Holocene vegetation history of the Kotihi lagoon (northwest Peloponnesus, Greece)

Abstract

Pollen diagrams are presented from two sediment cores from the area of Kotihi lagoon in the northwestern Peloponnesus, Greece. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the analyzed sediments accumulated during the last 7000 years. Six pollen assemblage zones are recognized. The oldest zone, middle Neolithic in age, is characterized by dominance of herbaceous types (NAP). The second zone, dated to the late and final Neolithic, shows a considerable increase in the abundance of arboreal types (AP) and a decrease in herbaceous taxa. The third zone, from the Bronze Age, did not register any substantial change in the vegetation, but the various communities changed considerably. In the fourth zone, from the Iron Age to Roman period, the abundance of arboreal types varied. In the fifth zone, Medieval in age, and in the sixth zone, corresponding to the Ottoman period, arboreal pollen abundances continued to prevail. During the last 3000 years, human activity was the main factor influencing the vegetation in the study area.