LATE HOLOCENE PALEOENVIRONMENTS AND HUMAN IMPACT IN FĂGĂRAŞ DEPRESSION (SOUTHERN TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA) - Carpathian Journal of Earth And Environmental Sciences

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Ioan TANŢĂU¹, Sorina FĂRCAŞ², Claudia BELDEAN¹, Anca GEANTĂ¹ & Lucrina ŞTEFĂNESCU³
¹ Babeş-Bolyai University, Department of Geology, 1 Kogălniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, ioan.tantau@ubbcluj.ro
² Institute of Biological Researches, 48 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
³ Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science, 30 Fântânele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

LATE HOLOCENE PALEOENVIRONMENTS AND HUMAN IMPACT IN FĂGĂRAŞ DEPRESSION (SOUTHERN TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA)

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Abstract: A 4800-year-long sequence of environmental change during the Late Holocene has been reconstructed for southern Transylvania (Romania). The research design used palynological methods to reconstruct vegetation history and human impact in the region. We present here the results of pollen analysis of one sequence of about 11.90 m length, originating from a peat bog near Avrig (113 pollen spectra). The vegetation record, which is supported by four 14C dates, starts in the Subboreal with the Carpinus optimum. The first indications of human activities in the region appear at around 4600 cal yr BP. Some environmental changes were possibly linked with natural phenomena. A colder period that begins at about 600-700 cal yr BP could be correlated with the LIA event (Little Ice Age). However, the most significant changes were initiated between 2500 and 180 cal yr BP and were directly or indirectly associated with human occupation. These human-induced effects included major forest clearance, fire, agriculture and grazing.

Keyword: paleoenvironments, vegetation history, human impact, pollen analysis, Holocene, Transylvania.