The long-term Quaternary vegetation and climate history in South Africa's savanna biome since ca. 190,000 yr BP, is elucidated by the palynological record of lake sediments in the Tswaing Crater (the Pretoria Saltpan), and spring deposits from Wonderkrater, despite hiatuses in both sequences. Palaeotemperature trends from the two places are presented by means of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of pollen data, allowing a new regional palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Correlation in the older sections of the sequences, beyond radiocarbon dating, is tentative, suggesting that the Wonderkrater sequence is roughly 4 times younger than the Tswaing sequence. Combined, temperature indications from the two sites suggest cooling at ca. 14,000 yr BP and slight warming at ca. 15,000 yr BP. Although no data are available between ca. 15,000 and 21,000, and 25,000 and 31,000 yr BP, generally cool conditions are suggested between ca. 11,000 and 33,000 yr BP. Between ca. 33,000 and an extrapolated age of ca. 80,000 yr BP, at least three warmer pulses of varying intensity occurred. No data are available between ca. 80,000 and 150,000 yr, but between 150,000 and ca. 190,000 yr BP, two cool and two moderately warm phases are suggested.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.