Paper short abstract:

Multi-proxy sediment records from Lake Kumphawpi, NE Thailand allow reconstructing lake status changes during the past 10000 years. Contrary to earlier investigations, we show the occurrence of a hiatus (6200-1800 cal yr BP), which means that Lake Kumphawapi cannot contribute any paleoenvironmental information for this time interval.

Paper long abstract:

Multi-proxy sedimentary records from Lake Kumphawpi, NE Thailand allow reconstructing lake status changes during the past 10000 years. The lake level in the already shallow lake gradually decreased between 7000 and 6600 cal yr BP, possibly caused by a gradual decrease in Asian summer monsoon intensity. The long hiatus, which is observed across the lake basin between 6200-1800 cal yr BP, is likely a combination of decomposition of the organic material due to very dry conditions and of erosion caused by the subsequent lake level rise. Contrary to earlier investigations, Lake Kumphawapi cannot contribute any paleoenvironmental information for the time interval between 6200-1800 cal yr BP. Consequently, arguments using the phytolith and pollen record of Lake Kumphawapi to support early rice agriculture in the region or an early start of the Bronze Age, are not valid, since they build upon the assumption of continuous deposition. The re-establishment of a shallow lake around 1800 cal yr BP suggests an increase in effective moisture availability and a strengthening of the summer monsoon and approximately coincides with the transition from the early (2400-1700 cal yr BP) to the late Iron Age (1800-1400 cal yr BP). The lake level lowering around 1000-800 cal yr BP and around 400 cal yr BP may correspond to intervals of severe drought that have been recognized in Asian tree ring records.