Problems in the interpretation of pollen diagrams of mineral soils

Abstract

The theories of pollen homogenization and of differential decay of Quercus pollen in Pleistocene cover sand soils now showing a podzol profile, adduced in earlier papers, are disputed by some palynologists. In the present article they are supported by various palynological, ecological, pedological and experimental arguments. Two examples from published evidence, relating to a loess and a cover sand soil respectively, are given to demonstrate that pollen analysis of mineral deposits with a minute pollen concentration may easily lead to the wrong conclusions.