Palynological analysis of the Early Holocene sequence.

Uan Afuda Cave was occupied by humans during the Late Pleistocene and the Early Holocene. This paper presents pollen data obtained from 6 samples taken from the stratigraphic sequence in the atrial part of the cave plus 2 dung samples. Based on archaeological, stratigraphical and radiocarbon data, samples were dated to the Early Holocene, mainly in the “Mesolithic” phase. Altogether, 160 pollen types belonging to 60 Families were recorded, out of 8,572 identified pollen grains. Percentage pollen spectra were reported as well as the values of some categories of taxa significant to characterise flora, vegetation and relationships between plants and human life. Information about distribution, ecology and uses of the plants recorded was added. Three local pollen zones were identified. They were consistent with the archaeological chronology. Pollen suggested that in the Early Holocene Uan Afuda Cave faced a varied vegetal landscape: a patchwork of savannah and wooded grassland with a quite rich and diversified flora. A number of tree species grew scattered throughout the area, some thicker near the wet biotopes which were widespread at that time. Pollen flora and vegetation indicated, in general, a climate considerably wetter than the present. However, some changes occurred: in the older phase, around 9500 bp (Pollen zone UAF1, “Epipalaeolithic”) the landscape was more open, with wider mesophilous grassland and fresh-water environments, and with a flora more requiring periodical rains than in the younger phase. The occupation of the cave was less intense at that time. In the latter phase, around 8500 bp (Pollen zone UAF2, “Mesolithic”) the climate became slightly dryer and the occupation of the cave became more intense: probably the climatic change obliged humans to concentrate in the mountains. The high variety and amount of anthropogenic pollen types, belonging to plants useful for food, fodder, fibre, drugs, colours etc., were a notable source of information concerning the lifestyle and the cognitive development of Uan Afuda’s inhabitants. In particular the accumulation of specific pollen provided keys to investigate how much and in which way they used plants, and the value of plants in their culture. Concerning this topic one of the most exciting suggestion came from the dung, produced by wild Barbary sheep controlled by humans, collected in the inner part of the cave. The uncommonly high amount of pollen of Echium, a toxic plant, suggested that these ruminants could have been consciously poisoned, in a context of complex, unsuspected, and not yet well explainable liaisons between humans and wild animals. On the whole, pollen clearly indicates that Uan Afuda inhabitants had a great capacity to discriminate plant properties for different uses and that not only ‘biological’ but also ‘cultural’ needs were at the base of their harvesting.