Human impact on the natural vegetation during the Middle and Late Holocene at the Nieuweveen pingo

Abstract

The Nieuweveen pingo is one of the many pingos present in the Eastern part of the Netherlands. But it is unique thanks to the large and continuous sedimentary record. Preliminary research of the Nieuweveen core showed very little human impact present at this site. Therefore, the aim of this research is to determine how and when human influence impacted the natural vegetation around the site. 45 samples were taken from the Nieuweveen core and the pollen were extracted and analyzed. Based on the obtained pollen record it became clear that humans influenced the area since 5500 cal. yr. BP. However, clear human impact on the environment around the Nieuweveen site did not happen until around 3500 cal. yr BP, which is extremely late. Comparisons with other well-known pingo remnants such as the Hijkermeer pingo, Mekelermeer pingo and Uddelermeer pingo show that the human impact on the Nieuweveen site was also very limited compared to other parts of the Netherlands. As a result the vegetation around this site gives a clear picture of the natural vegetation during most of the Holocene. Small scale farming, deforestation and establishing of settlements all influenced the area. Although some had more impact than others. Furthermore, changes in temperature and precipitation between 4200 cal. yr BP and 3200 cal. yr BP were also important contributors to some of the changes in the natural vegetation, such as a rapid and sudden increase and later on a decline in Betula.