Middle-Late Holocene vegetation history and environment changes revealed by pollen analysis of a core at Qingdao of Shandong Province, East China

There is almost no detailed Holocene pollen data in Shandong Province. This paper reports a pollen record from a natural profile at Qingdao of Shandong Province, East China between 7250 and 3500 cal. BP, and provides new evidence for the collapse of Neolithic cultures around Central China in the middle Holocene. It reveals a subtropical deciduous and evergreen broad-leaved forest was well-developed during 7250–5900 cal. BP, representing the Holocene Maximum warm climate condition. During 5900–4550 cal. BP, pollen flora retained the main features of the former stage, but the contents for the major tree components in the flora decreased, implying an end of the Holocene Maximum warmth. From 4550 cal. BP to 3900 cal. BP, the percentage of AP (Arboreal Pollen) abruptly fell to the lowest value in the profile, inferring a distinct climate deterioration. During 3900–3500 cal. BP, a major recovery of AP is captured, indicating a possible climate change. The above mentioned climate changes are in good coherence with the local Neolithic Culture evolution. It is assumed that the cold climate during 4550–3900 cal. BP is possibly responsible for the collapse of the Longshan Culture in Shandong Province.