## 4 Results
### La Draga (Girona, NE Iberia)  
#### 4.4.1 Archaeological Profiles  
Pollen analysis in archaeological profiles at La Draga provided robust data to characterize environmental evolution during the different occupation phases and the moments prior and posterior to the Neolithic settlement [15]. This analysis confirms that on their arrival, the first farmers found dense forests predominated by broadleaf deciduous trees (dec. _Quercus_, _Corylus_), with riparian forests next to the settlement (_Fraxinus_, _Salix_, _Ulmus_, _Alnus_), a secondary role of conifers (_Pinus_ and _Abies_) and a slight signal of regional sclerophyllous forests (mainly _Quercus_ _lex-cocifera_) and Mediterranean maquis (_Erica_, Figure 6).  
Figure 5: Percentage pollen and NPP diagram of selected taxa and categories for SB2 and LB (discontinuous silhouettes) records (Banyoles, Girona, NE Iberia. Shadings in red show human impact, dark greenish blue marks peaty phases, sky blue, aquatic phases. Categories: broadleaf deciduous (_Quercus_ deciduous, _Corylus_, _Fagus_); Riparian (_Alnus_, _Salix_, _Fraxinus_, _Ulmus_); sclerophyllous (_Quercus_ _lex-cocifera_, _Olea_, _Phillyna_); coprophilous fungi (_Sordaria_-type, _Podospora_-type, _Cercophoma_-type, _Rhytidospora_); carbonicolous-ligiculous fungi (_Gelasinspora_ HdV-2, _Conicha_ cf. _Iginaria_, _Kretzschmaria deusta_, types UAB-9, UAB-10, UAB-11, UAB-12, UAB-17); Asteraceae (Ast. tibuliflorae, Ast. tibuliflorae, _Crisium_-t, _Aster-4_, _Centaurea_); Soil erosion indicators (_Glomus_, HdV-361; UAB-8; UAB-30); Freshwater algae (_Spirogyna_, _Zygnema_, _Closterium_, _Mowgeotia_); Aquatic and hygrophyle plants (Cyperaceae, _Typha latifolia_, _Typha-Sparganium_, _Nymphaea_); other ferns (_Pteridium_, _Polyodium_).  
From Phase I in Sector B-D (~7.3-6.9 kyr cal BP), clear signs of deforestation led by Neolithic communities are evident in the abrupt fall of _Quercus_ deciduous values. This is also attested in the first centimetres of lake marl (contact with archaeological sediments, Figure 6) in Sector A. The occurrence of Cerealia-t, spores of coprophilous fungi and high values of herbs show the local impact of human activities in the pollen record of different archaeological layers and structures. A large accumulation of spores of carbonicolous-lignicolous fungi was recorded in Phase I in Sector B-D, and general scarce values in Sector A. While the highest values of aquatic and hygrophilous plants occur during the occupation at La Draga, they decline after the abandonment in favour of riparian trees. High values in Asteraceae occurs in Phase II in Sector B-D and in layers UE2002 and post-abandonment peat, while soil erosion indicators are present in high values in the lake marl in Sector A, and in Phase II and peat in Sector B-D (Figure 6). Monolete spores and freshwater algae show their highest values in peat layers after the abandonment of the site.  
Figure 6: Percentage pollen and NPP diagram for La Draga archaeological profiles. Categories: broadleaf deciduous (_Quercus_ deciduous, _Coryilus_); Riparian (_Almus_, _Frazinus_, _Salix_, _Ulmus_); sclerohydillus (_Quercus_ _lix-coccifera_, _Olea_, _Phillyrea_); coprophilous fungi (_Sordaria_-type, _Podospora_-type, _Cercophona_-type, _Rhytidspora_, _Apisocardiaria_ verruculosa_, UAB-2, UAB-34B, UAB-36); carbonicolous-lignicolous fungi (_Chaetomium_, _Gelasinospon_ HdV-1/2, _Coriochaeta_ cf. _Iigniaria_, _Coriochaeta_ xilarispora_ HdV-6, _Kretzschmaria deusta_, _Neuropora_, UAB types 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 38); Asteraceae (Ast. liquidiflorae, Ast. tubuliflorae, _Crisium_-t, _Aster-t_, _Centaurea_); Soil erosion indicators (_Glomus_, HdV-182, HdV-361, UAB types 8, 22, 30, 46, 47, 48, 50); Freshwater algae (_Spingyra_, _Spirogyra_ HdV-210, _Spirogyra reticulate_, _Zygnema_, _Mougeotia_); Aquatic and hygrophyle plants (Cyperaceae, _Typha latifolia_, _Typha-Sparganium_, _Nymphaea_); other ferns (_Peteridium_, _Polytodium_).