Abstract
In the Aigue Agnelle valley (Queyras, Hautes Alpes), several travertine deposits are described between 2200 and 2300 m of altitude. Some of them, rich in leaf imprints and cones of Pine, have been dated to the beginning of the Holocene. Others revealed different phases of travertine development during the middle of the Holocene, with intercalation of detntal deposits containing charcoal remains. The interdisciplinary study of distinct morpho-sedimentary faciès, including imprints (leaves and cones) and charcoal identifications, allowed us to reconstruct the ecological and geomorphological dynamics of the valley. Erosion processes and changes in vegetation were pinpointed. At the beginning of the Holocene, the mountain Pine (Pinus uncinata) was the most frequent tree, later replaced (c.7605 BP) by the arolla Pine (Pinus cembra) in association with birch (Betula sp.) and Ericaceae (Vaccinium type). Around 5655 BP, the arrolla Pine was replaced by larch or spruce (Larix decidua/Picea abies), as a consequence of anthropogenic and/or climatic factors. The role of these two factors concerning vegetation dynamics is discussed in order to distinguish the main forcing which was involved during the different vegetation phases. These various changes in the vegetal environment of the valley are also shown by the occurrence of thick deposits of detrital material within the travertine formations.
Published Version
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