Horizon IV: 10,000-8,000 Years Ago The Pond Becomes a Swamp The accumulation in the core of plant matter preserved by stagnant water reveals that the pond was undergoing a major transformation.  The open water was gradually replaced by vegetation, and the pond finally became so shallow that it ceased to exist.  A forested wetland, or swamp, formed in its place. 1. Upland Pine Drier conditions in upland areas encouraged the growth of white pines and gray birch.  The high percentage of pine pollen in the core indicates that the pine was the dominant pollen producer in the area during this period. 2. Trees Surrounding the Basin The land around the pond became forested with white pines, hemlocks, oaks, and birches.   Plant debris from the watershed washed into the pond basin and accumulated. 3. Marsh Filling in with Trees The margin of the basin became increasingly dominated by shrubs and mosses, creating a bog  mat.  Finally, when trees began to take hold, the basin formed a swamp, a forested wetland. 4. Moose The filled-in swamp provided an ideal habitat for moose and deer. 5. Snapping Turtle Turtles and other reptiles and amphibians, as well as small mammals and birds, made their home in the swamp. 6. People Gathering Sedges & Bulrushes Several campsites from this time period have been discovered within a 5-mile radius of Cedar Swamp, indicating that people living in the region made widespread use of these wetlands.