@misc{SchneiderHirschWechleretal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Wechler, Klaus-Peter and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Reconstruction of a Paleosurface and Archaeological Site Location in an Anthropogenic Drift Sand Area}, series = {Archaeological Prospection}, volume = {24}, journal = {Archaeological Prospection}, number = {4}, issn = {1099-0763}, doi = {10.1002/arp.1571}, pages = {297 -- 310}, abstract = {Knowledge of the position of archaeological remains in the surface relief provides important basic information for archaeological survey design and interpretation. Geomorphological processes in (pre)history may have resulted in a modification of the local relief around archaeological sites, especially in areas that are prone to sediment erosion and relocation, such as sheet sand and dune landscapes. In this study, we reconstructed and analysed the palaeorelief of an archaeological excavation site in an inland dune area in southern Brandenburg, Germany. The remains of two Mesolithic sites were documented in the archaeological excavations and found to be associated with a buried soil horizon. To gather information on the relief of the buried soil surface, we used a combination of sedimentological and pedological profile descriptions along archaeological survey trenches and geophysical prospection with ground penetrating radar supplemented with microdrone photography and photogrammetry, global positioning system (GPS) surveys, and analysis of LiDAR-based elevation models. A digital elevation model of the buried surface was generated and analysed using a geographical information system (GIS). A comparison of the palaeosurface model with the recent surface elevation model shows that sand remobilization resulted in a considerable reshaping of the relief. Further, an analysis of the buried surface model shows that the relief position of the two archaeological sites in the study area was considerably more prominent in relation to the corresponding buried soil surface than in relation to the recent surface morphology. The results affirm the significance of Holocene sediment relocation for the local surface morphology and the importance of considering such relief modifications in archaeological surveys.}, language = {en} } @misc{RaabHirschOuimetetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Hirsch, Florian and Ouimet, William and Johnson, Katharine M. and Dethier, David and Raab, Alexandra}, title = {Architecture of relict charcoal hearths in northwestern Connecticut, USA}, series = {Geoarchaeology}, volume = {32}, journal = {Geoarchaeology}, number = {4}, issn = {1520-6548}, doi = {10.1002/gea.21614}, pages = {502 -- 510}, abstract = {Relict charcoal hearths are round or elliptical earthen platforms up to 11 m in diameter and a widespread feature of historical industry that supplied charcoal used in the production of iron in furnaces or smelters. The iron industry dominated Litchfield County, Connecticut, and surrounding areas in the northeastUnited States throughout the 19th century, peaking in ∼1850. The large number of charcoal hearths in this region is a relic of >150 years of widespread iron production. In this study, we describe the architecture and soil stratigraphy of 26 charcoal hearths in Litchfield County. This contribution aims to (1) compare soils that comprise the charcoal hearths with "natural" adjacent soils, (2) measure the thickness of topsoil developed upon the hearths, and (3) characterize the stratigraphy associated with these features. Results indicate that the black topsoils overlying the charcoal hearths contain residual charcoal and are on average 2.6 times thicker than adjacentCambisols. Charcoal hearths display two ormore black, charcoal-rich strata separated by layers of reddish-brown soil low in charcoal content indicating multiple episodes of use.We also find that many charcoal hearths have been stabilized with boulders on the downslope side during construction and repeated use.Overall, the results presented here provide significant information regarding the construction, use, and associated impacts of earthen platforms for charcoal production in the northeastUnited States, with further relevance to other areas where historical charcoal production occurred.}, language = {en} } @misc{RaabRaabNicolayetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Nicolay, Alexander and Takla, Melanie and Hirsch, Florian and R{\"o}sler, Horst and Bauriegel, Albrecht}, title = {Opencast mines in South Brandenburg (Germany) - archives of Late Quaternary landscape development and human-induced land use changes}, series = {Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences}, volume = {8}, journal = {Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences}, number = {3}, issn = {1866-9565}, doi = {10.1007/s12520-015-0227-6}, pages = {453 -- 466}, abstract = {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 J{\"a}nschwalde 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.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchneiderBonhageHirschetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Spatial and temporal variability of soil physical properties on legacies of historic charcoal production}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {The spatial variability of soil physical properties on the landscape scale is often increased by anthropogenic land occupation, not only by current land use but also through the legacies of past land use systems. The remains of historic charcoal hearts are an example for such a disturbance of the soil landscape by former forestry. Such relict charcoal hearths (RCH) exhibit a clearly altered soil stratigraphy, most prominently characterized by a technogenic substrate layer on the soil surface, and their soil physical properties can considerably differ from those of surrounding forest soils. The aim of our study is to characterize the soil water and temperature regime on RHC in a pre-industrial charcoal production area in Brandenburg, Germany, as compared with the surrounding sandy forest soils. Soil properties were analyzed in profiles on and around hearth sites and are monitored in a sensor transect equipped with soil moisture sensors and pF-meters. Results of soil sample analyses show differences in density and porosity between the RCH soils and surrounding forest soils, not only in the technogenic layer but also in the buried soil layers on hearth sites. The soil water characteristic curves determined in the laboratory indicate a modified pore size distribution and lower plant available water contents in the RCH soils. Preliminary results of the ongoing soil water monitoring, however, show increased soil wetness in the RCH soils, along with lower soil moisture tensions. Furthermore, the measurements show higher variations of soil temperature in RCH soils. The results affirm that the legacies of historic charcoal production can increase the spatial variability of soil physical properties and therefore also of ecological site conditions in forest areas. The results of soil moisture monitoring suggest that a determination of soil physical parameters in the laboratory is not sufficient to characterize the spatio-temporal variations of the soil water regime.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RaabSchneiderBonhageetal., author = {Raab, Alexandra and Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Takla, Melanie and Hirsch, Florian and M{\"u}ller, Frank and R{\"o}sler, Horst and Heußner, Karl-Uwe}, title = {Spatial analysis of charcoal kiln remains in the former royal forest district Tauer (Lower Lusatia, North German Lowlands)}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {Archaeological excavations have revealed more than thousand charcoal kiln remains (CKRs) in the prefield of the active opencast lignite mine J{\"a}nschwalde, situated about 150 km SE of Berlin (SE Brandenburg, Germany). The charcoal was mainly produced for the ironwork Peitz nearby, which operated from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries. In a first approach, to estimate the dimension of the charcoal production, CKRs were mapped on shaded-relief maps (SRMs) derived from high-resolution LiDAR data (Raab et al. 2015). Subsequently, for a selected test area, identified CKRs on the SRMs were compared with archaeologically excavated CKRs in the field. This survey showed a considerably number of falsely detected sites. Therefore, the data was critically re-evaluated using additional relief visualisations. Further, we extended the CKR mapping to areas which are not archaeologically investigated. The study area, the former royal forest district Tauer, consists of two separate areas: the Tauersche Heide (c. 96 km2 area) N of Peitz and the area J{\"a}nschwalde (c. 32 km2 area) NE of Peitz. The study area is characterized by a flat topography. Different former and current anthropogenic uses (e.g., military training, solar power plant, forestry measures) have affected the study area, resulting in extensive disturbances of the terrain surface. The revised CKR abundance in the study area J{\"a}nschwalde was considerably smaller than the numbers produced by our first approach. Further, the CKR mapping revealed, that a total record of the CKRs is not possible for various reasons. Despite these limitations, a solid database can be provided for a much larger area than before. Basic statistic parameters of the CKR diameters and all comparative statistical tests were calculated using SPSS. To detect underlying spatial relationships in the CKR site distribution, we applied the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, a method to test for local spatial autocorrelation between neighbouring sites. The test is available as part of the ArcGis 10.1 spatial statistics toolbox. The outcomes are discussed in consideration of our archaeological, archival and dendrochronological research results.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RaabRaabSchneideretal., author = {Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas and Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Takla, Melanie and Nicolay, Alexander and Bonhage, Alexander and M{\"u}ller, Frank and Heußner, Karl-Uwe and R{\"o}sler, Horst}, title = {Reconstructing anthropogenic landscape transformation in the surroundings of the ironwork Peitz (SE Brandenburg, Germany) - 16th to mid-19th centuries}, series = {4th International Landscape Archaeology Conference, Uppsala, 22nd - 25th August 2016}, booktitle = {4th International Landscape Archaeology Conference, Uppsala, 22nd - 25th August 2016}, publisher = {Department of archaeology and ancient history, Uppsala university,}, address = {Uppsala}, pages = {S. 152}, abstract = {Various sources provide information about land use history and landscape transformation. For a variety of reasons, the quality of information differs and is often discontinuous or incomplete. In this interdisciplinary study we take advantage of comprehensive archaeological data gathered by large-scale excavations that were necessary because of opencast lignite mining in Lusatia, Brandenburg, Germany. By using a GIS we integrate these archaeological findings with results from archival and literature studies, from historical maps, from landforms and soils as well as from analyses of shaded-relief maps derived from up-to-date LiDAR data. The long-term aim is to develop a palaeoenvironmental model and thus to reconstruct landscape changes caused by human activities. The focus of the study is the Peitz ironwork in SE Brandenburg, which was a large consumer of commodities for about 300 years. During the time it operated, extensive transformations are supposed to have affected the landscape in the vicinity because of wood consumption and especially charcoal production. Digital datasets about forested areas for different timespans reconstructed from historical maps were made available. In combination with dendrochronological dating of charred trees, the spatiotemporal dimension of charcoal kilns was determined. Also, sites of former bog iron ore mining could be identified. Moreover, the different sources contain further information about other forms of land uses such as agriculture, pastoralism and even viticulture. In conclusion we can highlight that the mosaic of past land use systems is different from the modern structure but that major changes in the forests have been retained.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RaabNaethHirschetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Naeth, M. Anne and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra}, title = {Contributing towards a conceptual model of soil-landscape co-evolution: observations from historic mining sites in Alberta, Canada}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {At the former Diplomat Mine near Forestburg, Alberta, Canada we find a diverse soil landscape which can help to conceptualize factors and processes controlling initial pedogenesis and soil distribution on very young landforms in prairie environments. Due to differing reclamation practices in the 1950s and landslides occurring after spoil dumping, four areas can be distinguished by GoogleMaps/LiDAR evaluation and onsite field survey: (i) not-mined, (ii) stock piled and unreclaimed, (iii) stock piled and reclaimed and (iv) affected by post-mining geomorphodynamics and quasi-natural redeposition. The parent material for areas (ii) to (iv) was initially dumped by spreaders but only (ii) didn't undergo further change. Landscape (iii) has seen levelling of the piles by heavy machinery. Features of landscape (iv) are formed by reshaping the originally dumped and levelled structures. This last landscape unit marks the rim of the former mine adjacent to the river valley. In practice, mining activities formed new valley slopes. In contrast to the naturally developed slopes the mine slopes were less stable. Vegetation, which could have hindered slope wash erosion, was missing after dumping the spoil slopes. Slopes were very steep (or practically undercut) and therefore, substrates were naturally re-located by mass movements such as sliding and slumping. Characteristic sliding and slumping structures can be identified in the close-ups of the LiDAR images. Both processes, mass movement and slope wash erosion, may have overlapped. Landscape (ii) is the most contrasting one. Dumped stock piles formed elongated, curved and steep ridges. These landforms do not have a natural analogue but clearly show their technological origin. Most interesting are differences in vegetation. South and southwest facing slopes are covered with grassland whereas north and northeast facing slopes are covered with aspen trees. Some of the ditches are filled with water and form small elongated ponds. The characteristic geomorphology of the prairie can be found in landscape (i). Distinct differences are found in properties and types of soils in these four landscapes. Natural soils and pile soils characteristically differ in parent material and soil horizons. No information is gathered yet for the reclaimed soils and the landslides soils due to prohibited access. However, based on what we find at the former Diplomat Mine we can conclude that distribution, development and properties of unreclaimed soils in historical open cast mines in Alberta are primarily controlled by parent material and topography. The geomorphological set-up is dominating the trajectory of vegetation development and post-mining geomorphodynamics. Contrasting slope aspects determine micro climatic conditions and lead to different vegetation types. This has likely had an effect on soil development and soil properties (especially carbon stocks). Further studies will be conducted to quantify these differing soil properties to refine this conceptual model of initial pedogenesis and soil distribution on very young landforms in the prairie landscapes.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HirschSchneiderNicolayetal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Nicolay, Alexander and Błaszkiewicz, Mirosław and Kordowski, Jarosław and Noryskiewicz, Agnieszka M. and Tyszkowski, Sebastian and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Late Quaternary landscape development at the margin of the Pomeranian phase (MIS 2) near Lake Wygonin (Northern Poland)}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HirschSchneiderRaabetal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas and Buras, Allan and Maaten, Ernst van der and Takla, Melanie and R{\"a}biger, Christin and Cruz-Garc{\´i}a, Roberto and Wilmking, Martin}, title = {Effects of historic charcoal burning on soil properties}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BurasHirschMaatenetal., author = {Buras, Allan and Hirsch, Florian and Maaten, Ernst van der and Takla, Melanie and R{\"a}biger, Christin and Cruz-Garc{\´i}a, Roberto and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas and Wilmking, Martin}, title = {Charcoal kiln relicts - a favorable site for tree growth?}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HirschNicolayPoetzschetal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Nicolay, Alexander and P{\"o}tzsch, Bastian and Fritzsche, Marie and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Influence of charcoal burning induced pyrolysis on soils}, series = {3rd Annual ICLEA Workshop 2014, Dynamics of Climate and Landscape Evolution of Cultural Landscapes in the Northern Central European Lowlands since the Last Ice Age}, booktitle = {3rd Annual ICLEA Workshop 2014, Dynamics of Climate and Landscape Evolution of Cultural Landscapes in the Northern Central European Lowlands since the Last Ice Age}, editor = {Schwab, Markus J. and Theuerkauf, Martin and Brauer, Achim and Wilmking, Martin and Lampe, Reinhard}, publisher = {GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences}, address = {Potsdam}, doi = {10.2312/GFZ.b103-14028}, pages = {41}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RaabRaabNicolayetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Nicolay, Alexander and Takla, Melanie and Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and R{\"o}sler, Horst and B{\"o}nisch, Eberhard}, title = {Human-induced landscape dynamics in South Brandenburg - findings from different geoarchives}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {South Brandenburg is the central part of the North European Lowland (NEL) extending as a plain landscape from the North and Baltic Sea to the foothills of the Central European Highlands and reaching from the Netherlands to Poland. Since many decades lignite opencast mines have been operating in this region which is known as the Lusatian mining district. The total land demand in Lusatia is about 852 square kilometres and mining will continue for many more years or even decades. Large-scale outcrops resulting from these mining activities are excellent archives to study the younger Earth's history. The scope of our research in open cast mines is to reconstruct the Late Quaternary landscape development and to distinguishing natural from anthropogenic forcing and processes. In more detail, the aims are to identify and to quantify the impact of past land uses, i.e. changes of vegetation, landforms and soils induced by agriculture and/or forestry. Here, we are presenting latest results from our research and review important findings giving novel insights into man-induced environmental changes in Lusatia within the past thousands years and thus improving the general understanding of Late Quaternary landscape dynamics.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HirschNicolayPoetzschetal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Nicolay, Alexander and P{\"o}tzsch, Bastian and Fritzsche, Marie and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Influence of charcoal burning induced pyrolysis on soils}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {In Lusatia, Northeastern Germany, the production of ironware between the 16th and 19th century left behind a remarkable amount of charcoal kilns in the forests north of Cottbus. Remote sensing surveys, underpinned by archaeological studies, show that charcoal was gained around Cottbus from several thousand charcoal kilns which had internal diameters up to 20 m. For the study site with 35 km2 area, the until now prospected total ground area below the charcoal kilns which was potentially affected by the pyrolysis is about 0,5 km2. Historic data indicates that the pyrolysis in the charcoal kiln took up to several weeks, for the kilns with a diameter of 20 m about 20 days. To characterize the depth of thermal alteration of soils below the kiln our current focus is on the differentiation of the iron hydroxides by small-scale vertical analysis of soil profiles.}, language = {en} } @misc{HirschBonhageBauriegeletal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Bauriegel, Albrecht and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Gypser, Stella}, title = {The occurrence, soil parameters and genesis of rubified soils ('Fuchserden') of northeastern Germany}, series = {Catena}, volume = {175}, journal = {Catena}, issn = {0008-7769}, doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2018.11.039}, pages = {77 -- 92}, language = {en} } @misc{HirschSproeteFischeretal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Spr{\"o}te, Roland and Fischer, Thomas and Forman, Steven L. and Raab, Thomas and Bens, Oliver and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Late Quaternary aeloian dynamics, pedostratigraphy and soil formation in the North European Lowlands - new findings from the Baruther ice-marginal valley}, series = {Die Erde}, volume = {148}, journal = {Die Erde}, number = {1}, issn = {0013-9998}, doi = {10.12854/erde-148-30}, pages = {58 -- 73}, abstract = {The formation of dunes in central Europe reflects ample sediment supply during the last deglacial hemicycle. A Quaternary inland dune complex in southern Brandenburg, Germany, was studied to frame the duration of pedogenesis in two outcrops containing buried paleosols. An integrative approach, which combined geomorphological, sedimentological, pedological and chronological methods was used to identify aeolian deposition events, ensuing pedogenesis and anthropogenic remobilization. At the outcrops, which were situated approximately 2 km apart from each other, a total of twelve samples of the aeolian sands were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and a further six samples using 14C dating. Although the dunes have similar morphological features, these forms have a different history of aeolian sand deposition and pedogenesis. At the older dune (Gl 1) the surface soil is a well developed Podzol, whereas soil development of the younger dune (Gl 2) is clearly in an initial state. The studied sites of the dune complex also differ in grain size distribution and in the presence of buried soils, thereby indicating a climatic impact on aeolian remobilization.}, language = {en} } @misc{GypserHirschSchleicheretal., author = {Gypser, Stella and Hirsch, Florian and Schleicher, Anja M. and Freese, Dirk}, title = {Impact of crystalline and amorphous iron- and aluminum hydroxides on mechanisms of phosphate adsorption and desorption}, series = {Journal of Environmental Sciences}, volume = {70}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Sciences}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2017.12.001}, pages = {175 -- 189}, language = {en} }