The Lateglacial and Holocene vegetation and climate history of Lago di Mezzano (central Italy)

摘要: Abstract The top 12 m of a lacustrine sediment sequence from Lago di Mezzano (42°36′N, 11°46′E, 452 a.s.l., Latium, central Italy) have been palynologically investigated. chronology was established on the basis radiocarbon dates, measures annual laminations and volcanic ashes. continuous provides new fundamental information Lateglacial Holocene, periods often fragmented in Italian pollen records, identifying vegetation dynamics climate changes occurring last 15,300 years. record starts at end glacial, closely following found global scale, with clear stadial interstadial oscillations, evidence cold/dry wet/warm climatic changes. Holocene is mostly characterized by forests, evolving rapidly to mature mixed deciduous oak (starting 11,000 years BP) and, passing through beech forests ca. 9000 alder carrs 7000 years) deeply human-modified present-day landscape. Evaluating importance local regional human impact not straightforward. A peculiarity Mezzano, as other Mediterranean sites, that it behaves times an “on-site” locale, when populations were immediately lake, “off-site” settlements further away. This pattern changed according cultural variations, both correlated water level lake.