Abstract
Absolute pollen fallout data during the last ca. 6, 000 years, obtained from the top meter (in a 2.4-m core) of Lake Nojiri (alt. 654m), central Japan, show three major vegetational zones, R II, R IIIa, and R IIIb. In R II, earlier than ca. 4, 000-4, 500 B.P. an oak-beech forest community was extensive in the lowland of central Japan. Cryptomeria and Sciadopitys, native Japanese monotypic genera, began to increase from late in this zone. R IIIa, the cooling stage, is characterized by the increased accumulation of boreal pollen. Near the end of R IIIa, Tumulus farmers started to hew and to burn widely the primeval forest. At the R IIIa/R IIIb zone boundary, ca. 1, 500 B.P., there was a decrease of total tree pollen fallout from 75.6±10.7 to 21.4±2.6 grains/cm2/yr, suggesting ca. 72 per cent destruction of the forest. Subsequent to this disturbance, the intensified cultivation of cereals and buckwheat was introduced into the areas, and a secondary forest including mainly Pinus densiflora, Cryptomeria, and Salix spp. grew in inaccessible hilly lands.
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