The prehistory and early history of the Šumava Mountains (Czech Republic) as seen through anthropogenic pollen indicators and charcoal data

Bibliographic Data

ID12265518
AuthorsRadka Kozáková (0000-0002-8567-7242, Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Praha, Czech Republic), Přemysl Bobek (0000-0002-7147-7274, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, corresponding author), Dagmar Dreslerová (0000-0003-0062-5871, Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Praha, Czech Republic), Vojtěch Abraham (0000-0003-3142-1855, Charles University), Hélèna Svobodova (0000-0001-6092-4588, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany), Helena Svobodová-Svitavská (Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany)
Year2020
Volume31
Issue1
Pages145-159
Publication date2020-10-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Holocene (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0959-6836 • E-ISSN: 1477-0911
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0959683620961484
OpenAlexW3092010309
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited62

In the lower forested mountain ranges of Europe, human impact on nature is usually confined to the written history of the Middle Ages. Our research in the Šumava mountains aims to specify the nature and intensity of human impact on vegetation, especially during agricultural prehistory. We use results from a multidisciplinary study of the unique La Tène archaeological site in the Sklářské Valley (elevation 802 m a.s.l.) and from a pollen and charcoal record 60 m away. With knowledge of this reference site we focus on the meaning of anthropogenic pollen indicators in 13 other pollen sites from central Šumava. From ca 3300 cal yr BP we detect an increase in NAP, Betula, Pinus and secondary anthropogenic indicators in pollen records – vegetation changes of anthropogenic origin. Charcoal records show a significant peak around 3200 cal yr BP. We found weak anthropogenic influence on the La Tène archaeological site in the Sklářské Valley, and much stronger anthropogenic pollen signals at other pollen sites dated to the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Some of these sites are situated on trade routes which have been known since Medieval times but which most likely have much older origins. During prehistory, pollen data reveal no specific human activity such as pasturing or arable farming but reflect small-scale disturbances that supported growth of Betula and Pinus and an abundance of herbs. Such human impact could be connected primarily to activities along trade routes and to hunting, but other factors cannot be excluded

Archaeology · Biology · Charcoal · Geography · Holocene · Palynology · Peat · Physical geography · Pollen · Prehistory · Vegetation (pathology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Ecology