Lateglacial and Early Holocene environments inferred from a tufa deposit at Fyledalen, S-Sweden

A reinvestigation of a tufa deposit in Skane, including a number of biostra tigraphical methods and chronology was carried out. The tufa was formed in a paludal environment during the time period c. 9,500 to 8,000 BP. This per iod is characterised by exceptional low lake levels and high summer tempera tures in southern Sweden. This may suggest that optimal conditions for tufa formation at the site coincided with warm and dry climate conditions, a lo w groundwater table, and high evaporation. During periods with colder condi tions and/or higher groundwater table pear was deposited. The changes in th e local environment at and around the site were inferred from the biostrati graphical records of pollen, plant macrofossils, molluscs, and insects. The results demonstrate a development from a dwarf shrub tundra during the Lat e-glacial, which turned to an open birch/pine woodland around 10,000 BP. At c. 9,000 BP hazel and birch were probably the dominant tree species in the woodland. The mollusc record suggests that the woodland remained relativel y open until c. 8,500 BP when tree taxa such as alder, oak and elm became e stablished in the Fyledalen valley. The site remained a marsh throughout th e studied period, however, the results indicate a succession of different m arsh plant communities.