Sedimentary record of early wood burning in alluvium of mountain streams in the Bieszczady range, Polish Carpathians

The youngest alluvium in the headwater part of the San valley in the Bieszczady range (Polish Carpathians) is sandy mud lying with a sharp contact on older gravels. The mud alluvium contains at its base accumulations of wood debris rich in charcoal. Radiocarbon dates of the wood debris suggest that the mud alluvium was laid down during the second half of this last millennium. The accumulation of the wood debris seems to be related to the fire clearance of forests by early farmers who settled in the area. The higher part of the mud alluvium includes dispersed wood debris, ash and charcoal whose appearance is related to the activity of small wood-processing establishments until the early 20th century.