The Lateglacial in the Rila Mountains (Bulgaria) revisited: The pollen record of Lake Ribno (2184 m)

Pollen analysis and AMS radiocarbon dating were conducted on the lateglacial sediments (175 cm in thickness) of a core obtained from the glacial Lake Ribno (2184 m) in the northwestern Rila Mountains. The vegetation dynamics at high-mid altitudes based on important changes in palynostratigraphy as a response to the lateglacial climate fluctuations for the time interval 16000–11600 cal. yrs BP is bound to an interstadial/stadial cycle, analogous with the Bölling/Alleröd–Younger Dryas. The established local chronology demonstrates also good correlation with the isotopic signal from Greenland ice-cores. The reconstruction of the lateglacial vegetation shows common features with other sites from the Bulgarian mountains (Rila, Pirin, Western Rhodopes) and the glacial lakes in the southern Romanian Carpathians (Retezat Mountains).

Research highlights► The lateglacial vegetation in the Rila Mountains is reconstructed by pollen analysis. ► The palynostratigraphy and radiocarbon chronology confirm interstadial/stadial cycle. ► Comparisons with local and regional lateglacial sites show common features.