Abstract
The paleoenvironment of the Late Paleolithic in the Shimosa upland was revealed by radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis of Last Glacial sediments in a 25 m boring core obtained in Ninosawa, a branch valley of the Murata River system dissecting southwestern Shimousa upland. Organic silt and peat layers at 23.50 to 23.30 m deep and a shell at 23.00 m deep were dated to before 50,000 and 45,900–44,800 years ago, respectively. Pollen analysis indicated that wetland forests of Alnus probably spread in the lowland and that forests of Betula and such coniferous trees as Abies, Tsuga, and Picea spread on the surrounding upland at the beginning of MIS-3 or around MIS-4.
