@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} } @inproceedings{SchneiderHirschWechleretal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Wechler, Klaus-Peter and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Mapping a palaeosurface and archaeological site location in an anthropogenic drift sand area}, series = {ICLEA Final Symposium 2017, Human Impact and Landscape Evolution in the Southern Baltic Lowlands, Abstract Volume \& Excursion Guide}, booktitle = {ICLEA Final Symposium 2017, Human Impact and Landscape Evolution in the Southern Baltic Lowlands, Abstract Volume \& Excursion Guide}, editor = {Schwab, Markus and Błaszkiewicz, Mirek and Raab, Thomas and Wilmking, Martin and Brauer, Achim}, doi = {10.2312/GFZ.b103-17037}, pages = {152 -- 154}, language = {en} } @misc{UchinoRaabBonhageetal., author = {Uchino, Kazuki and Raab, Alexandra and Bonhage, Alexander and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Thomas and Wechler, Klaus-Peter and Bauriegel, Albrecht}, title = {Spatial heterogeneity of buried and recent soils in a drift sand area in North-Eastern Germany}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23-27 May 2022}, journal = {EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23-27 May 2022}, doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu22-2354}, abstract = {In the North European Lowland, on the sandy deposits of the Weichselian glaciation, soils developed during periods of landscape stability are often conserved under windblown sand. However, small-scale changes of sediments and other soil forming factors can result in high spatial variation of soil properties in these landscapes; and relocation of soil material by geomorphic processes further increases the spatial heterogeneity of the soil landscape. These spatial variations in soil properties and conservation need to be considered in order to correctly decipher and interpret the buried soils as records of past environmental conditions. In the forefield of the open-cast mine Cottbus-Nord, archaeological excavations in a dune and drift sand area revealed widespread buried soils of different characteristics. The densely spaced excavation trenches give exceptionally good insights into the pedosphere, allow for reconstructing the distribution of fossil and recent soils in a high spatial resolution, and offer good opportunities to improve the understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of soil formation. Remains of postpleistocene hunter-gatherer campsites were documented in archaeological excavations and found to be associated with a buried soil horizon. We recorded the stratigraphy of soil profiles along more than 15 trenches within an area of about 20 ha, and additionally described the position of buried soils from GPR surveys and microdrone photogrammetry. In a recently opened, 455 m long trench, all characteristic soils and sediments of the study region could be observed and stratigraphically connected. Within this trench, four profiles were identified for further research. Each profile was classified and described according to WRB and German Guidelines for Soil Mapping; and was sampled and investigated through laboratory analyses including determination of organic matter, total carbon and nitrogen contents, soil colour identification, texture analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, metal content analysis using X-ray fluorescence analyzer and pH measurement. The compaction and cementation of soil horizons was assessed in situ with a pocket penetrometer. Results show a small-scale mosaic of soils developed on fluvio-aeolian, limnic and aeolian sediments, high spatial variations in pedogenesis due to varying groundwater influence and intensity of horizontal and vertical leachate transport, and high variations in the erosion or conservation of fossil soils. The soil and sediment stratigraphy reflects several phases of landscape development: i) the formation of a Late Pleistocene soil on fluvio-aeolian deposits, ii) a fossilization by aeolian sands, iii) a stability phase with intensive podsolization and peat formation, and iv) a land use-induced aeolian remobilization of the sands.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchneiderHirschWechleretal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Wechler, Klaus-Peter and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Mapping a paleosurface and archaeological site location in an inland dune area in Brandenburg, Germany}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {Mapping and visualizing the position of archaeological remains in the surface relief provides important basic information for archaeological survey design and interpretation. Geomorphological processes in (pre)history can have resulted in a modification of the local relief around archaeological sites, especially in areas that are prone to sediment erosion and relocation, so that models of past surfaces are necessary for a correct interpretation of archaeological survey results. In this study, we combined terrestrial survey and remote sensing methods to reconstruct the palaeorelief around two archaeological excavation sites in an inland dune area in southern Brandenburg, Germany. Remains from two Mesolithic hunter-gatherer camps were documented in 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 description of archaeological survey trenches and geophysical prospection with Ground-Penetrating Radar; supplemented by microdrone photography and photogrammetry, GPS surveys and analysis of LIDAR-based elevation models. A digital elevation model of the buried surface was created by combining point data from these sources. The buried surface morphology and the position of the archeological remains within the reconstructed landscape were analyzed in GIS. The comparison of the generated paleosurface model with the recent surface elevation model shows that sand remobilization resulted in a considerable reshaping of the relief. Analysis of the buried surface model further 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. Results affirm the importance of considering Holocene relief modifications in archaeological surveys.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchneiderHirschRaabetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Thomas and Wechler, Klaus-Peter}, title = {Reconstructing spatial and temporal patterns of soil formation in an anthropogenic drift sand area in Northeastern Germany}, 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{HirschRaabSchneideretal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Thomas and Schneider, Anna and Wechler, Klaus-Peter}, title = {Late Holocene eolian fossilization of Podzols in Northeastern Germany}, 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 = {The North European lowland has been formed by glacial and periglacial processes in the Late Pleistocene. Multiple reshaping since the Late Glacial considerably changed the landscape up to and including especially historic times. Sediment sequences and (fossilized) soils can improve our understanding of Late Quaternary landscape development, but mapping of buried soils and surfaces is often limited to single outcrops. Ongoing archaeological rescue excavations in the pre-field of the open-cast mine Cottbus-Nord (northeastern Germany) with dense excavation trenches in an about 10 ha dune and drift sand area reveal multilayered sediment sequences with fossilized soils and sediments from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene. Archaeological findings ranging from Mesolithic flint stones to an about 200 year old ceramics in eolian sediments covering plow horizons and wheel tracks suggest that eolian relocation of sandy material was intensive about 200 years ago. Still unpublished OSL dating underline the intense eolian activity. Recent studies showed that between the 15Th to the 19Th century an iron smelter 5 km to the west of our study site was supplied with charcoal, which was produced in a forest 5 km east to our study site. Our current findings about Late Holocene eolian activity raise the question if this eolian reshaping of the landscape is connected with the operation of the iron smelter either directly by transport or bog iron ore winning or indirectly by population pressure caused by the prospering iron smelter. Our ongoing research indicates, that already for historic land-use off-site effects causing further landscape changes have to be considered.}, language = {en} }