People and fire management in South Norway during the Lateglacial

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to interpret the occurrence of microscopic charcoal in pollen diagrams in the Lateglacial in South Norway. The methods used are palynology, radiocarbon dates and ethnographical analogy with charcoal as possible proxy data for anthropogenic activity. The possible origins of the charcoal are natural lightning-ignited fire, secondary deposition, long-distance transport and anthropogenic activities. The sixteen sites are discussed compared to their specific location. Based on the changes in nature and a discussion of the early peoples' northward migrations after the last ice age, my conclusion is that people most probably strategically used intentional fire not only at the settlement sites but also for other purposes to preserve their basis of existence. These may have included regular vegetation fire management for improving hunting and gathering, visibility and travel. Local and restricted burning of woody plants (dwarf shrubs, shrubs and trees) and herbs resulted in increased productivity and species diversity, an increase in the biomass and productivity of the animal populations. The northward-expanding trees and the more or less open forest became denser at the Continent and later in South Norway. This may have led the foragers to broaden its application to develop seasonal burning to manage the vegetation as a hunting and gathering strategy. Smoke signal fires for communication may also have been important for people living without neighbours.