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This paper presents the results of the explorations carried out in the western sector of the Iberian Central System (western Gredos, Béjar, Gata and Estrela mountain ranges). The macroremains found allow detailing the model of the landscape transformation, the composition and extension of their vegetal formations throughout the Holocene. Ninety-nine woody macroremains, 3 bark remains and 8 pinecones were located from eight sites between 875 and 1860 m above sea level, among which 15 radiocarbon dates were made. The taxonomic identification of two trunks found in Estrela allows us to document the local presence of Pinus cf. sylvestris ca. 6600 cal BP in this site. The same taxon also appears at the western end of Gredos between ca. 1700–2800 cal BP at approximately 1300 m. These remains expand the Holocene distribution of P. cf. sylvestris in the Central System known to date, both temporally and geographically. In parallel, the macroremains analysed document the composition of high mountain scrub (Cytisus type, Erica cf. arborea) in Béjar (ca. 1860 m), as well as mixed scrub-woodland formations in Gata (975–1180 m), which included deciduous Quercus , Betulaceae and Ericaceae. The presence of P. pinaster at ca. 6200 cal BP and 1180 m in this mountain range constitutes the earliest palaeobotanical evidence of this species recorded in Gata. The main results support the continuous persistence of plant formations in which P. sylvestris , P. nigra , and P. pinaster would have formed part throughout the Iberian Central System during the Holocene in a wide altitudinal range (1100–1840 m). • Above one hundred Holocene macrofossils from eight different sites were analysed. • Pinus sylvestris recently disappeared from the western Central System. • P. gr. sylvestris remained in Serra da Estrela until ˜6650 years ago. • First evidence of Pinus pinaster has been found in Gata ˜6200 years ago. • Betula , Quercus , Alnus and Ericaceae Holocene macroremains were found in Gata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although ongoing, excavations at the Valdavara-1 cave (Galicia, northwestern Spain) have already yielded a rich and highly diverse terrestrial small vertebrate assemblage. Among the findings, two precaudal vertebrae from the Holocene level (with a radiocarbon age of 4490±40 years BP) are attributed to the golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) and constitute the first fossil evidence for this species. Because of the poor intraspecific genetic diversity of living Spanish populations it has been proposed that they have a recent origin linked with a postglacial expansion from southern refuges. The palaeontological data presented in this paper thus show that the northernmost expansion of the species took place at least as early as the Chalcolithic period and permit the estimation of its dispersion speed within its potential distribution area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a mid- to late-Holocene vegetation sequence of a Juniperus thurifera-dominated area in the eastern, continental plateaux of the Segura Mountains of southeastern Spain. A mid-Holocene maximum of mesic tress is recorded in the pollen diagram between c. 6640 and 4790 cal years BP with the vegetation dominated by deciduous oaks. A dramatic decline in deciduous oaks occurred from approximately 4700 cal years BP to be replaced initially by evergreen oak, and then junipers and other xerophytes from c. 4500 cal years BP. This trend of xericness in the vegetation is coherent with regional and extra-regional palaeoclimatic records for increased mid-Holocene aridity. Significant anthropogenic modification of the vegetation occurred in this region from c. 1350 cal years BP represented by a large reduction in all tree taxa (except Juniperus) and increases of thorny scrub and nitrophilous assemblages. Increased fire incidence, pastoralism, and arboriculture were associated with this anthropogenic activity. We conclude that present-day J. thurifera-dominated communities in this region have become established through a combination of two predominant processes; increased aridification from c.4500 cal years BP and anthropogenic activity from c. 1200 cal years BP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]