Subfossil tree deposits in the middle durance (Southern Alps, France): Environmental changes from allerød to atlantic

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the numerous holocene subfossil trees (Pinus silvestris) buried in alluvial deposits in the Southern French Alps. These trees lived between the Allerød and Subboreal periods, according to 14C dates. Our dendochronological studies explain the trees' sudden death as due to morphological crisis brought on by climatic oscillations. Tree-ring series could be used to identify the variability of early Holocene atmospheric 14C levels.