B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 35. 2004 (Budapest, 2004)
Medzihradszky, Zsófia: Palynological investigation of a late Holocene sequence from Southwestern Hungary
Studia bot. hung. 35, pp. 25-32, 2004 PALYNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF A LATE HOLOCENE SEQUENCE FROM SOUTHWESTERN HUNGARY Zs. MEDZIHRADSZKY Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-I476 Budapest, Pf. 222, Hungary; E-mail: medzi@bot.nhmus.hu In 2003 a 560 cm long core was deepened in the valley of Ujkiit creek in southwestern Hungary, Zala County. Pollen analysis was carried out to study the environment of a prehistoric settlement complex. The pollen sequence represents a densely forested area with very high average of Fagus, Tilia and Carpinus. Fagus macrofossil from 465-485 cm depth was dated by radiocarbon, AMS method to 3,495+30 l4 C yr BP, 1880-1740 cal BC. Key words: Fagus peak, Late Holocene, pollen analysis, SW Hungary INTRODUCTION The construction of the M7 national motorway in Zala County (SW Hungary) has been preceded by systematic rescue excavations. Intensive archaeological investigation near the village of Petrivente, in a hilltop position at the valley of Újkút creek brought to light a prehistoric, mainly Neolithic settlement complex. Since major environmental factors, water output of the streams, climate and vegetation determined prehistoric modes of settlement use, and their way of reconstruction was of great interest for the archaeologists, we had an excellent opportunity to organise palaeobotanical investigations in this area, focusing on the human impact on the environment and vice versa. The study was made possible by the assistance of the Management of the Museums in Zala County. Presently, the investigated area is arable land, only a small and young oak forest represents the arboreal vegetation near the locality. Although the deepest point of the core was younger than the Neolithic settlement, the pollen profile was informative for the later time span of the vegetational changes and human activity. Practically no pollen analytical investigations have been carried out earlier in the region where the pollen bearing deposits are very rare. Only a few pollen data has been published from this part of Hungary (CSERNY and NAGY-BODOR 1999) and the nearest locality with pollen profile is Prekmurje, Slovenia (CULIBERG 1999). Studio Botonica Hungarica 35, 2004 Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
