The setting of holocene vegetation belts: quite near to a complete model of a massif.

Pollen and macro-remains were analysed in a sixth site (La Gouille 1 800 m) of the Chaine des Hurtieres (northern French Alps). Nine A.M.S. dates support the chronology. Thus, the establishment of the vegetation belt of a massif can be modelled in the northern French Alps. Betula invaded sub-Alpine grasslands as early as 10 000 C-14 BP. Around 9 600 C-14 BP shrublands with Corylus, Alnus and Sorbus were established before the spread of Abies at the site approximately 8 200 C-14 BP. A decrease in Abies prior to 8 100 C-14 BP occurred during the Venediger climatic oscillation. At around 2 940 C-14 BP, a strong regression of Abies due to human action is noted with the expansion of Alnus viridis. Recently, a second Abies retraction led to the present sparce P. cembra and Alnus viridis vegetation cover. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.