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Palynology
Palynology is the study of pollen grains or other "palynomorphs" (=
resistant microscopic structures derived from various organisms), e.g.,
phytoliths (= silica bodies from plant leaf cuticles). Palynomorphs
regularly stay preserved in sediments as microfossils. These
microfossils have been of great importance in palaeobotanical
reconstruction of Quaternary and older environments worldwide, by
indicating the past vegetation and climatic conditions during different
times like the Late Pleistocene, Holocene etc.
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Rock hyrax middens
The rock hyrax is an herbivore that is commonly found throughout
southern Africa, and has the particular habit of defecating in the same
location over many generations. These locations, often sheltered in
caves, become covered in faecal pellets and are sealed in accumulations
of dried urine, known as hyraceum. Contained in these deposits are are
a wide variety of palaeoenvironmental proxies including pollen and
stable isotopes. Once sealed in hyraceum, these records are protected
from mechanical disruption as well as the wetting and drying typical of
semi-arid environments, and have been preserved perfectly for upwards
of 50,000 years.
Recently, the European Research Council has awarded
€1,484,000 of funding for a five-year project (HYRAX) to
explore the potential of these unique deposits.
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