Late Holocene palaeoclimatic change at the Donglimdong archaeological site, Gwangju, SW Korea

Abstract

A late Holocene swamp sediment record is presented from the Donglimdong archaeological site in SW Korea. Pollen analysis, geochemical analyses and radiocarbon dating have been used to reconstruct the vegetation and climatic changes. According to the pollen records, temperate deciduous broadleaved trees combined with herbs were predominated in the study area ecology. Reduction of deciduous broadleaved trees with the spread of herbaceous taxa found in the middle part (ca. 3300 ？2600 yr BP) indicates climatic change toward cooler and drier conditions. Significant increase in sand content and concomitant decrease in TOC content may suggest the occurrence of a drought period. Vegetation changes recorded in pollen sequence indicate the destruction of lowland deciduous forests and accompanied expansion of grasses resulted from the climate changes. However, the increase of cultivation-accompanied herbs and excavated wooden tools for agriculture suggest the significant anthropogenic influence on the vegetation changes.