landnam A characteristic horizon in the pollen chronologies of Britain and western Europe, and also found elsewhere, though at different stratigraphic dates. The absolute quantity of tree pollen in relation to that of other plants is greatly reduced. Sometimes a charcoal layer is found at a similar stratigraphic level. The non-tree pollen shows an increase in arable weed species, e.g. plantain and nettles, and cereal pollens are first recorded in some abundance at this level. Together with archaeological evidence, the horizon is strongly suggestive of a first phase of deliberate forest clearance by Neolithic agriculturists. The landnam phase is dated to about 5000 BP throughout north-western Europe.

landnam A characteristic horizon in the pollen chronologies of Britain and western Europe, and also found elsewhere though at different stratigraphic dates. The absolute quantity of tree pollen in relation to that of other plants is greatly reduced. Sometimes a charcoal layer is found at a similar stratigraphic level. The non-tree pollen shows an increase in arable weed species, e.g. plantain and nettles, and cereal pollens are first recorded in some abundance at this level. Together with archaeological evidence, the horizon is strongly suggestive of a first phase of deliberate forest clearance by Neolithic agriculturists. The landnam phase is dated to about 5000bp throughout north-western Europe.