Landscape transformation and economic practices among the first farming societies in Lake Banyoles (Girona, Spain)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the high-resolution pollen analysis of one new pollen record from Lake Banyoles
\n(Girona, Spain) and its contextualisation with other archaeobotanical records (charcoal, seed and wood
\nremains) from the early Neolithic lakeshore settlement of La Draga. Around ca.7250 cal BP, coinciding
\nwith the first settlement phase of La Draga, a rapid fall of the pollen values of deciduous Quercus sp. is
\nobserved, and a stabilisation of these values is found until ca. 6000 cal BP. The causes for such changes
\nin vegetation cover are discussed, taking into consideration environmental data to calibrate the role of
\nclimate in vegetation dynamics, as well as archaeobotanical data to evaluate impact of the management
\nof vegetal resources on the landscape. The discussion of the data shows that climate could not have
\nbeen the main cause for the decrease of broadleaf deciduous forests, and that the need of gathering raw
\nmaterial for the construction of dwellings played a major role in this change. The fact that these plant
\ncommunity does not recover during the occupation or after the abandonment of La Draga would confirm
\nthat human impact continued over time and that forest clearances were maintained for various purposes.