The dynamics of a non-forested stand in the Krušné Mts.: the effect of a short-lived medieval village on the local environment

Abstract

Medieval vegetation–human–climate interactions were studied from a sediment profile situated in the centre of a short-lived medieval village located above 800 m a.s.l. on the ridge of the Krusne Mts., NW Bohemia, Central Europe. Analyses of pollen, seeds/fruits, micro- and macro-charcoals, diatoms and concentrations of microelements in connection with written sources revealed a significant human-induced deforestation in the second half of the 14th century. This deforestation occurred sooner than supposed and the area did not revert after ad 1347 as elsewhere in Europe. Arable fields probably enabled basic self-sustaining cultivation of winter cereals even at such elevations in the climatically favourable years of the Medieval Warm Period. The village presumably collapsed due to a combination of weather fluctuations at the onset of the Little Ice Age, simultaneous socioeconomic stagnation in the Czech Lands and exploitation of the surrounding forest. The dynamics of wet stand vegetation and Calthion palustris montane wet meadows were driven by fluctuating human and grazing impacts. Annual and biennial herbaceous species that peaked after village abandonment were rapidly replaced by Filipendula ulmaria and Salix stands. The secondary forest developed towards Picea stands. Only later, mesic montane meadows of medium tall grasses combined with Meum athamanticum and mountain dry pastures developed on nutrient poor patches.