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Paleoecology and paleohydrology of the Ramlat as-Sab’atayn (Southern Arabia) are reconstructed from a comparative study including sedimentology, mineralogy, stable isotope ratios of carbonates, and palynology of lacustrine sediments recovered from the al-Hawa depression, The section dates from 8700 to 7200 yr B.P. and records an early phase of flooding followed by distinct lacustrine development from 7800 to 7200 yr B.P., coeval with maximum activity of the Indian monsoon, Comparison of the pollen record with modern pollen deposition suggests that regional vegetation was then already of desert type and was related to strong seasonal trade winds. (C) 1998 University of Washington.