Palynological study of Holocene sediments from Lake Doirani in northern Greece

A palynological investigation was conducted on two cores with Holocene sedi ments collected from the northeastern littoral part of the border Lake Doir ani in northern Greece. The radiocarbon dates indicated that the analyzed s ediments accumulated during the last 5000 yrs. The pollen-stratigraphic rec ord revealed the environmental changes in the catchment area, starting from a natural undisturbed landscape to one modified by increasing anthropogeni c influences. The tree vegetation dominated by Quercus woods in the lowland s and by Pinus, Abies, and Fagus at higher altitudes, lasted for the period 2900-830 cal. B.C. Subsequently it was replaced by xerothermic herb and tr ee vegetation as a result of intensive human activity - land farming and st ock-breeding. The accumulation of sediments with more sand and gravel in hi storical time was the result of increased erosion.