ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES DURING THE LATE PLEISTOCENE AND EARLY HOLOCENE IN GUILA NAQUITZ (OAXACA, MEXICO).

Using a bioclimatic model based on the mammal species present either in the past or present in and around the important archaeological site of Guild Naquitz (Oaxaca, Mexico), it was inferred the type of vegetation that existed on the site since the late Pleistocene to 6,700 radiocarbon years BP. The model shows three stages: the first characterized by the existence of an open vegetation like that found nowadays in northwestern Mexico, pine forests developed during the second stage, and finally a tropical deciduous forest with summer rainfall settled the area. This is in line with the palynological record from the site, which signals the presence of xerophytic scrub, tropical deciduous forest, pine and oak forests, all of which spread or compressed in accordance to climate oscillations.