THE USE OF MINERAL MAGNETIC ANALYSES IN IDENTIFYING MIDDLE AND LATE HOLOCENE AGRICULTURE - A STUDY OF PEAT PROFILES IN SMALAND, SOUTHERN SWEDEN

A transect of profiles from the Bratamossen bog near the village of Ax larp, in the province of Smaland, southern Sweden, was investigated wi th respect to magnetic properties, human-impact pollen indicators and loss on ignition. The bog is situated close to an area with clearance cairns, an indication of abandoned arable fields. There are also grave s from the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age close to the bog. A varie ty of analytical methods were used to reconstruct the land-use history of this area since c.6000 C-14 years BP. While pollen analysis was us ed to detect changes in vegetation, the magnetic analyses reflected ho w the soils in the landscape were affected by these changes. The polle n analysis showed that the area became deforested and that forest vege tation was succeeded by pasture and arable land. Magnetic analyses ind icated soil erosion as a consequence of agricultural activity. The con ventional technique of determining the minerogenic content by loss on ignition yielded no valuable information.