy archives. The editorial also contains a summary and overview of the papers included in the four main sections of the Special Issue, which emphasize: (1) numerical modelling experiments; (2) models of glacier buildup and equilibrium-line altitude; (3) marine and terrestrial proxy records of climatic change; and (4) multiproxy palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of a Portuguese lagoonal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces a special issue of The Holocene containing 12 papers which represent highlights from a European Commission research project: 'Analysis of Dendrochronological Variability and Associated Natural Climates in Eurasia - the last 10000 years' (ADVANCE-10K). The focus is on the climatic implications of dendrochronology and especially on developing an integrated, dendrochronological approach to high-resolution climatic reconstruction in the Holocene, with the ultimate aim of extending this to the global scale. Emphasis is given to: (1) long chronologies from northern Fennoscandia (pine), temperate central and western Europe (oak) and Siberia (larch); (2) the precise climatic signals reflected in these chronologies and possible links to atmospheric circulation patterns; (3) complementary methodologies for extracting climatic information from subfossil trees in a variety of different environmental settings; and (4) the use of a large (subhemispheric) network of tree-ring density data to examine detailed, geographical patterns in climatic variability at a high temporal resolution. These studies are placed in their wider context and future directions for research in this field are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents new data and reviews previously obtained results on the late glacial to Holocene history of peatlands in the southern part of the Baikal region under conditions of regional climate changes. To better understand climate signals, we have combined vegetation and geochemical variation data in 4.6 m thick peat deposits in the Vydrino bog located on the Tankhoi piedmont plain south of Lake Baikal. The territory has been swamped since 13.1 cal ka BP when the peatland started developing as a fen upon a sedimentary substrate. The 13.1–9.5 cal kyr climate record included two events of warming separated by an excursion of dry cold climate. Warming continued till 9.0 cal ka BP and eutrophic peat formation occurred in favorable temperature and moisture conditions. Another warming episode between 9.0 and 8.4 cal ka BP ended up with the Holocene climate optimum while the bog became mesotrophic. About 7.3–6.5 cal ka BP, the temperature and moisture inputs were no longer optimal for fir and spruce forests in the Vydrino area, which led to dramatic changes in landscape and vegetation. The wet and warm climate gradually became drier and colder from 6.5 to 2.3 cal ka BP, with a brief warm excursion about 5.5–5.3 cal ka BP. The peat deposition was interrupted in a cold climate from ∼2.3 cal ka BP to ∼0.7 cal ka BP, and the bog became oligotrophic afterwards. The newly obtained data allowed us to compare the paleoclimatic indicators available for the south Baikal region to determine their compatibility and inconsistency. In addition, we provide a general view to the quality of the climate and environmental reconstructions in the Baikal region by comparison of the data on its peatland study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact craters are formed by collisions of cosmic bodies moving with hypervelocity. The formation of these features is not restricted to the distant geological past; new structures are constantly being created and at least 13 confirmed impact craters and crater fields have formed during the Holocene alone. This short review paper: (1) introduces the basics of the impact cratering process to physical geographers and Quaternary geologists; (2) provides a short description of representative examples of such features (Morasko, Kaali, Kamil, Ilumetsa); and (3) discusses the similarities and differences among very small craters, and contrasts these with larger impact structures. This manuscript may be useful to researchers planning to test whether a small Quaternary depression in the ground may be of impact origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents isolation basin stratigraphy in bottom sediments from nine lakes in the Teriberka area on the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. Isolation contacts in these basins, identified from lithological and diatom analysis, were used together with 25 radiocarbon dates, to construct a relative sea-level (RSL) curve for the Holocene. Records of marine water re-influx were found in the sediment sequence from one lake, located at c. 17 m a.s.l. The re-influx of marine water seems to be caused by the mid-Holocene (Tapes) transgression and tsunami event. The RSL curve indicates several phases in the postglacial evolution of the Kola coast. An early phase of rapid sea-level fall of c. 32 m around 11,500 cal yr BP, at a rate of c. 40 mm per year, corresponds to glacio-isostatically induced emergence following deglaciation at the Younger Dryas and beginning of the Holocene. In the time interval between c. 11,000 and 7600 cal yr BP, either a stillstand or a slight rise in relative sea level, cresting at about 21 m a.s.l., is suggested in the Teriberka area. This is followed, after c. 7300 cal yr BP to the present day, by a slow glacioisostatic emergence with an average rate of about 2–3 mm per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses a series of high-quality continuous records from southeastern Africa to study the spatiotemporal patterning of Holocene hydroclimatic anomalies in the region. Results indicate dominant frequencies of variability at millennial time scales, and a series of anomalies broadly common to all records. Of particular interest, data from the southern Cape coast exhibit periods of wetter/drier conditions that are out of phase with the sites less than 150 km away in the adjacent interior, but in phase with sites in tropical regions over 1000 km to the northeast. To explain such spatial patterns and gradients, we propose that the Agulhas Current may be a critical vector by which tropical climatic signals are propagated along the littoral zone, exerting a dominant, highly localized influence on near-coastal environmental conditions. Limitations in the data available do not allow for a detailed examination of the climatic dynamics related to these phenomena, but this paper highlights a series of avenues for future research to clarify the spatial extent and stability of the patterns observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Mundo de Antes is the property of Revista Mundo de Antes 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.)

We in this paper present a multi-proxy study of a 186-cm-long lacustrine sediment core (i.e., BY Core) obtained from the Youerdusi Basin in the middle Tianshan Mountains in an attempt to disentangle the causal associations among climate changes, ecological responses and hydrological variations. Palynological, assemblages and the associated biome scores indicate that the upper limit of the forest zone was closer to the Youerdusi Basin with a larger wetland extent in the Youerdusi Basin during the early part (i.e., from ~ 10.5 to ~ 5.8 cal. kyr BP) of the data-covering period (i.e., from ~ 10.5 to ~ 2.4 cal. kyr BP). The upper limit of the forest zone was farther away from the Youerdusi Basin with a smaller wetland extent in the Youerdusi Basin during the late part (i.e., from ~ 5.8 to ~ 2.4 cal. kyr BP). The changes of taiga biome score and the AP% ratio indicate a persistent cooling trend during the data-covering period which is well corroborated by various proxy data from nearby sites and the cooling trend is chronologically consistent with the trend of Northern Hemisphere temperature anomalies that was interpreted to be a delayed response to the summer solar irradiance at 50° N. The tundra biome score and the associated percentages of Cyperaceae in the Youerdusi Basin show two major stages of wetland extent variation. The wetland extent variation in the Youerdusi Basin might have been controlled by precipitation and/or by glacier-melting potential that was in turn controlled by both temperature and the extent of remained ice cover in higher elevations. The δ13Corg values obtained from the BY Core indicate a wetting trend during the data-covering period which is reasonably corroborated by various proxy data from nearby sites. We infer that the wetting trend was causally associated with the Holocene increasing trend of the North Atlantic Ocean SST (sea surface temperature) and also with the Holocene increasing trend of the westerlies' intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the early Holocene onward, the Indian Subcontinent has accommodated a range of diverse human cultures and associated ecological adaptations and lifestyles. Around 10 kyrs ago, the Subcontinent has witnessed the development of later Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and their subsequent regional transitions to pastoralist (Neolithic) and agricultural (Chalcolithic) lifeways. The Holocene climate records reveal discrepancies in the timing and duration of climatic events, which can be attributed to a vast geographic isolation, the influence of height, elevation, and local climatic conditions. These changing climatic patterns including the development of a geographically variable monsoon directly impacted these various cultures including the Harappans and their contemporaries as well as younger Historical and Medieval empires across India, at various levels. In some regions, environmental changes led to uneven cultural transitions, geographic migrations, and the development of regionally-distinct material cultures along with establishment of sedentary life-ways. This paper attempts to present a review broadly correlating general climatic patterns throughout the Holocene period of India with regional cultural dynamics. All geomorphic-climatic zones of the Subcontinent showed strong inter-proxy coherence between 9 and 5 kyrs in response to increased precipitation. After this warming period ends, we see a moderate dry period as a result of a weakening monsoon and an overall tendency toward aridity throughout all zones (after 4 kyrs). The temporal variation of human habitation and respective adaptive responses suggest broad linkages to the varying climatic and physiographic features at a regional scale. Learning how this shaped human eco-dynamics in the past can help us expand our understanding of human history and implement lessons for the present as well as the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hyper-arid climate of Ouargla area (Northern Sahara of Algeria) is important in the field of the paleoenvironmental reconstitution. This paper investigates the importance of palaeolake sediments as significant terrestrial archives for studying Quaternary climate changes. Through morphological and mainly micromorphological investigations of the studied sites (Sabkha of Ouargla and palaeolake of Mellala), we noted the fluctuation of climate between arid and more humid conditions during Quaternary. Some pedofeatures have recorded these environmental changes. The studied calcareous crusting has a lacustrine origin when precipitations were more important. The clay coatings around the quartz grains indicate an old origin and different geochemical conditions that led to their dissolution. Lenticular gypsum crystals were formed from groundwater saturated with Ca2+andions. Calcite pseudomorphs after lenticular gypsum crystals indicate changes in local climatic parameters. Gypsum crusts can be explained by formation under wet climatic conditions in a lagoonal environment. Black and gray layers indicate evolution of organic matter at a wetter period. This paper highlights an unknown palaeolake which can be useful for the comprehension of the ecological past of the Sahara. The comparison between this palaeolake and other Saharan palaeolakes has allowed us to assign it to a probable active period between 10000 and 4000 years B.P. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Dirassat in Humanities & Social Sciences is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) 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.)

The 'Wadden Sea Archive of landscape evolution, climate change and settlement history' project (WASA) focuses on the analysis of marine sediment archives from the East Frisian Wadden Sea region. It aims at understanding the formation of palaeolandscapes since the end of the last ice age. One part of the project studies the possible correlation and shift of archaeological settlement patterns, climate change and sea-level rise through time in order to derive archaeological expectancy maps. In this paper we present our findings for a quantifiable set of Stone Age sites in the area of the prehistorical Dornumer tidal basin, discussing them against the background of coastal environmental factors and the applied methodology of our modelling. To enable spatial analysis of these sites, we developed a palaeographic elevation model, which was subsequently flooded at 2000-year intervals between the Boreal and early Subboreal periods. Particular challenges are posed by the dynamics of marine transgression, the related changes in the natural environment and their spatial extent. As a result of our GIS-based approach, the model can be extended geographically and provides a basis for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During each summer monsoon, the northeastern Indian Ocean receives a huge amount of rain and river discharge, resulting in strong stratification and prevalence of oligotrophic conditions. These water column changes impact upper ocean productivity which is reflected in the planktonic foraminifera distribution, providing an opportunity to study the effect of monsoon forcing and stratification history. Analogous to modern‐day stratification, very intense water column stratification and productivity collapse were observed associated with Indian summer monsoon (ISM) evolution. This paper reports significant stratification events during MIS 3 (37.0 to 33 and 27 to 24 cal ka), Bølling/Allerød (B/A), early Holocene (10.0 to 8.0 cal ka) and mid‐Holocene (7.0 to 5.0 cal ka) which slowly muted upwelling and productivity. The deglacial intensification of the ISM started in the early stages of the Bølling/Allerød (B/A) followed by slight weakening during the Younger Dryas and regained strength during the early Holocene, coinciding with the highest summer insolation at 30°N. A progressive decline in the abundances of productivity and salinity proxies from 4.2 to 2.0 cal ka suggests a gradual weakening of the ISM. The late Quaternary productivity variations in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are primarily controlled by salinity‐related stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Expansion‐Contraction model has been used to explain the responses of species to climatic changes. During periods of unfavourable climatic conditions, species retreat to refugia from where they may later expand. This paper focuses on the palaeoecology of red deer over the past 54 ka across Europe and the Urals, to reveal patterns of change in their range and explore the role of environmental conditions in determining their distribution. Location: Europe and western Asia to 63°E. Taxon: Red deer (Cervus elaphus). Methods: We collected 984 records of radiocarbon‐dated red deer subfossils from the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene, including 93 original dates. For each deer sample we compiled climatic and biome type data for the corresponding time intervals. Results: During the last 54 ka changes in red deer range in Europe and the Urals were asynchronous and differed between western and eastern Europe and western Asia due to different environmental conditions in those regions. The range of suitable areas for deer during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was larger than previously thought and covered vast regions not only in southern but also in western and eastern Europe. Throughout the period investigated the majority of specimens inhabited forests in the temperate climatic zone. The contribution of forests in deer localities significantly decreased during the last 4 ka, due to deforestation of Europe caused by humans. Mean January temperature was the main limiting factor for species distribution. Over 90% of the samples were found in areas where mean January temperature was above −10°C. Main conclusions: Red deer response to climatic oscillations are in agreement with the Expansion‐Contraction model but in contradiction to the statement of only the southernmost LGM refugia of the species. During the last 54 ka red deer occurred mostly in forests of the temperate climatic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a reconstruction of the history of development of the ecosystems in the lower reaches of the Knevichanka River over the past 5350 cal BP based on the biostratigraphic analysis of the sediments of the first terrace above the floodplain. Differences were identified and characteristics were determined in the vegetation structure during the final phase of the Holocene climate optimum and multidirectional climatic fluctuations in the Late Holocene. It has been found that in the final phase of the Holocene broad-leaved plants were more widespread on the mountain slopes than at present. The alluvial plains predominantly contained grassy meadows with small-leaved plant communities. Mixed forests prevailed in the vegetation on the slopes of the Knevichanka River valley with a dominance of Korean pine, Japanese red pine, oak, elm, Amur cork tree, linden, lilac, Manchurian walnut, and other species. In the lower reaches of the Knevichanka River, in the place of the marshy plains and water areas of Lakes Krolevetskoe and Orlovskoe, an extensive shallow sea bay existed, which was connected to the Ussuri Bay via a narrow strait. A cooling period that began at the end of the Middle Holocene and continued into the beginning of the Late Holocene led to a reduction of broad-leaved plants in vegetation and more widespread occurrence of small-leaved plants. At that time, the formation of the soil layer of the first terrace above floodplain began in the lower reaches of the river. In the course of the marine regression, the coastal lowlands became free from seawater, and the upper part of the shallow bay was detached from the sea. A lagoon occurred at the location of the marine gulf. The lagoon became gradually freshened, shallow, and connected to the sea by the channels of the Knevichanka and Artemovka rivers. However, during the syzygial tides and wind-induced surges, seawater still intruded regularly. At the end of the Late Holocene, the valley of the Knevichanka River developed natural conditions, thus giving rise to the recent structure of vegetation. Desalination occurred in lakes Krolevetskoe and Orlovskoe, while they acquired their recent outlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pesquisa em Educação Ambiental is the property of Pesquisa em Educacao Ambiental 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.)

In 2015, professional diver and amateur archaeologist A. Matiukas discovered an extraordinarily rich and well-preserved underwater multiperiod archaeological site, Kaltanėnai, at the point where the Žeimenys Lake feeds into the Žeimena River in East Lithuania. Over the duration of 3 years of multiple diving expeditions, he collected ca. 800 archaeological finds made of wood, bone, antler, flint, stone, iron and glass. Moreover, in eroded places of the river bed, he observed numerous wooden piles of potential constructions. These initial finds attested the newly discovered site’s great scientific value and potential, and therefore a scientific investigation of the site was initiated. This paper presents the first results of underwater survey at this site and analyses of its various finds. These include the site’s plan with a mapping of stationary fishing gear, a geological profile made from boreholes, 23 14C dates of various artefacts and wooden constructions, wood and animal taxa determinations including ZooMS, and traceological analysis of osseous tools. Our research demonstrates that the site was intensively used for fishing via various methods starting from the Late Mesolithic to the modern era, while most of the finds date to the Subneolithic and the Bronze Age. Further research at the site, including underwater excavations of stratified archaeological layers, will shed even more light onto the history of inland fishing in the East Baltic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread aeolian deposits on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) have provided valuable palaeoclimatic information. However, the primary factors (e.g., climate factors, human activity, and vegetation cover) controlling aeolian deposition remain elusive. In this paper, we use a dataset that comprises new and published ages of Holocene aeolian sand and loess in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River to identify the primary controlling factors and palaeoclimatic implications of aeolian deposition. Several intervals of enhanced aeolian accumulation centered at 8.5–7.8, 6.4–5.8, 4.5–4.0, 3.1–1.8, and 0.9 ka are identified, generally consistent with regional low rainfall events and weak Indian summer monsoon (ISM). This suggests that regional wetness, dominated by the ISM, may play a key role in modulating dust emissions and aeolian deposition on centennial timescales. Our results show that on centennial- to millennial-scales, ISM activity can be reconstructed by non-continuous aeolian deposits in the monsoon dominated TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabo Verde remained uninhabited until 1460 CE, when European sailors founded a settlement in Santiago, and soon after in Fogo island. The degree to which different island ecosystems in Cabo Verde have been transformed by humans remains uncertain because of a scarcity of historical information and archaeological evidence. Disentangling these processes from natural ones is complicated in islands with a history of volcanic impacts and other natural hazards. In this paper, we apply microfossil (pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs and phytoliths) and sedimentological analyses (granulometry, X-ray diffraction, loss on ignition and tephrostratigraphy) to a 2-m sediment sequence deposited in a scoria cone from 4100 cal year BP (calibrated years before 1950 CE) to the present. The organic-rich basal sediments indicate that between 4100 and 2600 cal year BP the pre-settlement landscape of Fogo was an open grassland, where fire was infrequent and/or small-scale. An increase in volcanic glass deposition after 2600 cal year BP, peaking ca. 1200 cal year BP, suggests that there was a progressive activation of Fogo's volcanic activity, contemporaneous with increased fire frequency and erosion pulses, but with little impact on local grassland vegetation. While dating uncertainty is high, the first evidence of intensive local land use by early settlers was in the form of cultivation of Zea mays, abundant spores of coprophilous fungi (i.e. Sporormiella), and peaks in charcoal concentrations between 800 and 400 cal year BP. This was followed by large increases in pollen from pigeon pea (Cajanus), a diverse array of exotic trees (Cupressus, Grevillea), and invasive shrubs (Lantana). The introduction of these taxa is part of recent human effort to 'tame' this steep, dry and hazardous island by reducing erosion and providing firewood. An important outcome of these efforts, however, is a loss of fragile native biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on the geomorphological evolution of the Holocene from the Ebro depression (NE Spain) are focused on the period up to the Roman Epoch (218 BC–476 AD) while some references to medieval (476 AD–15th century) deposits are also occasionally dated. This paper focuses on the establishment of aggradation units on the valley bottoms and slopes of the Ebro depression after 1400 BP, their origin, comparison with other areas, and relationship with global paleoenvironmental changes. These units were produced after the incision phase that marked the end of the large Holocene accumulation (unit H1) around 1400 BP (at the end of the Late Roman Epoch). Morphosedimentary records enable us to establish three aggradation units during the last 1400 years: unit H2 (ca. 1400–650 cal BP); unit H3 – with two H3A subunits (ca. 650–500 cal BP) and H3B (ca. 500–320 cal BP); and the H4 unit (after 320 cal BP). These units are organized following five types of aggradation/incision arrangements with differing complexities. There are also connections among these units and two slope stages in the region. Finally, the genetic relationships between these units and global paleoenvironmental changes are shown (LALIA, MCA, and LIA) and related to anthropic activity. This contribution is the first detailed and systematic approach to the study of morphosedimentary units and sedimentary arrangements during the Recent Holocene in the Mediterranean area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 18 papers in this Special Issue of the Journal of Paleolimnology report new records of Holocene environmental and climate change from Arctic lake sediment. At least 15 distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties were analyzed at lakes located across the North American Arctic and subarctic, and northwestern Europe. The studies are notable for their multi-proxy approach (eight present data for at least five different proxies), and for the high quality of their geochronological control. Three of the studies analyzed sediment from more than one lake to test the influence of contrasting physiographic settings on the response of proxies to the same climate forcing. The sedimentary sequences analyzed in seven studies extend beyond 11.5 cal ka, providing evidence for pronounced climate shifts that took place during the late-glacial period. Two-thirds extend beyond 8 cal ka; many of these records were interpreted in terms of the shift in temperature and moisture that occurred during the transition from the warm early to middle Holocene to the cooler late Holocene. These records contribute to the growing network of sites that is needed to reconstruct the spatial pattern of this pronounced paleoclimate transition, and to address how ocean-atmospheric circulation changed with the mean state of climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fallow deer (Dama dama Linnaeus, 1758) has a long history of interaction with prehistoric humans. Beginning in the Neolithic, humans introduced fallow deer to several areas of the eastern Mediterranean and mainland Europe, with later additional importing happening in the Bronze and Iron Ages. However, in some parts of southeastern Europe, autochthonous populations of extant fallow deer may have survived through the end of the Pleistocene and into the early Holocene, making them available for exploitation by Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities. Climatic and vegetational regimes favourable to fallow deer covered nearly all of Bulgaria during this period; yet, the heavy use of the species by human communities was restricted to a very small area around southeastern Bulgaria. Eventually, climate deterioration, habitat change and overhunting led to the decline of fallow deer in later prehistory in Bulgaria. This paper offers a discussion of the environmental and cultural background of human‐fallow deer interactions from the sixth to fourth millennium BCE in Bulgaria. Using bivariate scatterplots and log ratio techniques, we demonstrate that Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities exploited a large extant fallow‐deer population, appearing to target both males and females equally. Our results are the first step in a larger archaeological investigation of human‐fallow deer relations that unfolded over several millennia, touching upon issues of settlement, migration and perhaps even taming or domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the, so far available, paleorecords of Vitis sylvestris C.C. Gmel and Vitis vinifera L. from Romania. The study takes into consideration the presence of Vitis pollen from Holocene peat sediment sequences and archaeological context, but also the presence of macrorests from various archaeological sites that date from Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and La Tène. Both paleobotanical arguments and archaeological discoveries support the theory that places the beggining of viticulture in Romania a few millenia ago, in Neolithic period. Also, written evidences (works of classical authors, epigraphical sources) confirm, indirectly, the presence of grapevine in La Tène period. Occurrences of Vitis vinifera and those of Vitis sylvestris manifest independently of the climate oscillations, being present both through colder and more humid episodes, as well as through drier and warmer events. Probably prehistoric communities have made a constant and deliberate effort, all along the Holocene, to maintain grapevine crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes data on subfossil insects from the Holocene sites of the Urals, the Cis-Ural region, and the central and northern parts of West Siberia. The material from 39 sites, mostly alluvial ones, and also the insect remains from peat bogs and zoogenic deposits is considered. The insect communities from most alluvial sites correspond to the recent faunas from the same territories. The dynamics of insect faunas, probably associated with changes in landscape and climatic conditions, can be observed only at the boundaries of the recent natural zones, such as the tundra and taiga ones. The range limits of some boreal species seem to have moved northwards during the Holocene climatic optimum. No changes in insect faunas from the sites of alluvial and swamp genesis situated within the taiga zone have been observed, these insect assemblages being identical to the recent faunas of the corresponding areas. Changes in the insect faunas in particular sections can largely be attributed to ecological successions and local habitat dynamics. No changes in plant communities caused by the Holocene climatic fluctuations and revealed by the spore and pollen data are reflected in the composition of insect complexes; this was demonstrated by the example of two peat bogs: Lake Perevalnoe site in the Polar Urals and Nyulsaveito site in the South Yamal. The data presented herein generally correspond to those obtained over the territories of Western and Eastern Europe as well as Northeast Siberia. However, changes in distribution of certain beetle species recorded at zoogenic sites (in bird pellets, burrows) may be linked to the Holocene climatic fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses data from the pioneering and the latest research in Serranópolis, Goiás, Brazil. It focuses on subjects such as landscape, mobility, territoriality, distribution of rock art sites, lithic material, anthropic action, and natural processes as elements that impact archaeological sites. The approach includes the hunter-gathering groups from the Itaparica (Paranaíba Phase) and Serranópolis (Serranópolis Phase) Traditions from Upper to Middle Holocene, which are characterized by their set of lithic artifacts. Therefore, some data resulting from research that took place between 2000 and 2020 by several researches were included in the previous study from 1980 to 2000 by Schmitz and his crew. The key element is the landscape analysed within a multidsciplinary approach through the Landscape Archaeology. This paper emphasizes some subjects that must be reanalyzed through current techniques and sustains that new excavations need to take place with a special attention to the relation between the landscape and the data developed under a geoarqueological point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study on peat deposits and radiocarbon dating of basal peat horizons in 43 peatlands located on three key sites within Meshchera Lowlands and Moksha Polesie. Peatlands formed by upland paludification processes and located on watersheds and terraces rising above floodplains were selected for the analysis. The obtained data indicate that the peatland formation process has been ongoing in these regions throughout the entire Holocene epoch and that this process has been affected by the fire regime in the area. In periods with higher wildfire frequencies (8800–5800 and 4200–3200 calendar years BP), changes in the water balance on flat and poorly drained plains occurring after the destruction of forest stands intensified the waterlogging processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]