CHARCOALS FROM MAIDEN CASTLE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN RELATION TO THE VEGETATION AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN PREHISTORIC TIMES.

The article presents a study of the charcoals obtained from the recent excavations on the Maiden Castle, England and their significance in relation to the vegetation and climatic conditions in prehistoric period. A few specimens of charcoal collected from the site indicated that the wood was partially decayed before carbonizing. The specimens of charcoals were examined from Neolithic, Early Iron Age and Late Iron Age deposits from the site. It was evident that in Neolithic times, the chalk of Dorset was clothed with a closed plant community of woodland. It was observed that composition of plant species were changing slightly in all the three periods and the soil conditions were becoming less favorable for the growth of oak.