Ritchie, J. C., 1987

Reviewed by Alwynne B. Beaudoin,
Archaeological Survey of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
in CAP Newsletter 12(1):14 (1989)

This is a "must read" for anyone interested in vegetation history. Ritchie reviews a vast amount of literature and provides a coherent overview of a sprawling subject.

The book is divided into eight chapters. The two chapters following the introduction deal with the physical landscape and climate background, and with autecology and pollen representation. The next four chapters discuss vegetation history on a regional basis, beginning with full-glacial refugia, both south of the glaciated area and Beringia, followed by chapters on eastern Canada, the western interior, and the Pacific-Cordilleran region. Specific pollen records are discussed from each region. Each chapter contains plenty of illustrations, including summary pollen diagrams for the illustrative sites and a location map.

The final chapter surveys the origins and development of major modern vegetation regions, such as the boreal forest. Finally, Ritchie discusses the impact of some palaeoenvironmental controls, including climate, fire, pathogens and paludification.