Early Holocene environmental change, the presence and disappearance of early Mesolithic habitation near Zutphen (The Netherlands) |
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Authors: | Johanna A A Bos Bas van Geel Bert J Groenewoudt Roel C G M Lauwerier |
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Institution: | (1) Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Research Group Paleoecology and Landscape Ecology, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, NL-1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands;(2) National Service for Archaeological Heritage in The Netherlands (ROB), P.O. Box 1600, NL-3800 BP Amersfoort, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | The Early Holocene landscape near Zutphen (The Netherlands) is reconstructed by means of microfossil, macroremain and bone
analyses. In this area early Mesolithic sites were found on a river dune along a former river channel. AMS14C dating provided a detailed chronology for the sites and river channel deposits. Between ca. 9800–9600 B.P. open herbaceous
vegetation was present on the river dunes. The residual channels were fringed by reed swamps and willow shrubs, with birch
and poplar woodlands inland. During this period there are indications of natural or man-made burning of the reed swamp vegetation
along the residual channel. Also trampling zones along the lake edge were more abundant. However, no archaeological sites
were discovered in the vicinity. From ca. 9600 B.P. on, the area became more densely forested; willow, birch and poplar replaced
the reed swamps along the residual channels, while pine colonised the river dunes. Archaeological finds show that early Mesolithic
people inhabited the area between ca. 9400 and 9200 B.P. and between ca. 8900–8700 B.P. During the earlier period, records
of Urtica, Plantago and coprophilous fungi may point to trampling and/or eutrophication as a result of the presence of large herbivores and people
along the channel shores. After ca. 8700 B.P. people probably left the area when open water was no longer available in the
vicinity. |
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Keywords: | Preboreal Mesolithic Palynology Macroremains Palaeoenvironment The Netherlands |
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