ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of a multi-proxy, palaeolimnological investigation of Lough Inchiquin, a large lake located immediately south of the Burren, a distinctive karst landscape in Co Clare, western Ireland which has been exploited since the Neolithic period. Chironomid sub-fossil analysis and lake sediment geochemistry provides an opportunity to infer lake response to prehistoric farming activity. The results of these new analyses are contextualised by pollen and loss-on-ignition evidence from the same lake catchment. The combined data of chironomid, loss-on-ignition (LOI₅₅₀, LOI₉₅₀ and non-combustible fraction (NCF)), organic geochemistry (δ¹³C_org, δ¹⁵N, C_org:N ratio), inorganic geochemistry (Ti, Fe, Mn, S and δ¹⁸O) and fossil pollen has allowed for an in-depth understanding of the palaeolimnological and palaeoenvironmental changes from the Mesolithic to the Late Bronze Age (c. 4590–660 BC) in the catchment of Lough Inchiquin. The data highlight the increasing ecological impact of anthropogenic activity through time and provide well-dated evidence for the initiation of Holocene soil erosion from the Burren.

摘要

本文介绍了对位于 Burren 南部的一个大湖 Inchiquin 湖进行的多代理古生物学调查的结果，Burren 是爱尔兰西部 Co Clare 的一个独特的喀斯特地貌景观，自新石器时代以来一直被开发。摇蚊亚化石分析和湖泊沉积物地球化学为推断湖泊对史前农业活动的反应提供了机会。这些新分析的结果与来自同一湖泊集水区的花粉和燃烧损失证据相关。摇蚊、燃烧失量（LOI ₅₅₀、LOI ₉₅₀和不可燃馏分 (NCF)）、有机地球化学（δ ¹³ C _org、δ ¹⁵ N、C _org:N 比率）、无机地球化学（Ti、Fe、Mn、S 和 δ ¹⁸ O）和化石花粉有助于深入了解从中石器时代到青铜时代晚期（约 4590–公元前 660 年）在英奇昆湖流域。这些数据强调了随着时间的推移，人类活动对生态的影响越来越大，并为巴伦河全新世土壤侵蚀的开始提供了最新的证据。