ABSTRACTLakeshore environments offer an excellent opportunity to explore how early humans adapted to changing landscapes and environments. The Nihewan fluvio‐lacustrine sequence in North China contains one of the densest concentrations of Early Pleistocene Palaeolithic sites outside of Africa. Among these, the Cenjiawan site, dated at 1.1 Ma, draws attention due to the large number of stone tool refits. We present here Cenjiawan's sedimentary context, artefact spatial patterns, size distribution and taphonomic features, which are complemented by an experimental programme to better understand archaeological debitage size patterns, thus enabling a detailed analysis of formation processes at the site. The Cenjiawan assemblage is also interpreted in the light of its geographical and geological context, where a synsedimentary fault induced a minor topographic relief across the lacustrine lakeshore. This resulted in a shallow‐water setting in the down‐thrown hanging wall of the fault compartment, and a fluvial environment in the uplifted footwall. Our results indicate that Cenjiawan, situated in the hanging wall of the fault, underwent minimal disturbance, constituting a remarkable example of optimal preservation of archaeological assemblages in Early Pleistocene lakeshore environments.

Abstract Small mountain lakes are natural archives for understanding long‐term natural and anthropogenic impact on the environment. This study focused on long‐term (last ca. 13 000 years) vegetation changes and sedimentary processes in the catchment area of Lake Planina pri jezeru (1430 m a.s.l.) by using mineralogical, geochemical and palynological methods. Palynological results suggest that regional vegetation between 12 900 and 11 700 cal a bp was a herbaceous–forest tundra (Pinus, Artemisia, Poaceae). Climate warming at the beginning of the Holocene (ca. 11 700 cal a bp) caused the transition from a wetland (Cyperaceae) to an eutrophic lake with alternating anoxic (pyrite) and oxic conditions (gypsum). In addition, the surrounding area became forested (Picea, Larix, Ulmus). Fagus expanded at 10 200 cal a bp and Abies at 8200 cal a bp. Between 7500 and 4300 cal a bp, human impact on the environment was barely noticeable and mostly limited to grazing. During 4300–430 cal a bp human impact became more evident and gradually increased. The greatest influence was observed from 430 cal a bp onwards, when excessive exploitation of the surrounding area (logging and grazing) severely eutrophicated the lake.

Abstract The Cerrado biome is the second largest in Brazil, but the evolution of the Cerrado during the late Quaternary is not yet fully known. This study identifies paleoenvironmental changes during the last 23 000 years, based on a tropical mountain peatland record, in the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional in central‐eastern Brazil. A multi‐proxy approach was used that involved palynological analysis, stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N), geochemistry, radiocarbon dating and multivariate statistics derived from a peatland core from Rio Preto (Minas Gerais state). The study reveals a very humid and cold climate during the late Pleistocene, with an increase in temperature and decrease in humidity at the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. During this period there was strong instability in the landscape (episodes of erosion). At the beginning of the Holocene there was a reduction in humidity with greater landscape stability. The current sub‐humid climatic conditions seem to have been established in the mid‐/late Holocene, with periods of landscape instability. Our findings agree with other Cerrado records that contradict previously established hypotheses, such as the Amazonian Refuge and the Pleistocene Arc.

It is increasingly important to document past records of hydrologic change in areas that are drought-prone to better predict the region's future vulnerability to recharge and water supply. Holocene spring-associated carbonate deposits serve as terrestrial records of water balance that can complement other local, high-resolution proxies that are moisture-sensitive. Here we examine two carbonate deposits (one inactive perched tufa site and one active fluvial tufa site) that form from ambient-temperature freshwater springs, as proxies of their depositional conditions. Radiocarbon (14C) analyses of charcoal fragments from the inactive perched tufa record depositional ages of 6.2 ± 0.06 (2σ) cal ka bp and 8.0 ± 0.04 (2σ) cal ka bp and agree with the age models from other proxies of past pluvial periods in the region (~16 to 5 ka). The active fluvial tufas date to 853 ± 0.4 cal bp, representing conditions similar to modern flow. Geomorphologic and radiocarbon results indicate the perched tufa reflects wetter conditions fed by a higher water table. Stable isotopic analyses of carbonate (δ13C, δ18O) reveal distinct isotopic values between modern and early–mid-Holocene tufa. This work underscores potential for the analysis of other moisture-sensitive tufa deposits in coastal central California.

A proglacial lake system formed during the Late Valdai (Weichselian) Ice Sheet recession on the East European Plain. Poor knowledge about chronology, levels and the drainage pathways of ice-dammed lakes does not allow us to fully evaluate their palaeogeographic significance. This study focuses on the Izborsko-Malskaya Valley where fingerprints of a glaciolacustrine environment were found. Based on litho-, biostratigraphic and geochronological data, it is estimated that the proglacial lake in the Izborsko-Malskaya Valley existed from ~14.3 ka cal. BP (the Vashinogorskaya Valley from ~14.9 ka (optically stimulated luminescence)) to 13.2 ka cal. BP. The maximum level was ~72 m a.s.l. (above sea level) and the minimum was ~53 m a.s.l. Sedimentation proceeded mostly in deepwater conditions. The ice-dammed lake in the Izborsko-Malskaya and nearest valleys could have been part of a huge lake on the Pskov lowland which formed after ~15.7 ka cal. BP. The lake level dropped rapidly when the proglacial Lake Pskovsko-Chudskoe (Peipsi) connected with the Baltic Ice Lake. A lacustrine regime was preserved only in the southern portion of the Izborsko-Malskaya Valley after drainage and still exists in the modern lakes. The presented approaches to the ice-dammed lake reconstruction could be useful for the verification of other lakes which existed on the East European Plain.

ABSTRACTLake sediment records archive the Quaternary environmental and climatic history in northern high latitudes. Because of their spatial distribution, age range, time resolution, age control, and high sensitivity to paleoenvironmental conditions, lake records contribute to evaluating regional to hemispheric‐scale climate change. Here, we compare the characteristics of lake sediments and their qualities for paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions with those of other archives in northern high latitudes, and we outline the current state of research by introducing a series of regional case studies on 31 lakes as part of this special issue. The compilation shows that the coring site selection and interpretation can strongly benefit from bathymetric and seismic or hydro‐acoustic surveys. New coring techniques have become available making it possible to expand the records in length and time. Analytical work on the cores has particularly benefited from improved non‐destructive logging and scanning techniques, from the development of new proxies, and from advancements in quantitative climate reconstructions. Progress was also made in further developments of dating techniques; however, the recognition of additional isochronal events, e.g., via tephrochronology or paleomagnetic event stratigraphy, is needed to derive a better understanding of leads and lags in climate signal propagation throughout the northern high latitudes.

Abstract We present new lithostratigraphic, pollen‐stratigraphic and tephrochronological data obtained from a sediment sequence in a small lake basin in Glen Builg, eastern Cairngorms, with mapping of the surrounding glacial geomorphological features. The collective evidence indicates that basin organic sediment accumulation started during the Windermere Interstadial at ~14.3 ka. The new results reaffirm the conclusions of Clapperton et al. (1975), that any occupation of the eastern Cairngorms by Loch Lomond (‘Younger Dryas’) Stadial glacier ice was spatially restricted. The record also suggests that harsh climatic conditions prevailed throughout the Windermere Interstadial, probably due to the relatively high altitude of the site (~460 m) and its proximity to major Cairngorm peaks. Our new, more comprehensive study provides a robust chronology, and reveals several palaeoenvironmental signals congruent with other recently reported Scottish Highlands records. Key similarities with regional records are: (i) a short climatic reversal corresponding to GI‐1d in the Greenland stratotype sequence; (ii) a two‐phased Loch Lomond Stadial, with a transition around the Vedde Ash, dating to ~12.1 ka; and (iii) a delayed response to Early Holocene climatic warming of ~250 years, before soils were sufficiently stabilised to permit shrub vegetation establishment.

ABSTRACTDuring the Early Holocene, climate was the major factor causing fires, but whether during the Mesolithic (~11.5–7.4 cal ka BP) people co‐shaped their environment by means of fire remains of debate. Few studies have tackled this question by linking high‐resolution multi‐proxy palaeoecological studies from near Mesolithic occupation sites. An Early Holocene sediment record from the Ammer Valley palaeo‐wetland in south‐west Germany was studied using pollen, micro‐ and macrocharcoal, and plant macroremains. Archaeological evidence from Early and Late Mesolithic sites of Rottenburg‐Siebenlinden allowed us to link this palaeoecological record with Mesolithic land use in the same catchment. Between 11.6 and 10.6 cal kabp,intensive wildfires reinforced the persistence of open and pioneer vegetation. A transition from a river‐dominated landscape towards a wetland with open stagnant waters at 10.6–9.5 cal ka bpmade the region attractive to hunter‐gatherers, providing various plant resources (incl. hazel). From 10.1 cal ka bponwards, Mesolithic communities may have shaped their environment by using fire as a tool to expand open areas, which were important for the implementation of their subsistence strategies. After 9.5 cal ka bp, human control over fires cannot be excluded as Mesolithic occupation phases chronologically coincide with frequent low‐intensity fires and vegetation disturbance.