Paleoclimate and vegetation dynamics in the Marmara region (14,000–5,000 cal BP)

This paper examines past climate and vegetation dynamics in the Marmara Region and parts of the Balkans during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. It focuses on environmental transitions over time, particularly the shift from grasslands to woodlands and subsequent processes of deforestation. The study integrates archaeological, palynological, and climatic data spanning from 14,000 to 5000 cal BP to reconstruct ecological patterns and explore their implications for landscape evolution. To enhance the understanding of climatic and vegetation changes, this study employs a combination of model outputs and empirical data. Specifically, precipitation and temperature data from the CHELSA dataset are compared against the outputs of a Macrophysical Climate Model calibrated using observations from 15 meteorological stations. This approach is supplemented by an extensive review of the literature, incorporating pollen records, climate data, and chronological analyses. By integrating these multiple lines of evidence, the study provides a robust reconstruction of the region's paleoenvironmental conditions during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. Pollen records and climate reconstructions indicate that environmental conditions transitioned from open grasslands to denser woodlands during this period. These shifts reflect broader climatic changes, including warming trends and variations in precipitation, which influenced vegetation composition and distribution. The synthesis of these data reveals a significant ecological transformation at the beginning of the Holocene. Initially dominated by grassland formations, the landscape progressively shifted towards woodland ecosystems as climatic conditions warmed and became more stable. The gradual establishment of contemporary climate patterns is reflected in the vegetation dynamics observed in the pollen records. As detailed in the accompanying analysis, this transition underscores the sensitivity of the Marmara Region's ecosystems to climatic fluctuations and highlights the intricate relationship between climate evolution and vegetation development. By analyzing microregional data from southern and eastern Marmara and the Balkans, this paper highlights the spatial and temporal variability of these transitions. The Marmara Region, situated between the Mediterranean and Black Seas, serves as a crucial ecological and migratory corridor. Its geographic and climatic setting provides a unique case for examining vegetation responses to climate fluctuations. This study contributes to broader discussions on past climate–environment dynamics and their role in shaping regional landscapes.