Middle and Late Holocene vegetation history of the Murcia region from a new high-resolution pollen sequence from the Mar Menor lagoon

•New high resolution pollen sequence in southern Spain covering the last 6500 yrs.•Simulataneous changes in the archaeological record and within plant communities.•Deforestation and changes in herbs communities during the Argar period (Bronze Age).•Changes in the thermo-Mediterranean shrub communities related to pastoral practices.•Major vegetation changes linked with mining and agriculture during the Roman period.