Research article
15 Feb 2016
Research article | 15 Feb 2016
7300 years of vegetation history and climate for NW Malta: a Holocene perspective
B. Gambin1,2, V. Andrieu-Ponel1, F. Médail1, N. Marriner3, O. Peyron3, V. Montade3,4, T. Gambin5, C. Morhange6,7, D. Belkacem1, and M. Djamali1
B. Gambin et al.
B. Gambin1,2, V. Andrieu-Ponel1, F. Médail1, N. Marriner3, O. Peyron3, V. Montade3,4, T. Gambin5, C. Morhange6,7, D. Belkacem1, and M. Djamali1
- 1Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie
marine et continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université,
CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Bâtiment Villemin, BP
80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence CEDEX 04, France
- 2Institute of Earth
Systems, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
- 3Institut des
Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, UM, CNRS, IRD EPHE, Avenue Eugène
Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier CEDEX 05, France
- 4Ecole
Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 4–14 rue Ferrus, 75014 Paris, France
- 5Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, Msida,
MSD 2080, Malta
- 6CEREGE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, BP 80,
13545 Aix-en-Provence CEDEX 04, France
- 7Institut Universitaire de
France, Paris, France
- 1Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie
marine et continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université,
CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Bâtiment Villemin, BP
80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence CEDEX 04, France
- 2Institute of Earth
Systems, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
- 3Institut des
Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, UM, CNRS, IRD EPHE, Avenue Eugène
Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier CEDEX 05, France
- 4Ecole
Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 4–14 rue Ferrus, 75014 Paris, France
- 5Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, Msida,
MSD 2080, Malta
- 6CEREGE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, BP 80,
13545 Aix-en-Provence CEDEX 04, France
- 7Institut Universitaire de
France, Paris, France
Correspondence: B. Gambin (belinda.gambin@imbe.fr;
belinda.gambin@um.edu.mt)
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Received: 28 Aug 2015 – Discussion started: 30 Sep 2015 – Revised: 18 Jan 2016 – Accepted: 18 Jan 2016 – Published: 15 Feb 2016
This paper investigates the Holocene vegetation dynamics for Burmarrad in Northwest Malta and provides a pollen-based quantitative palaeoclimatic reconstruction for this centrally located Mediterranean archipelago. The pollen record from this site provides new insight into the vegetation changes from 7280 to 1730 cal BP which correspond well with other regional records. The climate reconstruction for the area also provides strong correlation with southern (below 40° N) Mediterranean sites. Our interpretation suggests an initially open landscape during the early Neolithic, surrounding a large palaeobay, developing into a dense Pistacia scrubland ca. 6700 cal BP. From about 4450 cal BP the landscape once again becomes open, coinciding with the start of the Bronze Age on the archipelago. This period is concurrent with increased climatic instability (between 4500 and 3700 cal BP) which is followed by a gradual decrease in summer moisture availability in the late Holocene. During the early Roman occupation period (1972–1730 cal BP) the landscape remains generally open with a moderate increase in Olea. This increase corresponds to archaeological evidence for olive oil production in the area, along with increases in cultivated crop taxa and associated ruderal species, as well as a rise in fire events. The Maltese archipelago provides important insight into vegetation, human impacts, and climatic changes in an island context during the Holocene.