Abstract
We describe wood fossil assemblages excavated from a wood peat bed (E bed) deposited 3500 to 3000 yBP, and a more recent herbaceous peat (B bed) deposited after 2000 yBP, in the southern part of the Mikata lowland along the Mikata fault. Vegetation in central to marginal areas of the lowland was reconstructed from species identifications based on stump, stem, stick, and root material. The E bed assemblage in the central lowland indicated a wetland forest composed mainly of Alnus subgen. Alnus and Fra.xinus. This forest declined for some reason at ca.3000 years ago. The B bed assemblage in the central lowland indicated a partly developed wetland forest with Alnus subgen. Alnus. The E and B bed assemblages in the marginal area of the lowland indicated the coexistence of the same wetland elements with conifers such as Cryptomeria japonica and Thuja standishii.
