Fifty years of Quaternary pollen analysis in Fennoscandia 1954-2004

The last fifty years have witnessed enormous developments in Quaternary pollen analysis in the Fennoscandian countries. This essay focuses on methodological and conceptual developments in Quaternary pollen analysis rather than on advances in vegetational history. Major methodological developments include improved field and laboratory methods, greater concern about project design and site selection, pollen representation studies and simulation modelling, and numerical methods and data synthesis. Conceptual advances include the glacial-interglacial cycle, the nature of the late-glacial flora and vegetation, ecological processes influencing the early Holocene forest development, the importance of human impact, pollen analysis of mineral soils, and the interpretation of pollen-stratigraphical data. Possible future developments are outlined and the uncertain future of Quaternary pollen analysis in Fennoscandia is considered.