BOTANICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN 6000-3370 B.P. HIGHLAND ROCK SHELTER IN CENTRAL SAHARA

The 6.035 ±100 and 3.700±40 B. P. layers in Uan-Muhuggiag rock shelter in Tadrart Acacus, Fezzan, have yielded a few plant macroremains. Among these it has been possible to find wood belonging to Cupressaceae, Leguminosae, Oleaceae, Tamaricaceae and some fruit-stones of Balanites aegyptiaca and fruits of Zilla spinosa. These species look to be present in the area at the time as seen through pollen and macro-remains analysis leaded by many researchers. The man gathering plants could also collect plants far away the shelter during his outing the area. The preference he made clearly shows that prehistoric saharian native had a good understanding of use of wood and the properties of the plants. In the level examined up to now, the former, UM/A-1, besides sudanian species also shows a less amount of saharoarabian species; in the older layer, UMb/2b, mostly sudanian species look to be present. Charcoal from different sites in eastern and central Sahara gives evidence that shifts to the north of tropical climate and vegetation belts happened in the Holocene