Pollen data from Lake Maliq, the first from Albania, contribute new informa
tion to the discussion of the vegetational, hydrological, and climatologica
l history of the Balkans since 12,000 yr B.P. During late-glacial time, a p
erennial lake expanded at Maliq. It was surrounded by a complex vegetation
association composed of steppe and mixed forest elements. The highly divers
e forest flora suggest that late-glacial forest refugia were more developed
here at middle altitude, rather than at higher altitude as previously sugg
ested. The forest developed after 9800 yr B.P., while the water level remai
ned high in the Korce basin until 5000 yr B.P. Different environmental cond
itions, characterized by lower available moisture and warmer winters, progr
essively took place after this date. Human activity in the Korce basin ca.
4500 yr B.P. was coeval with conditions characterized by an increase in win
ter temperatures and a decrease in summer moisture. (C) 2000 University of
Washington.