Interplay of climate–human–vegetation on the north-eastern edge of the Carpathians (Western Ukraine) between 7500 and 3500 calibrated years BP

The area of Ukrainian Carpathians is still poorly investigated in the context of vegetation history and human activity during the Holocene. The present study was carried out on deposits collected from the former oxbow lake. The study aimed to examine (1) whether various tendencies for occupation of valley terraces by different Neolithic and Early Bronze cultures led to a discrepant records of human impact in palaeo-proxies and (2) whether forest vegetation in the Dniester River valley (Carpathian foreland, Western Ukraine) reacted to global climatic events during the period 7500 to 3500 calibrated years BP (cal BP). We reconstructed vegetation changes with special attention being paid to human and climate impact, applying palaeobotanical and faecal bacteria ancient DNA (aDNA) analyses combined with radiocarbon dating. The results revealed that aDNA and palaeobotanical proxies recorded human impacts of differing intensities in the deposits analyzed. The Linear Pottery culture (Early Neolithic) occupied lower terraces close to the lake and so high concentrations of aDNA were detected, although with the irregular presence of the pollen of cultivated plants. Subsequently, the Malicka culture (Lengyel-Polgar cycle) still inhabited lower terraces of the valley, although its representatives probably exploited higher terraces (fluctuations of aDNA, still with an irregular record of cultivated plants). Humans of the Funnel Beaker culture preferred the highest terrace levels and watersheds (more scattered aDNA distribution) and they extensively used fire for deforestation (an increase in the accumulation of microcharcoal); however, their activity only had a slight effect on the woodlands on the lowest terraces of the valley. During occupation by Late Neolithic and Early Bronze cultures, the pasturelands on the lowest terraces were probably (at least partly) transformed into mown meadows (spread of Plantago lanceolata). The advance of Picea abies in the Dniester valley approximately 6110–5240 cal BP and an increase in the water table dated at approximately 3975–3900 cal BP in the mire occurred during the global cold period at 6500-5900 cal BP and ‘4.2 ka’ cooling event.