Skip to main content
Log in

A holocene pollen diagram from El Atrun, northern Sudan

  • Published:
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Palynological investigations on a 3.36 m core from El Atrun, Nubia, show vegetation development and climatic change during a period from approximately 9800 to 7000 uncal B.P. From a dry period with a steppe-like vegetation at about 9800-9500 B.P. (zone A), a change to a period with a more favourable climate and a tree covered savanna-like vegetation can be observed in zone B (about 9500-8900 B.P.). In zone C (8900-8400 B.P.), a climatic setback is indicated, with spreading of steppe vegetation and an increase in swamp vegetation as a result of a low lake level. For zone D (about 8400-7000 B.P.), renewed spreading of wooded savanna is inferred.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bonnefille R, Riollet G (1980) Pollen des savannes d'Afrique orientale. CRNS, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Campo M van (1975) Pollen analysis in the Sahara. In: Wendorf F, Marks AE (eds) Problems of Prehistory: North Africa and the Levante, Meth Univ Press, Dallas, pp 45–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Caratini C, Guinet P (1974) Pollen et spores D'Afrique tropical. Centre d'Etudes de Geographie Tropicale, Bordeaux

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupont LM, Agwu COC (1991) Environmental control of pollen grain distribution patterns in the Gulf of Guinea and offshore NW-Africa. Geol Rundsch 80: 567–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupont LM, Agwu COC (1992) Latitudinal shifts of forest and savanna in N.W. Africa during the Brunhes chron: further marine palynological results from M 16415 (9°N 19°W). Veget Hist Archaeobot 1: 163–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel B, Kröpelin S (1984) Holocene lake deposits in Northwest Sudan. Africa 16: 295–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel G, Kröpelin S, Richter J, Cziesla E (1985) Parabeldünen am Wadi Howar. Geowissensch unser Zeit 3: 105–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Goschin M (1989) El Atrun (Nubien) - Ein frühholozänzeitlicher See. Doctoral thesis, Freie Universität Berlin

  • Goschin M (1992) Geochemische Analysen des holozänen Sees El Atrun (Nordsudan; Nubien). Würzb Geogr Arb 84: 45–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagedorn H, Baumhauer R (1988) Geowissenschaftliche Untersuchungen in Afrika. Würzburg Geogr Arb 69: 1–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton AC (1972) The interpretation of pollen diagrams from highland Uganda. In: Zinderen Bakker EM van (ed) Palaeoecol Africa 7: 46–149

  • Haynes CV, Mehringer PJ, Zaghloul ESA (1979) Pluvial lakes of North-Western Sudan. Geogr J 145: 437–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Haynes CV, Eyles CH, Pavlish LA, Ritchie JC, Rybak M (1989) Holocene palaeoecology of the Eastern Sahara; Selima Oasis. Quat Sci Rev 8: 109–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedberg O (1954) A pollen-analytical reconnaissance in tropical East Africa. Oikos 5: 137–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoelzmann P (1992) Palaeoecology of Holocene Lacustrine Sediments within the West Nubian Basin, SE-Sahara. Würzburg Geogr Arb 84: 59–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapp R (1973) Die Vegetation von Afrika. Fischer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Lezine AM (1987) Paleoenvironments végétaux d'Afrique nord-tropicale depuis 12000 B.P. Ph.D.thesis, Univ. of Marseille II

  • Mahmoud A, Obeid M (1971) Ecological studies in the vegetation of the Sudan. Vegetatio 23: 153–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Maley J (1981) Etdes palynologiques dans le bassin du Tchad et paleoclimatologie de l'Afrique nord-tropicale de 30 000 ans a l'epoque actuelle. Travaux et Documents de l'O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, pp 379–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Maley J (1983) Histoire de la végétation et du climat de l'Afrique nord-tropicale au Quaternaire recent. Bothalia 14

  • Neumann K (1987) Jebel Tageru, a contribution to the flora of the southern Libyan desert. J Arid Env 12: 27–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann K (1989) Holocene vegetation of the Eastern Sahara: charcoal from prehistoric sites. African Archaeol Rev 7: 97–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann K, Schulz E (1987) Middle Holocene savanna vegetation in the Central Sahara - Preliminary report. Paleoecol Africa 48: 163–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozenda P (1977) Flore du Sahara. CNRS, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachur HJ, Hoelzmann P (1991) Paleoclimatic implications of late Quaternary lacustrine sediments in Western Nubia, Sudan. Quat Res 36: 257–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachur HJ, Röper HP (1984) Die Bedeutung paläoklimatischer Befunde aus den Flachbereichen der östlichen Sahara und des nördlichen Sudan. Z Geomorph 50: 59–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachur HJ, Röper HP, Kröpelin S, Goschin M (1987) Late quaternary hydrography of the Eastern Sahara. Berlin Geowiss Abh 75(2): 331–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachur HJ, Kröpelin S, Hoelzmann P, Goschin M, Altmann N (1990) Late Quaternary fluvio-lacustrine environments of Western Nubia. Berlin Geowiss Abh 120(1): 203–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Petit-Maire N, Riser J (1983) Sahara ou Sahel? Quaternaire récent du Bassin de Taoudenni (Mali). Marseille: 1–473

  • Ritchie JC (1987) A Holocene pollen record from Bir Atrun northwest Sudan. Pollen Spores 29: 391–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie JC, Haynes CV (1987) Holocene vegetation zonation in the Eastern Sahara. Nature 330: 645–647

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie JC, Eyles CH, Haynes CV (1985) Sediment and pollen evidence for an early to mid-Holocene humid period in the eastern Sahara. Nature 314: 352–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz E (1979a) Die aktuelle Vegetation des Murzuk-Beckens (zentrale Sahara). Würzburg Geogr Arb 49: 125–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz E (1979b) Zur Flora und Vegetation der Randgebiete des Murzurk-Beckens (Fezzan-Libyen und Nord-Niger). Wildenowia 9: 239–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz E (1980) Zur Vegetation der östlichen zentralen Sahara und zu ihrer Entwicklung im Holozän. Würzburg Geogr Arb 51: 1–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz E (1984) The recent pollen rain in the Eastern Central Sahara - a transect between Northern Libya and Southern Niger. Palaeoecol Africa 16: 245–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz E (1987) Die holozäne Vegetation der zentralen Sahara (nord Mali, nord Niger, südwest Niger, Südwest Libyen). Palaeoecol Africa 18: 143–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockmarr J (1971) Tablets with spores in absolute pollen analysis. Pollen Spores 13: 615–621

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincens A (1989) Early Holocene pollen data from an arid East African region, Lake Turkana (Kenya): Botanical and climatic implications. Palaeoecol Africa 20: 87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickens GE (1976) The flora of Jebel Mara (Sudan Republic) and its geographical affinities. Kew Bull (Additional Series) 5.

  • Wilson RT (1978) The ‘gizu’: Winter grazing in the South Libyan desert. J Arid Env 1: 325–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Ybert JP (1979) Atlas de pollens de Cote d'Ivoire. Initiations -documentations techniques 40: Paris (ORSTOM)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jahns, S. A holocene pollen diagram from El Atrun, northern Sudan. Veget Hist Archaebot 4, 23–30 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198612

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198612

Key words

Navigation