PALYNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF HYRAX MIDDENS FROM SOUTHERN-AFRICA

Hyrax middens in relatively dry parts of Africa preserve plant material which includes pollen. The bottoms of two stratified hyrax dung middens from Blydefontein Basin in the Karoo shrubland of South Africa, were dated by radiocarbon to ca. 300 yr B.P. and ca. 1130 yr B.P. Comparison of midden pollen spectra with pollen from alluvial sediments near one of the hyrax middens, and in modern surface samples, indicates that middens contain pollen which reflects local vegetation, and that diet probably does not have a major influence on pollen spectra. Changes in pollen composition probably reflect climatic conditions during the early history of the older midden profile. Grass dominated spectra suggest moist conditions existed between 1200 and 300 yr B.P., and an interval of slightly more shrubby karoid vegetation possibly points to a minor dry spell at 1000 yr B.P. A sharp increase of karoid shrub vegetation, and a decrease of grass since 300 yr B.P. is reflected in both middens. The change was apparently triggered by relatively dry conditions, and later, during the last 150 years, it was enhanced by overgrazing from European domestic stock. © 1990.