Palaeoecological Investigations of Multiple Elm Declines at a Site in North Fife, Scotland

Results from the palaeoecological study of two cores from a small lake, Black Loch, in eastern Scotland are presented, attention being focused upon the period c. 60003500 BP. A series of three elm declines are evident in one core (BLII) at dates of around 5200 BP. (first decline), 4940 BP (minor decline) and 4460 BP (second major decline); at least two declines are present in a shallower-water core (BLIV). Relative, concentration and accumulation rate pollen data are supplemented by information from radiocarbon-dating, loss on ignition and particle size analysis. The multiple coring strategy demonstrates the replication qualities of the general palynological patterns but reveals the dangers of reliance on a single core from lake sites. The data suggest that vegetational and erosional disturbance were features of the elm decline periods. It is not considered feasible here to favour anthropogenic over natural causes for the falls in elm pollen and both may have applied. Examples of multiple (mainly double) elm declines from European mainland sites are provided and it is suggested that closer attention should be given to multiple elm decline events where they are found in pollen diagrams.