Palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate during middle Late Palaeolithic age of Lingnan area, China

Abstract

The fossil spore-pollen recovered from middle Late Palaeolithic age (i.e. late Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene) of Lingnan area of China are mainly distributed in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island. As revealed by the fossil spore-pollen, the vegetation of Lingnan area during the late Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene comprised mainly of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, and coniferous forest. During the early Late Pleistocene, the area experienced transgression of sea, and climate became hot leading to the development, of mangrove vegetation in the littoral area. On recession of sea, near the end of Late Pleistocene, climate became cooler and drier and the mangrove forest diminished significantly. Thus, the above mentioned luxuriant vegetation and subtropical climate in middle Late palaeolithic age suggests existence of favourable conditions for early Homo sapiens activities in the Lingnan area.