Holocene paleogeography of Southwest Anatolia

Plant species had survived in Southwest Anatolia during Last Glacial Maximum (~21000-19000 14C BP) by refuging in certain local areas. The vegetation in this area played an important role on forming and developing modern vegetation types with the beginning of Holocene period. Southwest Anatolia had showed a host character in terms of settlements from the beginning of Holocene at same time. For this reason, the region has an international importance due to historical-cultural and environmental characters.Environmental characters, modern vegetation formation, paleovegetation characters and the effects of human over environment of Southwest Anatolia have been constructed together in the perspective of chronic in this thesis study which is called ?Holocene Paleogeography of Southwest Anatolia?. Pollen records in 21 different area belonged to Southwest Anatolia have reinterpreted by biomisation perspective depend on functional plant type.According to the analyses of pollen data, climatic conditions were colder and more drought at around 9000 14C BP. And also it is determined that forest vegetation changed between ~ % 30-60. It is seen that large scale forest vegetation formation was common in Southwest Anatolia in relation to changed climatic conditions in the last part of Early Holocene (~6000 14C BP). Climate conditions were similar to the present and arboreal pollen were (AP) (woody plant) in the ratio of ~% 60-95 before present ~4000 14C. Because of intense anthropogenic effects which were seen in Beysehir Occupation Phase (between ~3200-1300 C14 BP) AP ratio decreased between % 5 - %70. On the other hand, anthropogenic species increased between % 5 - % 30.Key Words: Southwest Anatolia Holocene, Pollen Analysis, Climate Change, Human İmpact.