Thousand years of vegetation history revealed by pollen in a sandy soil, central Netherlands

Abstract

Within the scope of an interdisciplinary research project to determine the genesis and age of small clusters of oak trees, three soil sections in and three outside oak clusters in an ancient woodland/heath on the Veluwe, central Netherlands, were sampled for palynological analysis. The sections within the clusters show an undisturbed development from the Medieval period onwards, the sections outside the clusters are missing ca. 15 cm because of sod cutting associated with plaggen soil formation. The rate of downward movement of pollen was established, using known dates from the near surroundings.

Keywords:

• undisturbed sections
• downward pollen movement
• dating
• vegetation history

Thanks are due to the Geldersch Landschap en Geldersche Kastelen for allowing use of the map of their brochure on De Wilde Kamp, to Professor C. C. Bakels for reading critically a first draft of this paper, to Christine Jefferis for correcting my English and to Prof. Dr Th. Spek, University of Groningen and Dr J. den Ouden, University of Wageningen, for inviting me to do the palynological research for their project. The project was financed by the National Heritage Agency, Wageningen University, the Geldersch Landschap en Geldersche Kastelen and the research program Genetic Sources of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Samples were prepared by C. D. Troostheide, Amsterdam Archaeological Centre, University of Amsterdam.