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On the basis of seven palynological records, we reconstruct the forest-limit composition and dynamics during the second part of the Holocene, in the upper montane and subalpine zones of the Monts du Forez in the north-eastern Massif Central, using a 2 km long, elevational transect of sites at 1335–1590 m elevation. All sites are mires today, varying in size from 2 to

River channel patterns may alter due to changes in hydrological regime related to changes in climate and/or land cover. Such changes are well documented for transitions between meandering and braiding rivers, whereas channel pattern changes between laterally stable and meandering rivers are poorly documented and understood. We hypothesize that many low-energy meandering rivers had relatively low peak discharges and were laterally stable during most of the Holocene, when climate was relatively stable and human impact was limited. Our objectives in this work are to identify a Late Holocene channel pattern change for the low-energy Overijsselse Vecht river, to develop and apply a novel methodology to reconstruct discharge as a function of time following a stochastic approach, and to relate this channel pattern change to reconstructed hydrological changes. We established that the Overijsselse Vecht was laterally virtually stable throughout the Holocene until the Late Middle Ages, after which large meanders formed at lateral migration rates of about 2 m yr−1. The lateral stability before the Late Middle Ages was constrained using a combination of coring information, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), radiocarbon (14C) dating, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. We quantified bankfull palaeodischarge as a function of time based on channel dimensions that were reconstructed from the scroll bar sequence and channel cut-offs using coring information and GPR data, combined with chronological constraints from historical maps and OSL dating. We found that the bankfull discharge was significantly greater during the meandering phase compared to the laterally stable phase. Empirical channel and bar pattern models showed that this increase can explain the channel pattern change. The bankfull discharge increase likely reflects climate changes related to the Little Ice Age and/or land use changes in the catchment, in particular as a result of peat reclamation and exploitation.

Research on ecosystem resilience and climate–ecosystem interactions is extremely complex due to the large variety of factors that play a role in ecosystem functioning. This study aimes at determining which factors are involved in ecosystem resilience, which methods are needed to investigate this, and how archaeology can contribute to such research. The influence of the 8.2 ka climate event on the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria, serves as a case study for larger-scale ecosystem resilience studies. This study presents some critical notes to the assumption that the changes which took place in Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event were a direct result of climate change triggered by the event. Though a number of changes in culture and farming methods date back to the timing of the 8.2 ka event, as yet no evidence has been found for wild flora and fauna shifts which could indicate climate deterioration. Other factors that could have influenced the changes observed in the archaeological record, like anthropogenic influences or cultural development, should not be ruled out as determining factors for the changes that took place at Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event.

Humans respond in a variety of ways to climate and environmental change. They may adapt, migrate, evolve new technologies, or experience breakdowns in their socio-cultural and economic systems. Working group 4 of the INTIMATE COST action ES0907 aims to summarise and synthesise the effects of climate changes from 60 000-8000 years ago on ecosystems, including animals and humans. The study of ecosystem and human responses and their causes requires close collaboration between archaeologists, zoologists, palaeoecologists, and geomorphologists. An INTIMATE workshop in Ghent, Belgium (November 6-7, 2012) focused on stimulating the integration of archaeological and palaeoecological approaches and methodology to improve reconstructions of ecosystem and human responses to climate changes in the full- and late-glacial and early-Holocene periods in Europe. Six main topics were delimited. High quality chronological control and accurate correlation is crucial for precisely relating ecosystem responses to climate changes and the ensuing human responses. The palaeoecological tool-box should contain both biotic proxies and physical proxies that can be applied flexibly to data collection during this period. Geomorphological and palynological studies reveal direct or indirect climate impacts and environmental changes at regional-scales. The geographical scale of human response will depend on the questions being asked. Humans depend almost exclusively on their local environment, so the impacts of climate changes on both terrestrial and wetland habitats need to be reconstructed at local ecosystem scales in relation to habitation sites. An array of high quality local data-sets across Europe that integrate palaeoenvironmental and archaeological records can be synthesised and examined for causal relationships in time and space. Emerging geographical patterns of climate and environmental change will give an overview of patterns of resilience and vulnerability of human societies to these changes. Gaps in knowledge will become apparent. Humans are a top predator and thus changes affecting the food chain, particularly in keystone prey composition, will be important to their survival. Integrative studies carried out at a variety of spatial and temporal scales encourage a development towards a better understanding of the varying resilience and sensitivity of ecosystems and human societies to palaeoclimate changes.

Humans respond in a variety of ways to climate and environmental change. They may adapt, migrate, evolve new technologies, or experience breakdowns in their socio-cultural and economic systems. Working group 4 of the INTIMATE COST action ES0907 aims to summarise and synthesise the effects of climate changes from 60 000-8000 years ago on ecosystems, including animals and humans. The study of ecosystem and human responses and their causes requires close collaboration between archaeologists, zoologists, palaeoecologists, and geomorphologists. An INTIMATE workshop in Ghent, Belgium (November 6-7, 2012) focused on stimulating the integration of archaeological and palaeoecological approaches and methodology to improve reconstructions of ecosystem and human responses to climate changes in the full- and late-glacial and early-Holocene periods in Europe. Six main topics were delimited. High quality chronological control and accurate correlation is crucial for precisely relating ecosystem responses to climate changes and the ensuing human responses. The palaeoecological tool-box should contain both biotic proxies and physical proxies that can be applied flexibly to data collection during this period. Geomorphological and palynological studies reveal direct or indirect climate impacts and environmental changes at regional-scales. The geographical scale of human response will depend on the questions being asked. Humans depend almost exclusively on their local environment, so the impacts of climate changes on both terrestrial and wetland habitats need to be reconstructed at local ecosystem scales in relation to habitation sites. An array of high quality local data-sets across Europe that integrate palaeoenvironmental and archaeological records can be synthesised and examined for causal relationships in time and space. Emerging geographical patterns of climate and environmental change will give an overview of patterns of resilience and vulnerability of human societies to these changes. Gaps in knowledge will become apparent. Humans are a top predator and thus changes affecting the food chain, particularly in keystone prey composition, will be important to their survival. Integrative studies carried out at a variety of spatial and temporal scales encourage a development towards a better understanding of the varying resilience and sensitivity of ecosystems and human societies to palaeoclimate changes.