T171 Historical Range of Variability in Landscapes

Tuesday, 2 November 2010
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 406

HOLOCENE LANDSCAPE RECONSTRUCTION AND LAND USE CHANGES IN LOWER LUSATIA (SOUTHERN BRANDENBURG, EAST GERMANY) – PEDOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL APPROACHES

Paper number: T171-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Authors

  • Alexander Nicolay Presenting Author
    Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, N/A
  • Alexandra Raab
    Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, N/A
  • Thomas Raab
    Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, N/A
  • Horst Rösler
    Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Museum, Zossen, N/A
  • Eberhard Bönisch
    Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Museum, Zossen, N/A

Abstract

Modern lignite mining in southern Brandenburg (East Germany) causes the destruction of entire landscapes. To date, research concentrated on the reclamation of areas affected by mining-related activities, but the significance of prehistoric and historic cultures on land use changes is disregarded. Recently, a joint research project was launched for interdisciplinary long-term palaeoenvironmental research and to study anthropogenic landscape change in southern Brandenburg. The project partners are geoscientists from the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus and archaeologists from the Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Museum (BLDAM), within the scope of this project pedological and geomorphological investigations are carried out to reconstruct Holocene landscape and land use change in the apron of the opencast pit Jänschwalde (Lower Lusatia), c. 100 southeast of Berlin and c. 15 km northeast of Cottbus. By law large-scale surveys and excavations have to be carried out in the forefield to document all archaeological findings. In combination with the excellent outcrop situation the archaeological investigation offers ideal conditions to study the soil geomorphology on a landscape scale.

Fieldwork includes topographical surveying by differential GPS. Soils and sediments are described along cross-sections (up to 140 m long, up to 2 m deep). Field-portable XRF analyzes (FPXRF) is used for a quick characterization of total element concentrations of the substrates. Standard analytical methods (e.g., soil texture, contents of pedogenic oxides) are carried out in the laboratory. To obtain chronological information, radiocarbon and OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) dating are applied on suitable material.

Evidence of different land use and land use change in the study area is abundant. For example, at several cross-sections agricultural soil horizons are covered with up to 150 cm thick eolian sands, proving that deforestation and agricultural use induced eolian soil erosion. In addition, remnants of charcoal piles buried under up to 150 cm thick eolian sands indicate remobilization of Quaternary sands as a consequence of clearing for charcoal production.

The ongoing investigations will concentrate on fieldwork. Preliminary results are presented.