This paper is an approximation to the generalities and applications of the palynological science. Starting from some short notes of the roots of this science and its potential applications (sub-specialities), some examples of its utility to the reconstruction of thepalaeoenvironment are shown. The Upper Pleistocene palaeoenvironment (last 70 kyrs), the Holocene (last 10 kyrs) and the evolution / extinction of vegetal species during these periods in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula are described in the paper.