Maja ANDRIČ

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK 60, 2009

Maja ANDRIČ:

The Holocene palaeoecological and palaeohydrological conditions at Ljubljansko barje – a contribution to discussion

Abstract

The Ljubljansko barje is a remarkable landscape. Due to wet hydrological conditions the palaeoecological record and archaeological sites in the area are very well preserved. Yet, it is also a very demanding landscape for studying the past environment. The environmental changes and vegetation development throughout the Holocene were very dynamic, which led to changeable taphonomic conditions and, because of the complex hydrological network and human impact (peat cutting), the palaeoecological record is often fragmented. Past hydrological conditions at Ljubljansko barje are a very important topic for archaeologists and palaeoecologists alike and in the last few years there has been an intensive debate about whether Ljubljansko barje was covered by a floodplain or a lake. However, despite intensive research in the area in the last decades, no detailed study of palaeohydrology was carried out. With this paper I would like to join the discussion and present my opinion regarding past hydrological conditions in the area. In my opinion this question is too complex to limit ourselves to the “lake or floodplain?” dilemma. In most studies to date of the past hydrology, the interpretation that has been suggested was too ambitious, because it was based on insufficient data, no matter whether researchers were presenting their own data or interpreting other researcher’s results.

Keywords: palaeohydrology, Ljubljansko barje, the Holocene, palaeoecology, palynology

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