Analyse pollinique du remplissage pleistocène inférieur et moyen de la grotte du Vallonnet (Roquebrune — Cap-Martin, Alpe-Maritimes)

Abstract

Palynologie analysis of lower and middle pleistocene filling of Vallonnet cave, has allowed to show three great climatic stages. Inside bottom of stalagmitic floor and beach deposits, an important wooded shelter determines a hot and wet climate similar to an interglacial climate. At the level of unconsolidated filling, steppic feature of lands cape seems correspond to cool, but little damp climate of a glacial period. In the sealing stalagmite, pollens of individualized wooded shelter suggest the return of a temperate hot damp climate, probably contemporaneous with a new interglacial stage. Occurence of a single exotic taxon (Pterocarya) at the basis of diagram, does not allow to precisely assign the different stages of cave filling in the lower pleistocene chronostratigraphy.