Charcoal analysis and the history of Pinus pinaster (cluster pine) in Portugal

Abstract

The present vegetation of northern and central Portugal is predominantly comprised of artificial forests of Pinus pinaster (cluster pine). Whether this tree is native or introduced has been a subject of controversy amongst botanists, phytosociologists, and geographers. This paper investigates the early occurrences of Pinus pinaster in Portugal (north of the river Tejo), based on charcoal analysis from fifty archaeological sites. The results show an early presence of the species in Portugal, both in the central coastal areas and in the northeast and central inland areas. Evidence presented here suggests that the cluster pine spread to the northwestern areas during the late Bronze Age. © 1995 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.