Late-Holocene human-induced changes to the extent of alpine areas in the East Sudetes, Central Europe

• DOI: 10.1177/0959683610365938
• Publication Date: 2010-08-26T14:47:33Z
• Authors: Jan Novák; Libor Petr; Václav Treml
• Keywords: Charcoal; Macrofossil

The easternmost parts of the Hercynian mid-mountains Central Europe, namely Hrubý Jeseník and Králický Sněžník, are characterised by extensive alpine areas at altitudes above approximately 1300 m a.s.l. In order to determine contribution human activities extent these summit grasslands we analysed charcoal assemblages pollen profiles taken from high elevation sites. first burn was dated Iron Age (about second centuries BC), with successive fire events recorded in early Mediaeval epoch about AD 670. Significant influence as diagrams detected late during High Middle Ages twelfth thirteenth AD). Charcoal reveal similar trends species composition. oldest and/or deepest samples represented fragments Picea abies various broadleaf trees shrubs such Betula sp., Sorbus Juniperus sp. Salix Towards surface, gradually becomes dominant then Vaccinium particles dominate pool. Radiocarbon data individual did not, however, confirm a stratification soil. According anthracomass, macrofossils, pattern forest-free originally determined terrain morphology. While patches occurred on exposed summits convex edges plateaus, open canopy tree growths dominated flats, closed forests adjacent slopes.