The role of pollen and NPP research in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Neolithic archaeological site “Gorjani-Topole” (Slavonia region, eastern Croatia)

Abstract

The palynological study of eight samples from the Gorjani-Topole archaeological site was conducted with the aim of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In total, 44 different palynomorphs were recorded: 12 pollen taxa, 23 fungal spores/remains, four algal cysts, one amoebae and four palynomorphs of unknown origin. Among the non-pollen palynomorphs, Chomotriletes (previously Pseudoschizaea) occurred with the greatest frequency and abundance. The low pollen richness accompanied by the presence of only a few sporopolleninrich pollen types indicates unfavourable preservation conditions in the analysed core samples. The dominance of erosion/desiccation indicators supports the scenario of significant oscillations of the hydrological level in the sediments, with periodic drying of the substrate. Although the interpretation of changes in plant cover, due to the reduced pollen spectrum, is not feasible, it is still possible to indicate paleoecological trends and partially interpret them, considering the indicator value of the few preserved palynomorphs. The findings of cultivated grass pollen (Cerealia) and other anthropogenic indicators including weed pollen (Convolvulus arvensis) are of great importance. Moreover, Riccia moss spores or fungal Epicoccum spores could also indicate the anthropogenic impact on the study area.