Early oleiculture or native wild<i>Olea</i>in eastern Maghreb: new pollen data from the sebkha-lagoon Halk el Menjel (Hergla, Central Tunisia)

Lebreton, V.; Jaouadi, Sahbi; Mulazzani, Simone; Boujelben, A.; Belhouchet, Lotfi; Gammar, Amor Mokhtar; Nebout, Nathalie Combourieu; Saliège, Jean-François; Karray, M.; Fouache, Éric

doi:10.1179/1749631414y.0000000046

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…We believe that this is not the case in anthracological phase 2. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of the expansion of the olea after a predominant phase of lentisks has been documented in the pollen study of Halk el Menjel, located in the Center of Tunisia, between pollen phase 3 and 4, with chronologies much older than those of Utica (Phase 3: 4946 ± 108 cal BP), 3972–3618 cal BC, which the authors associated to a humid episode between the Mid and Late-Holocene (Lebreton et al, 2015). Both here and in other areas of the Mediterranean this change is due to climate changes and is not related to human activity (Carrión et al, 2010; Di Rita and Magri, 2009; Jalut et al, 2009; Pantaléon-Cano et al, 2003; Yll et al 1997).…”

Section: Evaluation and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

et al. 2021

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Human Colonization of new lands implied historically the diffusion of new plant species and the exploitation of local plant resources and forests by human communities. Phoenician colonization in the 1st millennium BC had important consequences in Mediterranean agriculture and the exploitation of vegetation in colonized areas. Later, Roman agriculture introduced new changes. The anthracological analysis or charcoal analysis of the archaeological record of the site of Utica can inform us about the long term transformations in vegetation in North Africa. The original vegetation, consisting mainly of Pistacia lentiscus, would see its population reduced due to the implantation of non-intensive olive production in Phoenician and Punic periods. Nevertheless, since the Roman Imperial Period there was a strong decline of natural vegetation, in correlation of the important increment of olive trees, which indicate the presence of intensive oil production, mainly to be exported to Rome. Furthermore, the appearance of walnut trees presents novel data regarding the expansion of arboriculture throughout the Mediterranean in hand with the Phoenicians during the 1st millennium BC. The anthracological analysis of Utica presents important information regarding the natural vegetation that existed when the Phoenicians arrived, and the transformation that happened throughout time, corresponding to the management of the surrounding landscape during the Phoenician, Punic, and Roman periods.

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Section: Evaluation and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

et al. 2021

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“…sylvestris) and pistachio (Pistacia lentiscus), is thus well documented in the Golfe de Gabès (Brun, 1992). The maximum extension of the Oleo-lentiscetum on the coast of the Golfe de Hammamet occurs at the 400 mm isohyet, which marks the limit of the semi-arid bioclimatic stage (Lebreton et al, 2015). At Sebkha Boujmel, Olea is recorded with low rates, reflecting a presence limited to the wettest biotopes.…”

Section: Biogeography and Holocene Palaeoenvironment In Southern Tunisiamentioning

confidence: 96%

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in southern-eastern Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

Jaouadi¹,

Lebreton²,

Bout-Roumazeilles³

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Pollen and clay mineralogical analyses of a Holocene sequence from Sebkha Boujmel (southern Tunisia) traces the climatic and environmental dynamics in the lower arid bioclimatic zone over the last 8000 years. During the Mid- to Late Holocene transition, between 8 and 3 ka, a succession of five wet/dry oscillations is recorded. An intense arid event occurs between 5.7 and 4.6 ka. This episode marks the onset of a long-term aridification trend with a progressive retreat of Mediterranean woody xerophytic vegetation and of grass steppes. It ends with the establishment of pre-desert ecosystems around 3 ka. The millennial-scale climate change recorded in the data from Sebkha Boujmel is consistent with records from the south and east Mediterranean, as well as with climatic records from the desert region for the end of the African Humid Period (AHP). Eight centennial climatic events are recorded at Sebkha Boujmel and these are contemporary with those recorded in the Mediterranean and in the Sahara. They indicate a clear coupling between the southern Mediterranean and the Sahara before 3 ka. The event at 4.2 ka is not evidenced and the link between events recorded in Sebkha Boujmel and the North Atlantic Cooling events is clearer from 3 ka onwards. These variations indicate the importance of climatic determinism in the structuring of landscapes, with the establishment of the arid climatic conditions of the Late Holocene. It is only from 3 ka onwards that the dynamic of plant associations is modified by both human activity and climatic variability. The climatic episodes identified during the historic period indicate strong regionalisation related to the differential impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) on the Mediterranean basin. The local human impact on regional ecosystems is recorded in the form of episodes of intensification of pastoral and/or agricultural activities. The development of olive production and of several taxa associated with agriculture attest to increasing sedentism among human populations during Classical Antiquity. The significant increase in Artemisia (wormwood) between 1.1 and 0.8 ka (850–1150 AD) is linked to intensive pastoral activity, associated with heightened interannual and/or seasonal climatic instability. A complete re-shaping of the landscape is recorded during the 20th century. The remarkable expansion of the olive tree, and the deterioration of regional ecosystems with the spread of desert species, is linked to recent local socio-economic changes in Tunisia.

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“…In the Libyan part of the Jeffara, the woody species that developed at Jbel Gharbi between 9.4 and 5 ka BP constitute a desert-adapted shrubland formation (Capparis, Ficus, Salvadora persica and Tamarix) in which Mediterranean taxa remain poorly represented (Giraudi et al, 2013 (Brun, 1992). The maximum extension of the Oleo-lentiscetum on the coast of the Golfe de Hammamet occurs at the 400 mm isohyet, which marks the limit of the semi-arid bioclimatic stage (Lebreton et al, 2015). At Sebkha Boujmel, Olea is recorded with low rates, reflecting a presence limited to the wettest biotopes.…”

Section: Biogeography and Holocene Palaeoenvironment In Southern Tunisiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analysis of past environmental dynamics in pre-Saharan Tunisia is crucial and should allow the characterisation of (1) the biogeographical history of the present landscape, (2) the resilience of vegetation in response to aridity and human disturbance, and (3) the processes of the degradation and desertification of desert margins (Schaaf, 2008). Recent work undertaken on the continental Sebkha Mhabeul in southern Tunisia (Schulz et al, 2002;Marquer et al, 2008) and the Halk el Menjel sebkha lagoon in central Tunisia (Lebreton and Jaouadi, 2013;Lebreton et al, 2015) has already revealed the huge potential of sebkhas for pollen analysis. Sebkha Boujmel, on the southern coast of Tunisia, has yielded the first continuous geochemical and pollen record for the last 8000 years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in south-east Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Pollen and clay mineralogical analyses of a Holocene sequence from Sebkha Boujmel (southern Tunisia) trace the climatic and environmental dynamics in the lower arid bioclimatic zone over the last 8000 years. During the mid- to late Holocene transition, between ca. 8 and 3 ka BP, a succession of five wet–dry oscillations is recorded. An intense arid event occurs between ca. 5.7 and 4.6 ka BP. This episode marks the onset of a long-term aridification trend with a progressive retreat of Mediterranean woody xerophytic vegetation and of grass steppes. It ends with the establishment of pre-desert ecosystems around 3 ka BP. The millennial-scale climate change recorded in the data from Sebkha Boujmel is consistent with records from the south and east Mediterranean, as well as with climatic records from the desert region for the end of the African Humid Period (AHP). Eight centennial climatic events are recorded at Sebkha Boujmel and these are contemporary with those recorded in the Mediterranean and in the Sahara. They indicate a clear coupling between the southern Mediterranean and the Sahara before 3 ka BP. The event at 4.2 ka BP is not evidenced and the link between events recorded in Sebkha Boujmel and the North Atlantic cooling events is clearer from ca. 3 ka BP onwards. These variations indicate the importance of climatic determinism in the structuring of landscapes, with the establishment of the arid climatic conditions of the late Holocene. It is only from ca. 3 ka BP onwards that the dynamic of plant associations is modified by both human activity and climatic variability. The climatic episodes identified during the historic period indicate strong regionalisation related to the differential impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) on the Mediterranean Basin. The local human impact on regional ecosystems is recorded in the form of episodes of intensification of pastoral and/or agricultural activities. The development of olive production and of several taxa associated with agriculture attest to increasing sedentism among human populations during classical antiquity. The significant increase in Artemisia (wormwood) between ca. 1.1 and 0.8 ka BP (850–1150 AD) is linked to intensive pastoral activity, associated with heightened interannual and/or seasonal climatic instability. A complete reshaping of the landscape is recorded during the 20th century. The remarkable expansion of the olive tree, and the deterioration of regional ecosystems with the spread of desert species, is linked to recent local socio-economic changes in Tunisia.

show abstract

Early oleiculture or native wildOleain eastern Maghreb: new pollen data from the sebkha-lagoon Halk el Menjel (Hergla, Central Tunisia)

Cited by 13 publications

References 46 publications

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in southern-eastern Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in south-east Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

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Early oleiculture or native wildOleain eastern Maghreb: new pollen data from the sebkha-lagoon Halk el Menjel (Hergla, Central Tunisia)

Cited by 13 publications

References 46 publications

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

Long-term human impact and forest management in the Phoenician and Roman city of Utica (Tunisia) (900 BC−500 AD)

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in southern-eastern Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in south-east Tunisia during the last 8 kyr

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Product

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Environmental changes, climate and anthropogenic impact in south-east Tunisia during the last 8 kyr