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 the eastern part of Transylvania (Map 1 and 2) in the Late Glacial period, Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) has high values in the pollen spectrum, as do steppe taxa. At the end of the period, there was a slight increase in birch (Betula gen) and a significant one in the true grasses (Poaceae jam), wormwood {Artemisia gen) and Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceaefam.).49

A slight increase in spruce {Picea gen) and birch {Betula gen) was visible in the Preboreal phase, while true grasses {Poaceae fam) and steppe taxa remained high at this time. A brief increase in wormwood {Artemisia gen) and a retreat of spruce {Picea gen) is also noted.50

In the Boreal phase, Green Alder {Alnus viridis) rises in the pollen spectrum percentages. Elm {Ulmus gen) showed low levels in the lower altitudes.51 Birch {Betula gen) reached its highest levels, while elm {Ulmus gen) was a pioneer tree in the area. Spruce {Picea gen) has stable percentages in the pollen spectrum while pine {Pinus gen.) steadily increased its population.52 The grasslands in the area show a regression in this period. Towards the end of the phase, pine {Pinus gen) and birch {Betula gen) decreased in numbers and spruce {Picea gen) became the dominant species. Quercetum mixtum appeared around this time and hazel {Corylus gen) is very low in the diagrams (Fig. 5).53

Fig. 5. Pollen diagram of the Holocene at Mohoş 2 (Harghita mountains) (after TaNŢĂU 2006, 62, fig. 12; TanţăU ETAL. 2003, fig. 4)

At the offset of the Atlantic phase, ash {Fraxinus gen) achieved its maximum and there were high levels of elm {Ulmus gen). Maple {Acer gen), ivy {Hedera gen.) and mistletoe {Viscum gen.) were common in the area, and hazel {Corylus gen.) had low values in the region. After the relatively short-lived occurrences from the beginning of the period, elm {Ulmus gen.) and ash {Fraxinus gen.) declined in numbers, while hazel {Corylus gen.) values show a steady growth in the pollen

49 FĂRCAŞETAL. 1999, 803, 804.

50 FĂRCAŞ ET AL. 1999, 804.

51 FĂRCAŞ ET AL. 1999, 803.

52 Magyari ET AL. 2006, 260, 280.

53 Tanţâu et al. 2003,117.

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