Palynological evidence for agriculture and environmental change from the late Holocene deposits, Hampyeong area, southwestern Korea

A pollen record (ca. 1090–1380 cal. AD) from swamp deposits exhibits human-induced vegetation change and subsequent environment change in the Hampyeong area, southwestern Korea. The predominance of Pinus and Gramineae from ca. 1090 to 1340 cal. AD indicates human-induced cropland and Pinus-dominated forest. The high representation of cultivated Gramineae, regular occurrence of farmland weeds, and low representation of deciduous broadleaved taxa imply intensive rice cultivation. The expansion of warm temperate evergreen broadleaved forest and the retreat of Pinus dominated forest from ca. 1340 to 1360 cal. AD represent a climate-induced vegetation shift, while intensive cultivation was persistent. The conspicuous reduction of cultivated Gramineae and farmland weed, and the abrupt rise of riparian Cyperaceae and fern spores from ca. 1360 to 1380 cal. AD indicate devastation of the cropland. Along with palynological evidence, sedimentological and historiographical data suggest that this decline of agricultural activities was caused by inundation coupled with social insecurity during the period of regime change from the Goryeo Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty.