First pollen record from the Late Holocene forest environment in the Lesser Caucasus

Pollen-based vegetation change has been inferred from sediments in Kalavan Red Lake. This small lake is placed the beech-oak-hornbeam forest, about three kilometres away village of (Gegharkunik Province Republic Armenia) which rich with archaeological sites spread Barepat River valley spanning Palaeolithic period onwards. It potential to document Holocene forest history and climate human impacts on Lesser Caucasus. However, this happens be formed by a large landslide. Pollen XRF analysis are provided over last 3800 years. The basal age sediment approximates landslide age. created not vegetated slope including catchment. Erosion sedimentation processes brought coarse heavy minerogenic elements, declining catchment revegetation tall-grassland. shift continues, suggesting less erosion when an admixture Quercus grasslands settled. Starting 2000 cal. BP, arboreal pollen increases successively thanks step afforestation Quercus, Carpinus orientalis Fagus. comparison available reconstruction illustrates uniqueness dynamic recorded at Kalavan. duration succession also questionable. An intermediate hypothesis proposed: Kalavan's first initiated tall-grass development, then paced regional dynamic. Linking data helps evidence short-term impact. Antique arid phase (2000–1600 BP), Medieval Warm Period Little Ice Age affect vegetation, while demography variations during Modern shown habitation pastoral activity.