Kelemen Imola (szerk.): A Csíki Székely Múzeum Évkönyve 8. (Csíkszereda, 2012)

Régészet - Tibor-Tamás Daróczi: Environmental Changes During the Holocene in Transylvania

TIBOR-TAMÁS DARÓCZI

lime (Tilia gen.) and Common Ash {Fraxinus excelsior) have also been documented.28 Just before the turn to the Holocene, pine {Pinus gen), larch {Larix gen.) and willow {Salix gen.) pollen percentages decreased and spruce {Picea) macro remains disappeared,29 meaning that steppes gained ground in over forests.

At the beginning of the Holocene in the northwestern part of Transylvania, open forests of birch {Betula gen), larch {Larix gen.) and pine {Pinus gen) dominated the region. Juniper (Juniperus gen.) and high values of true grasses {Poaceae gen.) suggest open forests in areas of higher elevation.30 Pioneer forests of spruce {Picea gen), larch {Populus gen), alder {Ainus gen) and willow {Salix gen.) were part of the secondary succession process in this area. Elm {Ulmus gen.) gradually increased in percentages over the course of the Preboreal and prepared the ground for a succession of oak {Quercus gen), lime {Tilia gen) and Common Ash {Fraxinus excelsior)?1 The pollen of aquatic plants, pondweed (.Potamogeton gen) and bladderworts {Utricularia gen) decreased in low-lying, wetland areas.32 In contrast to this, other species increased their populations and diversity, e.g. Lesser Reedmace {Typha angustifolia), sedge {Cyperaceae fam), Crowfoot Family {Ranunculaceae fam), valerian {Valeriana gen), bedstraw {Galium gen), rue {Thalictrum gen), umbellifer {Apiaceae fam), crucifer {Brassicaceae fam), spores of horsetail {Equisetum fam) and fern {Polypodiacea fam.)?1’

Fig. 2. Pollen diagram showing the Holocene forest change and micro-charcoal concentrations (Gutái mountains)

(after Feurdean 2004, fig. 10)

28 Feurdean 2004,24,27.

29 Feurdean 2004,27.

30 BjÖRKMAN ET AL. 2002, 1055.

31 Feurdean 2004,27-28.

32 Feurdean 2005b, 9.

33 Feurdean, Bennike 2004, 815, 820; Feurdean et al. 2007a, 373.

32