Upper Pleistocene palaeoenvironmental change in Eastern Spain: new pollen-analytical data from Cova Beneito (Alicante)

The results of a palynological investigation of the Upper Palaeolithic interval from the Beneito Cave (southeastern Spain) are herewith considered in the context of results from a previous report on the underlying deposits. Two new percentage and concentration pollen-diagrams with good correspondence are presented. The Upper Palaeolithic sequence is dominated by Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia, whereas arboreal pollen are less important. Mesophilous trees and Mediterranean taxa show a constant presence, but in low proportions. The new data add support to the view that interpleniglacial development of Mediterranean taxa was important in eastern Spain, while they were considerably reduced during upper pleniglacial times. Emphasis is placed on aridity as a limiting factor in influencing major vegetation changes in the area. Two additional topics are also presented: they deal with the extrapolation of north European interstadials to Mediterranean Spain and the palaeoecological value of archaeopalynological records.