Palaeoecological signals for Mesolithic land use in a Central European landscape?

During the Early Holocene, climate was the major factor causing fires, but whether during the Mesolithic (similar to 11.5-7.4 cal ka BP) people co-shaped their environment by means of fire remains of debate. Few studies have tackled this question by linking high-resolution multi-proxy palaeoecological studies from near Mesolithic occupation sites. An Early Holocene sediment record from the Ammer Valley palaeo-wetland in south-west Germany was studied using pollen, microand macrocharcoal, and plant macroremains. Archaeological evidence from Early and Late Mesolithic sites of Rottenburg-Siebenlinden allowed us to link this palaeoecological record with Mesolithic land use in the same catchment. Between 11.6 and 10.6 cal kaBP,intensive wildfires reinforced the persistence of open and pioneer vegetation. A transition from a river-dominated landscape towards a wetland with open stagnant waters at 10.6-9.5 cal kaBPmade the region attractive to hunter-gatherers, providing various plant resources (incl. hazel). From 10.1 cal kaBponwards, Mesolithic communities may have shaped their environment by using fire as a tool to expand open areas, which were important for the implementation of their subsistence strategies. After 9.5 cal kaBP, human control over fires cannot be excluded as Mesolithic occupation phases chronologically coincide with frequent low-intensity fires and vegetation disturbance. (C) 2022 The Authors Journal of Quaternary Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Automated summary

This study examines the possibility of Mesolithic people shaping their environment through the use of fire. By analyzing sediment records and archaeological evidence from southwest Germany, the research reveals that intensive wildfires during the Early Holocene reinforced the persistence of open vegetation and pioneer species, while later transitions in the landscape made the region attractive for hunter-gatherers. From around 10,100 years ago, Mesolithic communities may have intentionally used fire to expand open areas for their subsistence strategies.