Palynological evidence for abrupt climatic cooling in equatorial Africa at about 43,000–40,000 cal BP

摘要: Abstract The same basal sequence of two pollen zones is found in three previously published diagrams for widely separated sites situated along highlands adjacent to the Albertine Rift equatorial Africa. Here evidence presented that supportive hypothesis transition between was contemporaneous at all and dates about 43,000–40,000 cal BP. Environmental interpretation indicates there a major fall temperature, depressed temperature thereafter persisting until postglacial 14,000–11,500 cal BP. climate also became drier. Well-dated sediments this age are rare Africa, so comparisons scarce. However, some from Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, similar climatic event time. Farther afield, good abrupt deterioration ~ 40,000 cal BP western Eurasia, where accompanying cultural change. Sedimentary basins Rift-margin especially well suited palynologically-based investigations past temperatures. Their relatively well-defined catchment areas result reduced inputs derived vegetation growing under different conditions.