oa Evaluation of Anhydrosugars as a Molecular Proxy for Paleo-Fire Activity: A Case Study from Peloponnese, Greece

Anhydrosugars like Levoglucosan (LVG) are produced upon incomplete combustion of cellulose, and can act as molecular markers for biomass burning. In this multi-proxy study from the Agios Floros wetland, Pelopponese, Greece, we found that wetter conditions - causing better organic matter preservation - was the dominant control on LVG concentrations. In contrast, the LVG profile was reciprocal to the microcharcoal record and to other proxy evidence for dryness, e.g. based on leaf wax hydrogen isotopes. We conclude that an approach using several proxies, both for fire, hydroclimate and vegetation change, is needed when aiming to reconstruct past biomass burning from wetland ecosystems with a strongly seasonal climate as in the Mediterranean. Our study also relates significant fire activity between 4400-2800 cal.yr BP to the Bronze Age period that saw intense human environmental interaction and climate change.