Searching for evidence of this human impact explains why there are conflicting reconstructions for this period. Reconstructions of the vegetation based on pollen and plant remains from lakes and marshland suggest that Europe had an open steppe vegetation. But computer simulations based on eight possible climate scenarios show that under natural conditions the landscape in large areas of Europe would have been far more densely forested. The researchers conclude that humans must have been responsible for the difference. Further evidence has been found in the traces of the use of fire in hunting settlements from this period and in the layers of ash in the soil.
My interpretation: "when our model comes in conflict with facts, the facts have got to go."
I'm very pro science, as anyone reading my posts knows. This is manufactured "people are bad, very bad" rhetoric by AGW believers. Core samples are, properly, the source for past environments.
Normally models are constructed based on facts at hand to explain and project those facts. The model doesn't work? Revise the model to attempt and explain the facts. Unless, of course, you are in an authoritarian regime where the conclusions come first to support the party line.
My usual caveat, "The answer to bad science is more science"
Those hunters will do almost anything to bag a deer or two.
Ah yes, the days before lightning.
Once again white people are to blame.
So now we know what caused the glaciers to melt. Humans playing with matches.
The densely forested hills of Germany, the only break in the plains of northern Europe between the Pyrenees mountains and the Volga basin, was probably the only thing preventing the Romans from further conquest.
Humans, what despicable bastards!
I’ve read previously where there were massive, wide-spread extinctions of megafauna shortly after humans arrived anywhere, and that widespread forest fires were the simplest way to explain which species survived and didn’t. It was speculated that the fires were the result of humans.
Believe Indians in both North and South America were pretty cavalier about setting forests on fire. Basic tool of both hunting and agriculture for primitive stone age people.
But I don’t want to interrupt the narrative of “white Europeans are bad”.
So far, I haven't read anything that even remotely resembles 'science.'
“Large-scale forest fires started by prehistoric hunter-gatherers are probably the reason why Europe is not more densely forested”
forests generally regrow after fires, in fact, most conifer seeds generally MUST undergo fire before they’ll germinate. Forests in temperate climates also easily regrow when clear cut. Just look at fields left fallow too long in such climates: they quickly revert back to forest.
I’m sure the Neanderthal version of Smokey the Bear was found to be tasty! lol
So the claim is that thousands or ten of thousands of years ago, some trees burning made the composure of the modern forests and vegetation thickness? That sounds absurd. If it was True, south-east Tennessee should now be a great plains for the next 10,000 years.
Dang those people missed their calling as the forensic arson squad.
If they were anything like me it was deliberate for sure!!!
I read years ago, that people cut down trees to keep warm.
And later they farmed the open ground.
“Large-scale forest fires started by prehistoric hunter-gatherers are probably the reason why Europe is not more densely forested.”
That first sentence says it all. First, exactly how do they know the hunters purposely set forest fires?
Forest and grassland fires are purposely set today as it has been found a fire gives life to new growth. The fires of Yellowstone were purposely left to burn as the whackos figured this was natures way, and leave it alone, as it will regrow anyway. Our trip through the area about 10 years later did show new growth.
My point is, the second part of that sentence is all BS as forests regenerate after a fire.
Fake science!
What horsecrap. Forests replenish themselves eventually after fires.
Junk science.
I thought it was their SUVs.
I thought it was the Venetians cutting down all the trees for shipbuilding.