Palynology and Archaeology of Late Vistulian and Early Holocene Sites in Lubuskie Lake District, Western Poland

Abstract The Lubuskie Lake District played an important part in recolonisation of the Polish Plain due to its location and the character of the terrain. Despite that, it is and especially its northern part, poorly explored regarding both history of Late Glacial and early Holocene settlements, and the natural environment. The paper presents results of multidisciplinary research in this area. The most spectacular discoveries were connected with remains of settlements of the Hamburgian culture societies at Myszęcin - currently the richest site of this culture over the entire North European Plain. In the vicinity of this site several Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic settlements of varied functions were recorded. First palynological records came from the Younger Dryas sediments in this area. In a log with a palynological spectrum comprising Younger Dryas and the beginning of the Holocene, a charcoal dust was found and it could indicate human activity as humans lived at a lake shore. An important complement to the image of the Late Glacial settlement at the Lubuskie Lake District was provided by the research near Lubrza that resulted in data regarding settlements of the Federmesser and Świderian culture societies. This region was not typical in a palynological spectrum of deposits during Allerød but also indicated highly diversified thickness of basal peat in a small area.