Pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating and facies analysis were carried out in two cores obtained from Yachidaira Mire, Yamagata Prefecture, Northeast Japan. From the results of pollen analysis, four local pollen zones were established, namely, YD-1, YD-2, YD-3, and YD-4 in ascending order. The local vegetation changes going back to approximately 22, 000yrs BP reconstructed from those pollen zones are as follows. YD-1 zone: subboreal coniferous forest accompanied by
Betula abundantly, YD-2 zone: Transition zone from subboreal coniferous forest to cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, YD-3 zone: cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest composed mainly of
Fagus, YD-4 zone: cool temperate deciduous broadleaved forest including
Pinus and
Cryptomeria.
Radiocarbon dates were obtained from the two cores of Yachidaira Mire. The date of uppermost part of YD-1 zone is 22, 570±240yrs BP (TH-2037). The dates of middle part of YD-3 zone are 3, 380±20 (NU-1430), 4, 260±50 (TH-2035), and 4, 700±40yrs BP (TH-2036).
Lithofacies and frequencies of herbaceous pollen and fern spores indicated that peat bog was formed at least three times between ca. 22, 000yrs BP and the present at Yachidaira Mire.
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