A multi-proxy approach to understanding complex responses of salt-lake catchments to climate variability and human pressure: A Late Quaternary case study from south-eastern, Spain

摘要: Abstract This article focuses on a former salt lake in the upper Vinalopo Valley south-eastern Spain. The study spans Late Pleistocene through to Holocene, although with particular focus period between 11 ka cal BP and 3000 (which Mesolithic part of Bronze Age). High resolution multi-proxy analysis (including pollen, non pollen palynomorphs, grain size, X-ray fluorescence diffraction) was undertaken sediments. results show strong sensitivity both long term small changes evaporation/precipitation ratio, affecting surrounding vegetation composition, lake-biota sediment geochemistry. To summarise key findings main general trends identified include: 1) Hyper-saline conditions low levels at end Glacial 2) Increasing wetness temperatures which witnessed an expansion mesophilic woodland taxa, infilling establishment more perennial system onset Holocene 3) An increase solar insolation after 9 saw re-establishment pine forests 4) A continued trend towards increasing dryness (climatic optimum) 7 but freshwater input 5) sclerophyllous open woody (anthropogenic?), (climatic?) is represented record 5.9 3 6) also punctuated by several aridity pulses, most prominent corresponding 8.2 event. These events, despite paucity well dated archaeological sites area, likely altered carrying capacity this area regionally locally, particularly during Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, terms fresh water supply for human/animal consumption, wild plant food reserves suitable land crop growth.