Palaeoecological evidence of agricultural activity and human impact on the environment at the ancient settlement centre of Keava, Estonia

Abstract

Peat record from a very small basin, the former mire of Verevainu, in the nearest vicinity of ancient Keava settlements (8th-11th centuries) and hillforts (5th–13th centuries), was investigated by means of palaeoecological approach, namely by pollen, charcoal, and loss-on-ignition analyses and radiocarbon dating. The study aimed at ascertaining the appearance of prehistoric man in the area and reconstructing the local vegetation history and human impact on the environment around the inhabitation centre. The first sporadic cereal pollen grains appeared in the sediments in the Late Bronze Age at ca 1500 BC. Both peat ignition residue values as indicators of topsoil erosion and pollen evidence suggest forest clearance, opening of landscape, and cultivation of cereals from the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Approximately at AD 350–500 the rate of human impact upon environment increased notably.

Keywords

• vegetation history
• human impact
• pollen
• microscopic charcoal
• peat mineral content
• Keava
• Estonia