Late Holocene Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Miller) woodlands in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean): Investigation of their distribution and the role of human management based on anthracological, dendro-anthracological and archaeopalynological data

The pioneering nature of Mediterranean pines and their phytosociological role have been largely discussed in relation to different agents (e.g., edaphic, climatic or anthropogenic). In this context, Aleppo pine is one the most widespread species basin, as it especially adapted constraints, such drought high seasonality, has a tolerance for salinity strong coastal winds. It also well regeneration after anthropogenic landscape disturbances, highlighting its important after-fire rates. sense, studies conducted landscapes found that species' wide distribution mostly due rapid human transformation, including fire, abandonment agricultural lands. considered broadly develop action sclerophyllous formation, which would be scarce absent without intervention. Parallel, paleoenvironmental archaeobotanical attempted trace these trends back prehistoric times investigate Late Pleistocene Holocene vegetation evaluate climate diachronic dynamics. study, we present compendium anthracological, dendro-anthracological archaeopalyonological data with objective (i) investigating on island Mallorca (ii) evaluating possibility could resulted spread during first two millennia permanent occupation (c. 2300 cal. BCE–1st-century ACE). Investigating datasets, making comparisons anthracological neighbouring zones (Iberia), allowed us attest natural, pre-human component island, well-adapted environments. Moreover, describe characteristics management woodlands through anthracology dendro-anthracology, suggesting did not provoke growth at expense other types prehistory. Such processes, well-documented by current studies, probably began some unknown point Romanisation island.