The history of settlement and agrarian land use in a boreal forest in Värmland, Sweden, new evidence from pollen analysis

Abstract Shielings are the historically known form of transhumance in Scandinavia, where livestock were moved from farmstead to sites outlands for summer grazing. Pollen analysis has provided a valuable insight into history shielings. This paper presents vegetation reconstruction and archaeological survey shieling Kårebolssätern northern Värmland, western Sweden, renovated that is still operating today. The first evidence human activities area near Hordeum - Cannabis -type pollen grains occurring ca. 100 bc . Further signs impact charcoal sporadic occurrences apophyte ad 250 indicating opening canopy 570, probably result modification forest A decrease land use seen between 1000 1250, possibly response shift emphasis towards large scale commodity production outlands. Emphasis on bloomery iron pitfall hunting may have caused agrarian activity. clearest changes assemblage grazing cultivation occur mid-thirteenth century, coinciding with wetter climate at beginning Little Ice Age. earliest anthropochores record predate those other Sweden. reveals predates results survey. study highlights how can reveal early remains obscure.