Late Holocene climate change and human impact inferred from the pollen record, Haman area, southern Korea

Abstract A pollen record (ca. 200 cal. BC–1210 cal. AD) from swamp deposits exhibits climate change and human-induced vegetation change in the Haman area, southern Korea. The predominance of deciduous Quercus , Alnus and Pinus from ca. 200 cal. BC to 80 cal. AD indicates a cool temperate mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest, cooler than today. The rise of warm temperate evergreen broadleaved trees in combination with the retreat of boreal taxa ( Picea , Abies and Betula ) from ca. 80 to 360 cal. AD indicates climatic amelioration similar to the modern temperate condition of the study area. The increase of Pinus and cultivated Gramineae pollen (>40 μm) during this period also suggests human impact. The high representation of Pinus and cultivated Gramineae pollen, and regular occurrence of farmland weed from ca. 360 to 1010 cal. AD indicate intensive cultivation, related to the growth of an ancient small kingdom (Aragaya). A climatic cooling from ca. 1010 to 1210 cal. AD is indicated by the retreat of warm temperate evergreen broadleaved trees and the rise of boreal coniferous and deciduous broadleaved trees, while intensive cultivation was persistent.