Integrated palynological and molecular analyses of late Holocene deposits from Lake Miłkowskie (NE Poland): Verification of local human impact on environment

Commonly applied methods such as pollen analysis, charcoal analysis, and archaeological studies make it possible to reconstruct the trend of changes in vegetation during the Holocene and determine the role of humans in its transformation. However, it is not always possible to obtain a complete picture of changes which took place in the past and the reasons for their occurrence. This paper presents the results of molecular investigations of lacustrine sediments from Lake Miłkowskie, aimed at confirming human presence in the vicinity of the lake and its correlation with the palynological and archaeological data. The molecular analyses were based on identification of ancient DNA (aDNA) of faecal bacteria, as indicators of human and cattle presence. Application of comprehensive studies comprising both palaeoenvironmental and molecular methods allowed a detailed determination of the stages of human presence in the vicinity of the lake and confirms the anthropogenic impact on the changes of local plant communities.