Próba rekonstrukcji pradziejowego środowiska przyrodniczego
Abstract
The aim of this article is to present different possibilities of reconstructing
the primaeval natural environment on the example of Tuchola Forests
as well as the extent to which such reconstruction is possible.
It is an obvious fact that ecology exerts an influence on development
of social formations, economy types, and the cultural development degree.
That is why in researches carried out by archaeologists there are appearing
more and more frequently attempts at superimposing the occuring cultural
changes on the background of the natural environment conditions in which
these changes were taking place.
Before proceeding to the reconstruction of the primaeval environment it
was necessary to get acquainted with the present conditions prevailing in
Tuchola Forest, their geology, geomorphology, fauna and flora. This was followed
by analysis of materials provided by pallnological analyses performed
on archaeological positions in the area of Tuchola Forest (Obrowo, Iwiec, Cisy
Staropolskie, Siwe Bagno, Smoldziny Turbary, Stawek Lake, Odry), and
those from the neighbouring areas and belonging to the same geobotanical
country (Fletnowo, Radowiska Małe, Mielno near Lipno). The data gathered in
this way allowed to reveal changes in the natural environment occuring with
the lapse of time. They also allowed to note the dominance of the pine-tree
in this area for at least the last 5000 years. The preserved relics of fauna
and flora coming from the reservations in Tuchola Forest allowed to trace the big diversity of habitats to be found here and connected with ecological
conditions corresponding to them.
The paleobotanical analysis of macrofragments produced rather poor data
since in the area in question there is known only one position examined by
means of this method (Odry)• These scarce data allowed to determine a strong
•correlation between vegetation and geonorphology in this area as well as
the time from which changes produced by man's activity should be reckoned
with. These changes are more noticeable In the South-Western part of Tuchola
Forest where more fertile soils were attracting groups of people earlier
and where differentiated natural environment was undergoing bigger changes.
These scarce data sources considerably restricted the reconstruction,
but despite it such reconstruction seems to be useful in analysing changes In
the human settlement process in this area.
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