TY - GEN A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Raab, Alexandra A1 - Nicolay, Alexander A1 - Takla, Melanie A1 - Hirsch, Florian A1 - Rösler, Horst A1 - Bauriegel, Albrecht T1 - Opencast mines in South Brandenburg (Germany) - archives of Late Quaternary landscape development and human-induced land use changes T2 - Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences N2 - This study outlines the opportunities for geoarchaeological research in active opencast lignite mines in southern Brandenburg (Germany). Studies on extensive outcrops that address both archaeology and soil geomorphology, combined with a geographical information system (GIS) approach, provide unique insights into human-induced environmental changes in Lower Lusatia and generally improve our understanding of landscape dynamics. We present the most recent results from three case studies and review important findings from the last several years. Studies conducted in opencast mines of Cottbus-Nord and Jänschwalde focus on (i) Late Quaternary geomorphodynamics and soil development and (ii) past land use and the legacy of agriculture and woodland use. Our results are similar to those in other regions in Central Europe, but we also observe regional differences caused by the local setting, e.g. intensification of soil erosion coinciding with the expansion of farming of cultivated lands in the Slavic Middle Ages. Our research reveals the largest archaeologically investigated area of historical charcoal production in the Northern European Lowland (NEL). We are clearly only beginning to understand the massive dimensions of charcoal production in the region. Y1 - 2015 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-UBICO/frontdoor/index/index/docId/13221 SN - 1866-9565 VL - 8 IS - 3 SP - 453 EP - 466 ER -