Vegetation history and human impact during the last 11 500 years at Lista, the southernmost part of Norway. Based primarily on Professor Ulf Hafsten's material and diary from 1955–1957

Abstract

Pollen analysis has been carried out on cores from three basins from the Lista area, Vest-Agder, southern Norway. One of the basins dates back to 11 500 BP. During the Late Weichselian, vegetation and soil cover were poorly developed on the low-lying Listalandet, due to the unfavourable climate and the area being affected by sea level fluctuations. The Holocene can be biostratigraphically divided into five local PAZs. The vegetational succession during the first 5000 years was almost identical with the known succession from the South Scandinavian nemoral region. Modest forest clearance is suggested throughout the Early and Middle Neolithic periods. Agricultural activity based on both cereal cultivation and animal husbandry is indicated to 5200 BP. A slow deforestation took place onwards, parallel to the development of Calluna heath and the expansion of pastoral and arable farming. During the Iron Age, a complete agrarian landscape developed.