Kelemen Imola (szerk.): A Csíki Székely Múzeum Évkönyve 8. (Csíkszereda, 2012)
Régészet - Tibor-Tamás Daróczi: Environmental Changes During the Holocene in Transylvania
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES DURING THE HOLOCENE IN TRANSYLVANIA In terms of flora, it should be mentioned that most of the data presented, in what follows, comes from palynology and macro fossil analysis (Appendix 1), and as such it is largely dependent on environmental factors of pollen deposition. The pollen that reaches the deposition sites, used for later soundings to obtain pollen schemes, is dependent on several variables: pollen productivity of the plants in each area, dispersal mechanisms and the size of the basin. Some sites may contain pollen coming from an area of a few kilometres around the sites (e.g. Avrig, Steregoiu, Iezerul Călimani, Tăul Zănoguţii) to zones well over 20 km (e.g. Molhaşul Mare, Mohoş). Hence, the pollen spectrum of data may represent local or broad-regional, respectively, trends of palaeoflora.17 Palynological studies are used as indirect evidence for establishing variables of temperature and humidity in the Holocene. In the higher-lying regions of Transylvania, lakes provide useful information for the Late Glacial and Holocene changes in water plants populations and climate.18 Especially the oscillation of green algae (Pediastrum spp. and Botryococcus sp.) is a good indicator of temperature, acidity and humidity.19 Speleological research concerning speleothem20 is also an important means of reconstructing Holocene temperature shifts. These studies will serve as the basis for the reconstruction of the Holocene climate changes in the study area. The presentation, maps and analysis of the soil composition of the study region (Map 3) is based on the SOTER programme for Central and Eastern Europe (ver. 1.0).21 In Appendix 2 is a comprehensive account (etymology, characteristics, and occurrence) of all soils found in the Eastern Carpathian Basin. This also serves as a detailed legend for the soil maps and soil codes used in the maps. In order to process and analyse this vast amount of data, a global information system is used,22 in order to group and present the results of the research. Geomorphology None of the features of Transylvania were formed in the Holocene but in the previous periods of Mezozoic and Neozoic. Its eastern and southern borders are formed by the Carpathian Arch (Eastern Carpathians and Southern Carpathian or Transylvanian Alps), whereas the western border is sealed off by the Apuseni Mountains (Map 1). There are, within the Eastern Carpathian area, a series of depressions oriented northwest-southeast, all of which were created by important rivers of the area and these depressions comprise of the terraces and low hills of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. The middle part consists of alternating highland and river-cut plateaus. The following geomorphological account of the area is based on soil and geologic maps and the most recent textbook of the physical geography of Romania.23 As before, several areas may be distinguished based on their genesis: 1. Eastern Carpathian Mountains; 2. Southern Carpathian Mountains; 3. Apuseni Mountains; 4. Transylvanian Plateau. The Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Map 1) are formed by approximately parallel northwest- southeast ranges, only divided by depressions formed by rivers. The western range was created by repeated volcanic eruptions of Neogene date, and is therefore composed of volcanic rocks. At the northern end, it is cut off by the Tisa/Tisza River and its southern one by the Olt. The eastern 17 FEURDEAN ET al. 2010, 2199. 18 BUCZKÓ ET al. 2009a. 19 BUCZKÓ et AL. 2009b, 265. 20 Cave formations: dripstones, flowstones, cave crystals, speleogens and others. - personal communication of Attila Csernátoni. 21 Developed at the University of Wageningen (2nd edition 2005), implemented by FAO, ISRIC and UNEP under the auspices of IUSS. 22 I would like to thank ESRI Deutschland GmbH for accepting my project and supporting it with the ESRI Absolventenprogramm, through which a full license of ArcGIS 10 was awarded for the duration of my doctoral research. 23 Badea et al. 1976, 2006; Lóczy, Papp 1922; Posea 2006. 29
