Environmental change and imperial land use in central Mongolia: a multiproxy lake record from the vicinity of Karakorum over the last 1260 years

A high-resolution, multiproxy analysis of Lake Deliin Burd sediments reveals that the Orkhon Valley's forest-steppe ecosystem in central Mongolia has been shaped by a complex interplay between climate variability and imperial land-use strategies over the last 1260 years. The study identifies increased fire frequency during the Khitan (∼800 cal. yr BP) and Mongol (∼630 cal. yr BP) periods, linked to higher woody fuel input, while coprophilous fungal spores and Poaceae Cerealia-type pollen indicate persistent agropastoral activities. These findings highlight the resilience and transformation of forest-steppe landscapes in response to shifting socio-political regimes, offering new insights into the long-term environmental history and heritage value of Inner Asia's imperial centers.

Barhoumi, C., Rohland, H., Franken, C., Dulamsuren, C., Saindovdon, D., & Behling, H. (2026). Environmental change and imperial land use in central Mongolia: a multiproxy lake record from the vicinity of Karakorum over the last 1260 years. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 691, 113752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2026.113752