Pollen Assemblages from the Upper Pleistocene Formation in the West of Tokyo

Abstract

First, the author reviews the palynological studies of the Upper Pleistocene in Kanto district, and point out the deficiency of their outcome for paleobotany. Accordingly, the author has studied the pollen assemblages from the Musashino and the Tachikawa Loams corresponding to the Würm Glacial Age. The Musashino Loam is characterized by a dominance of pollen of such conifer and deciduous broad-leaf trees as Pinus, Cryptomeria, Fagus, Quercus and Zelkova. In the lower of the Tachikawa Loam (under the 2nd Black Band), the pollen assemblages resemble to those of the Musashino Loam. An abrupt increasing of such grass pollen as Artemisia, other Garduoideae and Gramineae is certified at the lowermost of the 2nd Black Band.