Environmental changes in North-western Iberia during the Bell Beaker period (2800-1400 BC)

Abstract

This contribution aims to describe briefly the environmental changes occurred during the Bell Beaker period (ca. 2800-1400 BC) in the north-west of Iberia, based on palaeoenvironmental reconstructions obtained from both natural and anthropogenic archives (colluvia/ soils, mires, sedimentary formations, archaeological sites. etc), through a multidisciplinary approach including "biotic" (pollen, non-pollen palinomorphs, charcoal. soil organic matter; etc) and "abiotic" proxies (elemental composition, isotopic composition, physico-chemical properties). Regarding climate, it is noteworthy that 1he Bell Beaker period took place during the second half (ca. 2600-1200 BC) of the episode known as Neoglaciation, which was of the coldest phases of the Holocene. Temperatures were estimated to be l-2ºC lower than at present in north-west Iberia, and two main cold phases were detected: i) from ca. 2200 BC, when temperatures were up to 2ºC lower than today, and ii) from ca. 1600 to 1400 BC, with temperatures around l.5ºC lo,wer than nowadays. These climate changes, together with increasing human pressure on the landscape, triggered the restructuration of the vegetation cover (mainly through forest clearing) and enhanced soil erosion. This resulted in a charge from a landscape with well distributed soils resources to a preferential accumulation fo (colluvial) soils at lower elevation and the infilling of relief depressions. Most likely, this fact could have triggered a large demand in land and the infilling of relief depressions. Most likely, this fact could hove triggered a large demand in land appropiation, compared to earlier cultural phases. Simultaneously, the exhumation of the rocks at mountain-tops and slopes cause a greater availability of areas (i.e. rock surfaces) for the expression of Rock Art.