Vegetational stability and rare species from Early Holocene Lewis |
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| Authors: | Graeme Whittington Kevin J Edwards Adrian M Hall |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Geography and Geosciences , University of StAndrews , St Andrews , Fife , KY16 9AL;2. Department of Geography &3. Environment and Northern Studies Centre , University of Aberdeen , Aberdeen , AB24 3UF |
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| Abstract: | Summary Strata of complex geomorphological origin at Skigersta in the northeast of the Isle of Lewis include organic sediments which have provided a detailed pollen profile and two Early Holocene radiocarbon dates. These two sources of evidence suggest that a stable, pre-woodland, species-rich grass and sedge landscape may have existed for at least one thousand radiocarbon years (10,250 to 9250 BP). Included in the pollen taxa are Koenigia islandica and Polemonium caeruleum, neither of which is now native to Lewis. The former was present in the Middle Devensian (c. 30 kyr BP), perhaps hinting at survival in a local refugium during the Late Devensian glaciation. |
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| Keywords: | Isle of Lewis pollen early Holocene Koenigia islandica Polemonium caeruleum |
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