Charcoal fragments in surface samples following a fire and the implications for interpretation of subfossil charcoal data

Following an uncontrolled fire in an area of heathland in SW England, surface samples were taken from selected positions. Charcoal concentrations, charcoal/pollen ratio and size-class frequencies were measured and the data from burned, unburned and forest areas are compared. Charcoal concentrations show distinct variability between closely-spaced samples, but despite this differences are shown between the burned and unburned areas. Selected size-classes are suggested as being appropriate for distinguishing between burned and unburned areas in palaeoecological studies. While in need of replication, these data should provide a basis for further studies of this type. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.