Abstract:
|
This interdisciplinary palaeoenvironmental analysis has been carried out on the Pradell calcareous fen, located in the eastern Pre-Pyrenees (Spain) at 1975 m a.s.l., and it comprises the study of environmental indicators, such as pollen, stomata, non-pollen palynomorphs, macrocharcoal particles, lithostratigraphy, sedimentology and geochemistry. The results of this high temporal resolution study have been integrated with archaeological data, and together provide strong evidence for the complexity of the high-mountain landuse system and human impact over the last 1500 years. Results obtained depict high mountain environments as the result of the long-term interaction of many human practices, including mining and smelting, grazing, cropping and tree exploitation for the production of wood, charcoal and resin. Also, this study at the Pradell fen stresses the value of calcareous fens for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of historical landscapes. |