Palynology on lake sediments from the Pyrenees

A multi-proxy palaeoecological investigation including pollen, plant macrofossil, radiocarbon and sedimentological analyses, was performed on a small mountain lake in the Eastern Pyrenees. This has allowed the reconstruction of: (1) the vegetation history of the area based on five pollen diagrams and eight AMS14C dates and (2) the past lake-level changes, based on plant macrofossil, lithological and pollen analysis of two stratigraphical transects correlated by pollen analysis. The palaeolake may have appeared before the Younger Dryas; the lake-level was low and the vegetation dominated by cold steppic grasslands. The lake-level rose to its highest level during the Holocene in the Middle Atlantic (at ca. 5060±45 b.p.). Postglacial forests (Quercetum mixtum and Abieto-Fagetum) developed progressively in the lower part of the valley, while dense Pinus uncinata forests rapidly invaded the surroundings of the mire and remained the dominant local vegetation until present. The observed lowering of the lake levels during the Late Atlantic and the Subboreal (from 5060 ± B.P. to 3590±40 b.p.) was related to the overgrowth of the mire. The first obvious indications of anthropogenic disturbances of the vegetation are recorded at the Atlantic/Subboreal boundary as a reduction in the forest component, which has accelerated during the last two millennia.

Pollen profile from Schonen, Sweden

Two new Standard pollen diagrams from the raised bog Ageröds mosse in central Scania are presented and discussed. They have been made giving extensive consideration to the NAP and spores also. The new diagrams comprise in the main only the Post-glacial and can easily be compared with the earlier published Standard diagram from the bog (T. NILSSON 1935). The development of the Post-glacial Vegetation in the surroundings is also discussed and compared with the conditions in the southernmost part of the province (Bjärsjöholmssjön, T. Nilsson 1961). One of the new diagrams has been prepared in connection with the study of a core brought up by means of a special borer in order to bring about C14 datings. The core was almost ömlong and had a diameter of 6 cm. It was divided into pieces of 2-6 cm, which were preserved. After the preparation of the pollen diagram, suitable samples were selected for C14 dating. In all 33 samples, comprising the whole Post-glacial inclusive of the youngest part of the Late-glacial, were C14-dated. With the aid of the C14 dates the growth conditions of the bog are discussed. After very slow Sedimentation of predominantly minerogenous deposits in the last part of the Late-glacial, and still slow Sedimentation of gyttjas in the oldest part of the Post-glacial, the rate of growth (primarily of the gyttja) distinctly increased in the first part of the Late Boreal. A temporary retardation of the growth of the sphagnum peat at the end of the Sub-boreal is probably entirely local. The average rate of growth of the really highly humified parts of the old sphagnum peat amounts to 42 mm per Century, that of the slightly humified young sphagnum peat 81 mm per Century or somewhat more. Based on the C14-determinations, the pollen zone boundaries have been given the following approximate dates: boundary Late-glacial/Post-glacial (DR/PB) 8300 B.C., boundary Pre-boreal/Boreal (PB/BO) 7900 B.C., boundary Early Boreal/Late Boreal (BO 1/2) 6800 B.C., boundary Boreal/Atlantic (BO/AT) 6200 B.C., boundary Early Atlantic/Late Atlantic (AT 1/2) 4600 B.C. (?), boundary Atlantic/Sub-boreal (AT/SB) 3300 B.C., boundary Early Sub-boreal/Late Sub-boreal (SB 1/2) 1700-1800 B.C., boundary Sub-boreal/Sub-atlantic (SB/ SA) 300 B.C., boundary Early Sub-atlantic/Late Sub-atlantic (SA 1/2) 650 A.D.

Pollen profiles from a Late Palaeolithic site in the community of Bad Buchau-Kappel, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Excavations were carried out in a Late Palaeolithic site in the community of Bad Buchau-Kappel between 2003 and 2007. Archaeological investigations covered a total of more than 200 m**2. This site is the product of what likely were multiple occupations that occurred during the Late Glacial on the Federsee shore in this location. The site is situated on a mineral ridge that projected into the former Late Glacial lake Federsee. This beach ridge consists of deposits of fine to coarse gravel and sand and was surrounded by open water, except for a connection to the solid shore on the south. A lagoon lay between the hook-shaped ridge and the shore of the Federsee. This exposed location provided optimal access to the water of the lake. In addition, the small lagoon may have served as a natural harbor for landing boats or canoes. Sedimentological and palynological investigations document the dynamic history of the location between 14,500 and 11,600 years before present (cal BP). Evidence of the deposition of sands, gravels and muds since the Bølling Interstadial is provided by stratigraphic and palynological analyses. The major occupation occurred in the second half of the Younger Dryas period. Most of the finds were located on or in the sediments of the ridge; fewer finds occurred in the surrounding mud, which was also deposited during the Younger Dryas. Direct dates on some bone fragments, however, demonstrate that intermittent sporadic occupations also took place during the two millennia of the Meiendorf, Bølling, and Allerød Interstadials. These bones were reworked during the Younger Dryas and redeposited in the mud. A 14C date from one bone of 11,600 years ago (cal BP) places the Late Palaeolithic occupation of the ridge at the very end of the Younger Dryas, which is in agreement with stratigraphic observations. Stone artifacts, numbering 3,281, comprise the majority of finds from the site. These include typical artifacts of the Late Palaeolithic, such as backed points, short scrapers, and small burins. There are no bipointes or Malaurie-Points, which is in accord with the absolute date of the occupation. A majority of the artifacts are made from a brown chert that is obtainable a few kilometers north of the site in sediments of the Graupensandrinne. Other raw materials include red and green radiolarite that occur in the fluvioglacial gravels of Oberschwaben, as well as quartzite and lydite. The only non-local material present is a few artifacts of tabular chert from the region near Kelheim in Bavaria. A unique find consists of two fragments of a double-barbed harpoon made of red deer antler, which was found in the Younger Dryas mud. It is likely, but not certain, that this find belongs to the same assemblage as the numerous stone artifacts. Although not numerous, animal bones were also found in the excavations. Most of them lay in sediments of the Younger Dryas, but several 14C dates place some of these bones in earlier periods, including the Meiendorf, Bølling, and Allerød Interstadials. These bones were reworked by water and redeposited in mud sediments during the Younger Dryas. As a result, it is difficult to attribute individual bones to particular chronological positions without exact dates. Species that could be identified include wild horse (Equus spec.), moose or elk (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), aurochs or bison (Bos spec.), wild boar (Sus scrofa), as well as birds and fish, including pike (Esox Lucius).

Palynological and stratigraphic record from Löddigsee in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

A Late Pleistocene and Holocene sediment core from the nowadays terrestrialised portion of the Löddigsee in Southern Mecklenburg, Germany was palynologically investigated. The lake is situated in the rarely investigated Young moraine area at the transition from the Weichselian to the Saalian glaciation. The high-resolution pollen diagram contributes to the establishment of the north-eastern German Late Pleistocene pollen stratigraphy. The vegetation distribution pattern after the end of the Weichselian is in good agreement with other studies from North-eastern Germany, but also has its own characteristics. The Holocene vegetation development reveals features from the north-eastern and north-western German lowlands. A special focus was laid on the environmental history of the two settlements on an island within the lake (Late Neolithic and Younger Slavic period), which were preserved under moist conditions. Both settlements were constructed during a period of low lake level. Although there is evidence of agriculture in the area during the respective periods, the two island settlements seem to have served other purposes.

Missale romanum ex decreto sacrosancti Concilii tridentini restitutum, S. Pii papae quinti jussu editum, summorum pontificum Clementis octavi, et Urbani itidem octavi auctoritate recognitum, et novis missis ex indúlto apostólico hucúsque concéssis auctum.

Mode of access: Internet.

Tit-bits, or, How to prepare a nice dish at a moderate expense /

Includes index.

Evaluation of Hunter heavy duty plate brake tester. Interim final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

NHTSA's Heavy Duty Vehicle Brake Research Program - report Number 10: evaluation of trailer antilock braking systems electrical powering. Interim final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Braking performance of thirteen light trucks. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

The effect of brake adjustment on braking performance. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Harmonization of braking regulations - report number 6: testing to address surface friction and vehicle braking efficiency comments to the SNPRM. Interim report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Harmonization of braking regulations - report number 5: testing for development and evaluation of the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on harmonization of passenger car brake standards. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

A demonstration of the safety benefits of front brakes on heavy trucks. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety, Washington, D.C.

Buletinul /

Some nos. have supplements, some of which are cataloged separately.

L'industrie du pétrole en Roumanie.

Mode of access: Internet.