Palynological analysis at Pocito Chico site (El Puerto de Santa María): Vegetation dynamics during the recent Holocene in the marshes of Cádiz

Abstract

Is has been carried out the palynological study of the archaeological site of Pocito Chico (El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz), which chronology extends from Chalcolithic to the XVI century A.D. The vegetation dynamics from the the pollen diagram can be correlated with the anthropization of the landscape as well as with the evolution of the paleocost and the saltmarshes. During the Chalcolithic period cereal was cultivated under high anthropization levels; the transition to the Bronze Age marks the greater development of the cereal cultures in the zone of study, simultaneously that takes place a regression of the sea and the native presence of Pinus pinea is stated. The transition to the Iron Age marks to the declivity of the cereal culture and the development of the vegetation of sweet salt marsh. A progressive deforestation of native forests is testified during the Andalusí period and centuries XV to the XVI A.D. century.