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

schemes.54 The most distinctive phenomenon of the time was the sudden expansion of hornbeam {Carpinus gen). Cottongrass (Eriophorum gen.) had high values in this brief sequence (Fig. 5). Towards the middle of the phase, hornbeam (Carpinus gen) pollen was no longer present, hazel {Corylus gen.) maintained itself and a maximum percentage in the Heath Family {Ericaceae fam.) was achieved by this time.55 Shortly after the mid-Atlantic, hazel {Corylus gen.) peaked and hornbeam {Carpinus gen) occurred in rare instances in the pollen data. Hazel {Corylus gen) decreased significantly after the peak, and spruce {Picea gen.) had another expansion. It was at this point that Quercetum mixtum values decreased as well, and the first instances of cereals appeared. At the end of the phase, beech {Fagus gen.) values suddenly increased and hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) was absent again (Fig. 5).56

From the start of the Subboreal, hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) slowly increased and in the first half of the phase reached its maximum in the area. The slightly higher a.s.l. elevations were mostly covered by spruce {Picea gen). During the second half, the previously dominant species of hornbeam (Carpinus gen.) was replaced by beech {Fagus gen) (Fig. 5).57

In the Subatlantic, beech {Fagus gen.) became dominant and took over most of the habitats of spruce {Picea gen), spruce being restrained to the summits of the region. Adler {Abies gen.) was occasionally represented and cereals, rye-like {Secale gen) and Ribwort Plantain {Plantago lanceolate), were common, along with walnuts {Juglans gen). In the late phase, corn {Zea mays) is documented in the area (Fig. 5).58 59

In the southern part of the Transylvanian plateau (Map 1 and 2), the late Pleistocene flora was represented by open forests, mostly consisting of pine {Pinus gen.) and birch {Betula gen.) and, to a lesser extent, spruce {Picea gen), willow {Salix gen.) and alder {Ainus gen), but also by grassland comprised of wormwood {Artemisia fam), Goosefoot Family {Chenopodiaceae fam), umbellifer {Apiaceae fam.) and true grasses {Poaceae fam):'' Until the beginning of the Preboreal period, birch {Betula gen.) decreased severely.60 61

At the start of the Holocene, the above grass species show a reduction in numbers, in opposition to the trees, this slightly increased in populations (Fig. 6). In the same period, elm {Ulmus gen.) expanded into this area, followed in a secondary secular succession by Quercetum mixtum U Alongside these, the woodlands were dominated by pine {Pinus gen), and spruce {Picea gen.) increased its values in the pollen spectrum, and occasional birch {Betula gen.) is noted. Some species like true grasses {Poaceae fam) and Rose Family {Rosaceae fam) were still high at this time, while other grasslike ones, especially wormwood {Artemisia gen) decreased in populations.62

At the beginning of the next, Boreal, period, hazel {Corylus gen), among other species, steadily increased in percentages in this area, a trend which continued throughout the phase.63 Boreal was in this area dominated by elm {Ulmus gen.) and Quercetum mixtum thick woods with occasional alder {Ainus gen), spruce {Picea gen), pine {Pinus gen.) and birch {Betula gen.) (Fig. 6). The last two species decreased in numbers towards the end of this period; in contrast grassland communities (especially Poaceae fam) re-expanded in this area.64

54 Magyari ET AL. 2009a, 37.

55 Tanţău et al. 2003, 117.

56 Tanţău et al. 2003,122.

57 Tanţău et al. 2003,122.

58 Tanţău et al. 2003,122.

59 Tanţău et al. 2010, 82.

60 Tanţău et al. 2010, 83-84.

61 Tanţău et al. 2010, 84.

62 Tanţău et al. 2006, 52.

63 Tanţău et al. 2006, 53.

64 Tanţău et al. 2010,84.

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