Late and post-glacial vegetation development in the Upper Moor — Sulzkaralm

The pollen profile from the Upper Moor on the Sulzkaralm allows the reconstruction of vegetation development in the area from the beginning of the last glacial interstadial until modern times. The pollen of the late glacial lake sediments, partly sandy-pearly, but mostly tone-sluffy lake sediments reflects the conditions in the lowlands. The environment of the Sulzkar was not yet forested during this first post-glacial warming. Dwarf shrubs such as the silverworm and trout pastures grew in the surroundings of the lake. At the latest with the climatic improvement at the beginning of the postglacial period around 11'500 years before today, at least pastures (Salix waldsteiniana) and Latsche (Pinus mugo), soon also birches and spruce reached the Sulzkar. First very weak evidence of a certain clearing of the forests are apparent during the late Bronze Age. However, evidence of grazing at that time is lacking. The latest story is limited to a few cm of sediment. Clearing during Roman times and between about 1460 and about 1700 AD is recognizable. The increased charcoal values indicate cavity in the region.