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 In the Subatlantic period, beech {Fagus gen.) and fir {Abies gen.) were widespread; the previous tree type replaced the hornbeam {Carpinus gen.) in the area and became the dominant species, reaching almost 60 % of the entire woodland populations in this period. Walnut (Juglans gen.) appears at this point in the pollen diagram.69 The western part of Transylvania (Map 1 and 2), the Apuseni Mountains, is one of the best researched areas in terms of Holocene pollen evidence. The Boreal in its first half was dominated by birch {Betula gen.) and spruce {Picea gen.) forests, with relatively consistent levels of elm {Ulmus gen), ash (Fraxinus gen) and alder (Ainus gen). In contrast to this, the second part had a steady increase in hazel (Corylus gen), becoming the dominant species of the region towards the end of the phase, while spruce (Picea gen.) maintained its numbers and elm (Ulmus gen), ash (Fraxinus gen), alder (Alnus gen.) percentages decrease in the pollen schemes.70 At the beginning of Atlantic phase, the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) shows up in the pollen diagrams of this area, before the colonisation of central and southeastern Europe of this species. This has been interpreted as a case of a local refuge plant, meaning a local survival of the last Ice Age.71 Hazel (Corylus gen) peaked at the beginning of the phase and was gradually replaced by spruce (Picea gen). Apart from these two species, elm (Ulmus gen.) was a common occurrence, and towards the end of the period, beech (Fagus gen), alder (Ainus gen), hornbeam (Carpinus gen.) and fir (Abies gen.) appeared in low numbers in the area.72 From the middle Subboreal phase (~4500 BP), the region was mostly covered by forests, dominated by Common Hazel (Corylus avellana), European Spruce (Picea abies) and high levels of Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), oak (Quercus gen) and lime (Tilia gen). This was followed by European Spruce (Picea abies), Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and European Silver Fir (Abies alba) in a secular succession towards the end of the period.73 At the turn of the Subatlantic phase (3000-2200 BP), this succession ended with the disturbance of the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests and birch (Betula gen), alder (Ainus gen), oak (Quercus gen), walnuts (Juglans gen) and elderberry (Sambucus gen.) becoming widespread alongside grassland communities of true grasses (Poaceae gen), wormwood (Artemisia gen), Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and Erba Stella (Plantago coronopus), docks and sorrels (Rumex gen), Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae fam), nettle (Urtica gen), rye-like (Secale gen.) and cannabis family (Cannabis gen.) plants.74 Very little information is available concerning the vegetation of the central Transylvanian plateau since no palynology samples have been collected from here. Nevertheless, in the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, molluscs are used in order to establish the nature of the vegetation. Helicopsis striata, Pupilla muscorum and Chondrula tridens indicate “warm loess steppes”. These mollusc species, along with scarce palynology data, indicate the presence of wormwood (Artemisia gen), true grasses (Poaceae gen) and Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae fam), mixed with woodlands of pine (Pinus gen), alder (Ainus gen) and birch (Betula gen.).75 In light of the presence of these species and the occurrence of some upper soils of Holocene origin the existence of meadow steppes in the Middle and Late Holocene is certain, which were probably exploited by humans in the Late Holocene.76 69 FĂRCAŞ ET AL. 2004, 237. 70 Bodnariuc ET AL. 2002, 1475. 71 Magri ET AL. 2006, 205-206. 72 Bodnariuc et al. 2002,1475,1482. 73 FEURDEAN ET AL. 2009, 975. 74 FEURDEAN ET AL. 2009, 971-972. 75 Pendea et AL. 2009, 108. 76 Pendea et al. 2002,3-4. 38
