Mid-Holocene pollen records from southwestern Madhya Pradesh, central India, and their palaeoclimatic significance

A new pollen record from south western Madhya Pradesh, central India provides a palaeoenvironmental record for the core monsoon zone (CMZ) of India. The 2m deep lacustrine sediment profile demonstrates that between approximate to 5679 and approximate to 4939 cal yr BP, open vegetation occurred in the region, indicative of a dry climate with reduced monsoonal precipitation. This was replaced by a mixed tropical deciduous forest under a warm and humid climate with increased monsoonal precipitation between approximate to 4939 to approximate to 3762 cal yr BP. From approximate to 3762 cal yr BP to the present day, a dense mixed tropical deciduous forest has existed under a warm and relatively more humid climate indicating a further increase in monsoonal precipitation. Cereal-based agricultural practice is evident during the most recent two phases.