This study presents the results of a palynological investigation on a sediment core from the seasonal and saline Lake Maharlou in the Zagros Mountains in southwest Iran. We emphasised studying the role of man in modifying the vegetation of the area and the dominant agricultural practices during the Imperial Persia period (2,500–1,299 cal bp; 550 bc-ad 651), particularly the Achaemenid Empire (2,500–2,280 cal bp; 550–330 bc). Scattered pistachio-almond scrub combined with Quercus brantii was the main vegetation type of the basin during the period studied. The present study depicts a significant increase in agriculture, suggesting urban development during the Late Antiquity and early Islamic Iranian dynasties. The inferred chronology of arboricultural activities is compatible with historical evidence showing that Fars Province witnessed economic and agricultural flourishing during these periods. The presence of the ‘Persian gardens’ is supported by the co-increase of cypress tree pollen frequencies with pollen of other cultivated trees, especially Platanus; both trees were cultivated for their shade and symbolic values. This study also provides pollen evidence of Punica granatum during the Achaemenid period and Phoenix dactylifera cultivation during the early post-Sasanian era. The variations in indicator pollen ratios among Poaceae, Artemisia, and Amaranthaceae appear compatible with the palaeohydrology of the basin and show periods of aridity followed by higher moisture availability. We suggest that anthropogenic activities played the leading role in vegetation change in the Maharlou Lake basin enhanced by climatic changes during the last ~4,000 years.

这项研究提出了对伊朗西南部Zagros山的季节性和盐碱Maharlou湖沉积物岩心进行孢粉学调查的结果。我们着重研究了人类在帝国波斯时期（2,500-1,299 bp； 550 BC - ad 651），特别是阿契美尼德帝国（2,500–2,280 cal bp； 550 ）中人类在改变该地区植被和主要农业实践中的作用。 –330 bc）。杏仁开心果杏仁磨砂膏与布鲁斯栎结合是研究期间盆地的主要植被类型。本研究描述了农业的显着增长，表明上古晚期和早期伊斯兰伊朗王朝时期的城市发展。推断的树木栽培活动年表与历史证据相吻合，这些历史证据表明，在此期间，法尔斯省见证了经济和农业繁荣。柏树花粉频率与其他栽培树种，尤其是悬铃木的花粉共同增加，支持了“波斯花园”的存在。这两棵树都是出于其阴影和象征价值而栽培的。这项研究还提供了花粉证据石榴在阿契美尼德时期和海枣萨萨尼亚时代​​后早期的种植。禾本科，蒿科和A菜科中指示剂花粉比率的变化似乎与该盆地的古水文学相容，并显示出干旱期，随后水分利用率更高。我们认为，在过去约4,000年中，由于气候变化而加剧的人为活动在马哈洛湖流域的植被变化中起着主导作用。