The Study of Vegetational and Climatic Changes in Greece and Turkey -Especially in Relation to the Rise and Fall of the Civilizations-

我们在蒙布绍国际科学研究计划的资助下进行的联合研究项目在土耳其和希腊的植被和气候变化方面取得了显著的成果：首先，我们发现了B前25000年左右安纳托利亚高原存在巨大洪积湖的明确证据。其次，揭示了中东最古老城市文明诞生的环境背景。气候变化大约在公元前B 5000年左右。P.，通过对古希腊的科隆沼泽和霍图萨沼泽的花粉分析研究，明确了古希腊的古希腊城市对中东最古老城市文明的形成起了重要作用。对叙利亚的Eruluju摩尔和希腊的Katuna摩尔的花粉分析研究表明了赫梯帝国的衰落。对土耳其卡曼遗址的花粉分析研究表明，气候在B 2200年后变得干燥。当亚历山大入侵中东时，由于气候干燥，人们的日常生活处于疲惫的状态。第五，对土耳其和希腊沼泽沉积物的花粉分析研究表明，那里有茂密的森林，主要由松属和栎属组成。最后，为了向日本其他研究者广泛宣传我们的研究，我们于1991年2月27日在京都举办了一个题为"中东的环境与文明"的简短研讨会。

Our joint research project which was aided by a grant under The Monbusho International Scientific Research Program obtained remarkable results in the the vegetational and climatic changes in Turkey and Greece.Firstly, we found clear evidence of the existence of the huge pluvial lake in the Anatolia plateau around 25000 years B. P. by the coring and pollen analysis of the Tuz Gol.Secondly, we revealed the environmental background of the birth of the oldest city civilization in the Middle East. The climatic changes around 5000 years B. P., which were cleared by the pollen analytical studies of the Korone moor and Hotusa moor in Greece, have played an important role in the appearance of the oldest city civilization in the Middle East.Thirdly, the influences of climatic changes around 3000 years B. P. upon the decline of the Hittite Empire was suggested by the pollen analytical studies of the Eruluju moor in Syria and Katuna moor in Greece.Fourthly, the result, up-to- date, is the discovery of the climatic deterioration in the opening period of the Hellenistic Age. Pollen analytical study of the Kaman site in Turkey revealed that the climate became dry after 2200 years B. P. When Alexander invaded to the Middle East, the people's daily life was in an exhausted condition, because of the dry climate.Fifthly, pollen analytical studies of the sediment taken from the moors in Turkey and Greece indicated that there was dense forest which was mainly composed by Pinus and Quercus. Present desolated landscape was brought on by the insatiable destruction of the forest by man.Lastly, in order to widely inform other Japanese researchers about our research, we held a short symposium entitled "Environment and Civilization in the Middle East" on 27, Feb. 1991 in Kyoto.