Disturbance phases in the mid-Holocene vegetation at North Gill, North York Moors: Form and process

The results of a multi-profile analysis of disturbance phases using Fine Resolution Pollen Analysis (FRPA) are presented. The locale is the North Gill, a peat section 400 m long at an altitude of 370 m, and the time the mid-Holocene in a region known to have been occupied by later Mesolithic and early Neolithic cultures during the time of peat accumulation. Some of the fine detail of the FRPA is given and interpretations advanced which throw more light upon the probable manipulation of vegetation by human groups during the 5th millenium sp. It is concluded that the emphasis on hazel (Corylus avellana) as an object of vegetation management may need to be supplemented by that of the encouragement of a grassy ground flora in what was a mostly wooded environment. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited