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 At the beginning of the Atlantic period, hazel (Corylus gen.) reached its maximum, also the peak of this species in the pollen schemes is the means by which in Romanian palynology the onset of this period is determined.65 Spruce (.Picea gen.) slightly decreased in numbers, while beech {Fagus gen) became common from this time onwards. Towards the end of the period, hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) and maple {Acer gen.) became common as well, while beech {Betula gen) increased slightly (Fig. 6). The earliest documented case of cereals was in the late Atlantic.66 Around the turn of the Subboreal, the increase in hornbeam {Carpinus gen) stopped, while the hazel {Corylus gen) percentages decrease dramatically in the pollen scheme of the area. In the first part of this phase, the highest numbers of hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) is recorded and this was the dominant species of the woods, while hazel {Corylus gen), oak {Quercus gen) and ash {Fraxinus gen.) decreased their values. In the second part, the previously dominant species of hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) decreased dramatically in numbers, and beech {Fagus gen) started a steady, continuous growth from this time onwards. Fir {Abies gen.) was a regular occurrence at this time (Fig. 6). Further, it was in this late period that the first instance of rye-like {Secale gen) and some other cereals have been documented.67 True grasses {Poaceae fam), Rose Family {Rosaceae fam), nettle {Urticaceae fam), Primrose Family {Primulaceae fam), Madder Family {Rubiaceae fam), hop {Humulus gen) were underrepresented in terms of quality and quantity in this area; others, like Dropwort or Meadowsweet {Filipendula gen), wormwood {Artemisia gen) and plantain {Plantago gen.) have been documented for the first time in the second part of the period.68 Fig. 6. Pollen diagram showing the Late Pleistocene and Holocene flora change in the southern Transylvanian plateau (Avrig 1) (after TanţăU 2006, 100, fig. 21; TanţăU ET AL. 2006, fig. 4) 65 TanţăU ET al. 2006, 53, 59. 66 TanţăU ET AL. 2006, 53-54, 59 67 Tanţău et al. 2006, 54, 59. 68 FĂRCAŞ ET AL. 2004, 234, 237. 37
