An illustrated protocol for extracting palynomorphs from Early Pleistocene pollen-poor sediments using LST Fastfloat

This method for extracting palynomorphs is specifically dedicated for Early Pleistocene pollen-poor carbonate or siliceous sediments in the Mediterranean, which are characterised by prolonged summer droughts. It utilises LST Fastfloat, a non-toxic, low viscosity sodium polytungstate heavy liquid. Due to its physical qualities, particularly its low viscosity, LST Fastfloat enables more efficient pollen concentration compared to other methods, including those that rely on alternative dense liquids.

This approach was applied to fluviatile and lacustrine deposits in both the western (Marseille) and eastern (Acıgöl, Kocabaş) Mediterranean. Unlike standard method, LST Fastfloat produced highly concentrated pollen residues and clear pollen slides, reducing analysis time, which is an important advantage in a labour-intensive discipline such as palynology. The primary drawback of this method is its high cost, although it is partially recyclable.

Our article is designed to be didactic and richly illustrated, featuring figures and photographs to facilitate its application, particularly for beginners. The positive results presented here may encourage researchers to sample sediments previously considered pollen-poor or devoid of palynomorphs, especially from understudied regions of major biogeographical or archaeological interest, such as the arid regions of the tropics and the Mediterranean.