Holocene pollen and phytolith data from the Xinglong site in the Bashang Grassland, northern China

This dataset comprises pollen and phytolith records obtained from the Xinglong site in the Bashang Grassland, northern China. The data were systematically collected from a 340 cm sediment profile (TG1E) containing well-stratified deposits from the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition to mid-Neolithic period. 70 contiguous samples were taken in 5 cm interval for multi-proxy analyses. The raw pollen data show a total of 29,447 grains of spore and pollen were identified and counted in the profile, with a total concentration of approximately 51,457 grains/g, including 27,729 grains of angiosperm pollen, 1622 grains of fern spores, 76 grains of algae, 20 grains of bryophyte spores, and an average of approximately 421 grains per sample. In general, sixty-six taxa were identified, including sixteen woody species, forty one herbaceous plants, seven fern types, one algae, and one bryophyte. Arboreal taxa mainly included Pinus, Picea, Betula, Carpinus, Quercus, Ulmus, Tilia, Acer, Tamarix, Hippophae, Nitraria, Ilex, Spiraea, Ephedra, Pyrolaceae and Elaeagnaceae. Terrestrial herbaceous vegetation featured Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Artemisia, Chrysanthemum, Saussurea, Asteraceae, Taraxacum, Aster, Urticaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Brassicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Campanulaceae, Rosaceae, Sanguisorba, Potentilla, Leguminosae, Polygonum, Labiatae, Thalictrum, Ranunculus, Ranunculaceae, Macleaya, Valerianaceae, Umbelliferae, Papaveracea, Convolvulaceae, Galium, Geranium, Liliaceae, Solanaceae, Saxifraga, Xanthium, Rubiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Crassulaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Humulus and Cyperaceae. Aquatic herbaceous plant is Typha. Ferns mainly included Selaginella Sinensis, Selaginella, Adiantum, Polypodiaceae, Lycopodium, Monolete spores and Leiotriletes. Algae is Zygnema and bryophyte is Ricciaceae. The raw phytolith data show seventy phytolith samples (6–340 cm depth) contained 21,344 counted specimens, averaging about 305 grains per sample, and the total concentration is 36,146 grains/g per sample (ranging from 3149 to 124,330 grains/g). Dominant morphotypes include bulliform, square, rectangular, short-saddle, bilobate, elongate psilate, elongate echinate, elongate dendritic, acicular hair cell, rondel, trapeziform sinuate, and polyhedron aggregate. There are also a small number of sponge spicules. The identified plant species mainly include Phragmites australis, Eragrostoideae, Panicoideae, and Pooideae.