Vinča tell in southeast Europe: Multi-proxy palaeobotanical evidence from Late Neolithic levels and the implications for the environment and economy

Results of the initial analysis of wood charcoal and on-site pollen from the large, long-used Neolithic Vinča tell are combined with the data from wild-gathered seed/fruit assemblage towards the reconstruction of the vegetation composition around the Neolithic settlement in its final phases of occupation (around 4500 cal BC). The ecology of the identified vegetation forms, in conjunction with the published geological and botanical information, is used to infer the distribution of plant resources in the vicinity of the site. Further, the potential roles of different vegetation types in the economy of the settlement are explored, and possible responses of palaeovegetation to the anthropogenic disturbance assessed. The evidence from Vinča suggests the presence of a range of vegetation formations and the limited human impact on their availability. The abundance and careful management of the natural resources may have been the key to the longevity of this site.