UPPER PLEISTOCENE PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN EASTERN SPAIN - NEW POLLEN-ANALYTICAL DATA FROM COVA BENEITO (ALICANTE)

The results of a palynological investigation of the Upper Palaeolithic interval from the Beneito Cave (southeastern Spain) are herewith cons idered in the context of results from a previous report on the underly ing deposits. Two new percentage and concentration pollen-diagrams wit h good correspondence are presented. The Upper Palaeolithic sequence i s dominated by Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia, whereas arboreal pollen are less important. Mesophilous trees and Mediterranean taxa s how a constant presence, but in low proportions. The new data add supp ort to the view that interpleniglacial development of Mediterranean ta xa was important in eastern Spain, while they were considerably reduce d during upper pleniglacial times. Emphasis is placed on aridity as a limiting factor in influencing major vegetation changes in the area. T wo additional topics are also presented: they deal with the extrapolat ion of north European interstadials to Mediterranean Spain and the pal aeoecological value of archaeopalynological records. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.