Late Holocene pollen records from the Segermes valley, Ne Tunisia

Abstract

Palynological investigations in the Segermes valley in northeastern Tunisia point to a vegetation with very few, if any, trees during the late Holocene. Various shrubs formed the woody elements in the area, and herbs, Asteraceae in particular, and grasses were frequent. Changes in the vegetational composition through time may have been relatively moderate. It is possible that some of the differences between pollen spectra at the localities studied represent differences between these localities rather than general changes through time. The environment during the Roman period does not seem to differ significantly from preceding and succeding periods; however, the Romans may have introduced the cultivation of olives in the area.

Key words:

• Tunisia
• Holocene
• Roman time
• Pollen analysis
• Palaeovegetation