@misc{SchneiderHirschBonhageetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Verbreitung und Eigenschaften von Meilerb{\"o}den in Brandenburg}, series = {Erfassung und Bewertung von vorindustriellen Meilerstandorten - Workshop 19. Februar 2019}, journal = {Erfassung und Bewertung von vorindustriellen Meilerstandorten - Workshop 19. Februar 2019}, editor = {Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Schopper, Franz}, publisher = {Brandenburgische Technische Universit{\"a}t Cottbus - Senftenberg, Fachgebiet Geopedologie und Landschaftsentwicklung}, address = {Cottbus}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-4817}, pages = {23 -- 42}, language = {de} } @misc{RaabHirschRaabetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and B{\"o}nisch, Eberhard}, title = {B{\"o}den historischer Landnutzung in der Niederlausitz - W{\"o}lb{\"a}cker und Kohlemeiler}, series = {Brandenburgische Geowissenschaftliche Beitr{\"a}ge}, volume = {26}, journal = {Brandenburgische Geowissenschaftliche Beitr{\"a}ge}, number = {1/2}, issn = {0947-1995}, pages = {5 -- 14}, abstract = {In der Niederlausitz finden sich - meist unter Kiefern- und Eichenforsten versteckt - zahlreiche Relikte der historischen Landnutzung, die bisher kaum bekannt sind. Zu den auff{\"a}lligsten Formen z{\"a}hlen W{\"o}lb{\"a}cker und Pl{\"a}tze ehemaliger Kohlemeiler. In einigen Regionen der Niederlausitz ist die Verbreitung der Landnutzungsrelikte so groß bzw. ihre Dichte so hoch, dass sie pr{\"a}gend f{\"u}r die Bodenlandschaft werden. Dieser Beitrag zeigt an repr{\"a}sentativen Beispielen die charakteristischen Merkmale und Eigenschaften der B{\"o}den auf W{\"o}lb{\"a}ckern und Relikten von Holzkohlenmeilern (HKM).}, language = {de} } @misc{BonhageMykhailovaHirschetal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Mykhailova, Larysa and Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Ouimet, William}, title = {FTIR-based inquiry on carbon in forest soil substrate enriched by aged biochar, West Connecticut, USA}, series = {Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweiz und der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft, Abstract-Band 2019}, journal = {Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweiz und der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft, Abstract-Band 2019}, pages = {S. 198}, abstract = {Relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are sites of former charcoal production that are an increasingly well documented anthropogenic feature in forests of the temperate climate zone. However, the type and extent of a possible legacy effect from RCHs on soil physical and chemical properties is still largely unknown. In the Litchfield Hills in west Connecticut, RCH sites are located mainly on slopes and therefore differ in their architecture from lowland sites found in Europe. One of the striking characteristics of a RCH site regardless of its architecture is the enrichment of the soil with charcoal in varying particle sizes. In this study, we use chemical digestion coupled with a PLSR-model to quantify organic carbon and pyrogenic carbon in RCH substrate by MIR-DRIFT measurements. Furthermore, we analyse the quality of carbon compounds by MIR-DRIFT measurements on multiple grain size fractions to assess the post-burn enrichment of soil organic matter. Preliminary results show a markedly increase in organic and pyrogenic carbon in RCH substrates in relation to the natural forest soil. Also, our first results suggest that the enrichment of organic carbon is favoured on RCHsites. However, the causality between the enrichment of soil organic matter and site features remains open. Experiments using chemical extraction techniques on our samples hint at an increase of labile organic compounds and/or microbial biomass. This legacy effect of RCHs is however evident and further studies need to focus on how to address them.}, language = {de} } @misc{SchneiderDonovanHirschetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Donovan, Sara and Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Der Einfluss von Relikten der historischen K{\"o}hlerei auf Bodentemperatur und -w{\"a}rmeleitf{\"a}higkeit}, series = {Abstract-Band, Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweizund der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen GesellschaftBern, 24.-29. August 2019}, journal = {Abstract-Band, Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweizund der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen GesellschaftBern, 24.-29. August 2019}, pages = {S. 350}, abstract = {Die Beimengung von Holzkohle in B{\"o}den kann deutlichen Einfluss auf die physikalischen Bodeneigenschaften haben. Solche Effekte treten nicht nur in gezielt mit Holzkohle („biochar") angereicherten Ackerb{\"o}den auf, sondern auch auf den Standorten historischer Holzkohlemeiler (HKM), die in vielen Waldgebieten in großer Zahl vorkommen. Die pr{\"a}gendste Eigenschaft solcher B{\"o}den auf HKM ist eine technogene, kohlereiche Substratschicht, die {\"u}ber dem nat{\"u}rlich entwickelten Bodenprofil abgelagert ist. In j{\"u}ngster Zeitwurden in mehreren Studien ein von den umliegenden Waldb{\"o}den abweichendes Vegetationswachstum und eine abweichende C-Dynamik auf HKM festgestellt. Welche Bodeneigenschaften der HKM solche Unterschiede bewirken, ist aber noch unklar. Ein m{\"o}glicher, bisher kaum untersuchter Einflussfaktor ist die Bodentemperatur. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss von Holzkohlebeimengungen auf die W{\"a}rmeleitf{\"a}higkeit und das Bodentemperaturregime von HKM-B{\"o}den zu charakterisieren. Untersucht wurden HKM auf sandigem Substrat in der Lausitz (Brandenburg). An zwei Standorten wurden Profile auf HKM und benachbarten Waldb{\"o}den f{\"u}r ein Monitoring der Bodentemperatur {\"u}ber jeweils ein Jahr instrumentiert, die W{\"a}rmeleitf{\"a}higkeit von HKM-Schicht, Ah-, fAh-und Bv-Horizont wurde im Labor bestimmt. In einem Laborexperiment wurde zus{\"a}tzlich die W{\"a}rmeleitf{\"a}higkeit von k{\"u}nstlich hergestellten Proben aus sandigem Substrat und Holzkohlefragmenten in unterschiedlichen Mischungsverh{\"a}ltnissen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine deutlich verringerte W{\"a}rmeleitf{\"a}higkeit des kohlereichen Substrats. Damit verbunden zeigen sich im Monitoring geringere Schwankungen der Bodentemperatur auf den HKM in tiefen Bereichen des Profils, in den obersten Dezimetern wurden hingegen st{\"a}rkere Schwankungen der Bodentemperatur festgestellt. Insgesamt zeigt sich damit ein noch {\"u}ber die technogene Substratschicht hinaus wirksamer Einfluss der typischen Eigenschaften des kohlereichen HKM-Substrats auf die Bodentemperatur.}, language = {de} } @misc{BonhageHirschSchneideretal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Aged biochar enriched substrate increases SOM stocks of forest soils in the North German Lowland}, series = {Abstract-Band, Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweizund der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen GesellschaftBern, 24.-29. August 2019}, journal = {Abstract-Band, Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweizund der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen GesellschaftBern, 24.-29. August 2019}, pages = {S. 502}, abstract = {Recentfindings of more than 4000 relict charcoal hearths (RCH) in the forest district Tauer (Brandenburg, Germany) raise the question to what extent soil properties are controlled by a legacy effect of historical charcoal burning. RCH sites are characterized bya substantial admixture of charcoal fragments of varying particle sizes constituting an anthropogenic addition of carbon to the natural forest soil. Ages of about 250 years proven by dendrochronological dating of larger charcoal pieces on RCHs allow for assessing long-term effects of biochar application on forest soils. In this study, we measured the geometry and SOM content of 20 RCH sites in a selected part of the forest district. The results are the basis for a projection of RCH SOM stocks on a 40 ha forest plot with 120 RCH sites. In the range of statistical uncertainties it is shown that RCHs add between 13 \% and 32 \% of SOM to the SOM stock of the natural forest soil in the studied plot. These substantial amounts of SOM are so far not recognized by any soil survey or forest soil inventories of SOM and SOC stocks. In light of an increasing amount of studies that detect RCH sites in forests of Europe and the USA in the range of tens-and even hundreds of thousands, the question has to be asked how to address this legacy effect in ongoing scientific discussions about soil carbon stocks, carbon sequestration and the long-term effects of biochar application into soils.}, language = {de} } @misc{BonhageHirschSchneideretal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas and Donovan, Sally}, title = {Long term anthropogenic enrichment of soil organic matter stocks in forest soils - detecting a legacy of historical charcoal production}, series = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {459}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, issn = {0378-1127}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117814}, pages = {11}, abstract = {Recent findings of several thousand relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) in the Tauer Forest (Brandenburg, Germany) raise questions about the legacy effects of historical charcoal production on soil properties. RCH sites are characterized by the admixture of charcoal fragments to the natural forest soil, constituting an anthropogenic addition of carbon. Dendrochronological dating of large charcoal pieces has identified RCH ages ranging from 1709 AD to 1823 AD for a subarea in the Tauer Forest, which allows for assessing century old effects of charcoal application on forest soils. We measured the geometry and soil organic matter (SOM) content of 20 RCH sites in a selected part of the forest. The results provide a basis for estimating RCH SOM stocks on a 40-ha forest plot with 120 RCH sites. We also assessed the accuracy of RCH mapping based on digital elevation models (DEMs) with results from a ground survey. Over 50 \% of sites were not detected by the DEM-based mapping. In the range of statistical uncertainties, RCHs add between 18 \% and 32 \% of SOM to the stock of the natural forest soil in the study area. This equals an additional 4.9 - 8.9 Mg of carbon per hectare of forest soil. These substantial amounts of SOM are so far not recognized by any survey or forest soil SOM inventories. Considering recent studies, which uncovered tens- and hundreds- of thousands of RCHs throughout Europe and the USA, we conclude that further knowledge of RCH SOM is important for quantifying anthropogenic SOM stocks on a global scale.}, language = {en} } @misc{BonhageHirschRaabetal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Thomas and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Ouimet, William}, title = {Characteristics of small anthropogenic landforms resulting from historical charcoal production in western Connecticut, USA}, series = {Catena}, volume = {195}, journal = {Catena}, issn = {0341-8162}, doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2020.104896}, pages = {14}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderHirschBonhageetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {The soil moisture regime of charcoal-enriched land use legacy sites}, series = {Geoderma}, volume = {366}, journal = {Geoderma}, issn = {0016-7061}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114241}, pages = {15}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderBonhageRaabetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Large-scale mapping of anthropogenic relief features—legacies of past forest use in two historical charcoal production areas in Germany}, series = {Geoarchaeology}, volume = {35}, journal = {Geoarchaeology}, number = {4}, issn = {1520-6548}, doi = {10.1002/gea.21782}, pages = {545 -- 561}, language = {en} } @misc{HirschSchneiderBonhageetal., author = {Hirsch, Florian and Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Drohan, Patrick J. and Raab, Thomas}, title = {An initiative for a morphologic-genetic catalog of relict charcoal hearths from Central Europe}, series = {Geoarchaeology}, volume = {35}, journal = {Geoarchaeology}, number = {6}, issn = {1520-6548}, doi = {10.1002/gea.21799}, pages = {974 -- 983}, language = {en} } @misc{BonhageHirschRaabetal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Thomas and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Alexandra and Ouimet, William}, title = {Stratigraphy and shape of relict charcoal hearths in Connecticut, USA}, series = {Anthropogenetische Geomorphologie - Geomorophologie im Anthropoz{\"a}n : Virtuelle Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises f{\"u}r Geomorphologie 2020, 28./29. September 2020, BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, journal = {Anthropogenetische Geomorphologie - Geomorophologie im Anthropoz{\"a}n : Virtuelle Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises f{\"u}r Geomorphologie 2020, 28./29. September 2020, BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, address = {Cottbus}, issn = {2196-4122}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5363}, pages = {29}, language = {en} } @misc{RaabRaabHirschetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Schneider, Anna}, title = {Fingerprints from past charcoal burning - lessons learned and future perspective studying Relict Charcoal Hearths (RCH)}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2020, Online | 4-8 May 2020}, journal = {EGU General Assembly 2020, Online | 4-8 May 2020}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2949}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderHirschBonhageetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {The temperature and moisture regime of charcoal-enriched land use legacy soils}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2020}, journal = {EGU General Assembly 2020}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2339}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderHirschRaabetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Bonhage, Alexander and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Relikte historischer Kohlenmeier ini der Oberpfalz - Verbreitung und Erhaltung in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit vom Naturraum}, series = {Beitr{\"a}ge zur Arch{\"a}ologie in der Oberpfalz und in Regensburg}, journal = {Beitr{\"a}ge zur Arch{\"a}ologie in der Oberpfalz und in Regensburg}, number = {13}, issn = {1617-4461}, pages = {531 -- 546}, language = {de} } @book{HirschRaabRaab, author = {Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Beitr{\"a}ge zur Landnutzungsgeschichte in der Niederlausitz und im Erzgebirge}, publisher = {Brandenburg University of Technology}, address = {Cottbus ; Senftenberg}, issn = {2196-4122}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5388}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-53887}, pages = {101}, abstract = {In diesem Band sind verschiedene Beitr{\"a}ge zur Landnutzungsgeschichte in der Niederlausitz und im Erzgebirge zusammengefasst. Die ersten vier Beitr{\"a}ge befassen sich mit historischen Ackerfluren und W{\"o}lb{\"a}ckern in der Niederlausitz. Arch{\"a}ologische Untersuchungen, in Kontext gestellt mit archivalischen Quellen und historischen Karten, geben gemeinsam mit dem Einsatz naturwissenschaftlicher Methoden und Visualisierungen hochaufl{\"o}sender LiDAR-Daten neue Einblicke in die ehemalige Landnutzung. Der f{\"u}nfte Beitrag aus dem Erzgebirge beschreibt die Nutzung von ehemaligen Meilerpl{\"a}tzen als Quellengattung der Montanarch{\"a}ologie.}, language = {de} } @misc{BonhageEltaherRaabetal., author = {Bonhage, Alexander and Eltaher, Mahmoud and Raab, Thomas and Breuß, Michael and Raab, Alexandra and Schneider, Anna}, title = {A modified Mask region-based convolutional neural network approach for the automated detection of archaeological sites on high-resolution light detection and ranging-derived digital elevation models in the North German Lowland}, series = {Archaeological Prospection}, volume = {28}, journal = {Archaeological Prospection}, number = {2}, issn = {1099-0763}, doi = {10.1002/arp.1806}, pages = {177 -- 186}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderBonhageHirschetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Accumulation patterns of soil organic matter in forests as a legacy of historical charcoal burning}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2021}, journal = {EGU General Assembly 2021}, doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu21-5161}, language = {en} } @misc{SchneiderBonhageHirschetal., author = {Schneider, Anna and Bonhage, Alexander and Hirsch, Florian and Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas}, title = {Hot spots and hot zones of soil organic matter in forests as a legacy of historical charcoal production}, series = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {504}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, issn = {1872-7042}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119846}, abstract = {Human land use often leads to distinct modifications of soils within small, clearly delimited areas. Legacy effects of past land use are also abundant in recent forest areas, but are hardly considered in ecosystem assessment and soil mapping. The soils on relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are a widespread example for such land use legacy soils in forests. Soils on RCHs differ clearly from surrounding forest soils in their stratigraphy and properties, and are most prominently characterized by a technogenic substrate layer with high contents of charcoal and thus soil organic matter (SOM). Although RCH soils can clearly contribute to the SOM stocks of forest soils, their relevance on the landscape scale has hardly been quantified. In this paper we analyze and discuss the distribution and effects of RCH soils across scales for forests in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, with a focus on SOM stocks. Our analysis is based on a large-scale mapping of RCHs from digital elevation models (DEMs), combined with a linear regression model of SOM stocks in RCH soils. The spatial distribution of RCH soils in the study region has a scale dependent heterogeneity. The large-scale variation in site densities is related to the concentration of charcoal production to specific forest areas while the small-scale variation is related to the irregular distribution of single RCHs within the charcoal production fields. Up to 1.5 \% of the surface are covered by RCH soils in the forest areas within the study region. The results also show that RCHs can significantly contribute to the SOM stocks of forests, even where they cover only a small fraction of the soil surface, with up to 18 \% additional SOM for forest areas. Because of the heterogeneous distribution of RCHs, the SOM stock additions depend on the scale of observation. Our results suggest that RCH SOM additions can be overestimated when sites in small areas (< 1 km²) are analyzed; and that characteristic spatial concentration patterns of RCHs are even observable when values are aggregated to large areas (25 km² and more). Aggregating effects to irregularly-sized forest administrative units resulted in maps that well represent the spatial distribution of RCH soils and SOM. The study highlights that considering land use legacy effects can be relevant for the results of soil mapping and inventories; and that prospecting and mapping land use legacies from DEMs can contribute to improving such approaches.}, language = {en} } @book{RaabRaabBonhageetal., author = {Raab, Alexandra and Raab, Thomas and Bonhage, Alexander and Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Aghte, Markus and Pommerenke, Alf}, title = {Historische K{\"o}hlerei in S{\"u}dbrandenburg - Begleitband zum K{\"o}hlerpfad Waldschule Kleinsee}, editor = {Raab, Thomas}, publisher = {Brandenburgische Technische Universit{\"a}t Cottbus - Senftenberg, Fachgebiet Geopedologie und Landschaftsentwicklung}, address = {Cottbus}, issn = {2196-4122}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-5488}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-54883}, pages = {68}, language = {de} } @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} } @misc{RaabKimBonhageetal., author = {Raab, Alexandra and Kim, Minhye and Bonhage, Alexander and Schneider, Anna and Raab, Thomas and Bauriegel, Albrecht}, title = {Initial processes of soil formation on Relict Charcoal Hearths (RCHs) in the Tauer Forest (Brandenburg, 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-egu22-3563}, abstract = {In the Tauer Forest, a woodland area north of the city of Peitz (Brandenburg, Germany), extensive charcoal burning was carried out from the mid-16th century to the mid-19th century resulting in numerous Relict Charcoal Hearths (RCHs). The most prominent feature of the soils on RCHs is the anthropogenically modified 20-30 cm thick RCH substrate that buries the former forest soil. The RCH substrate is a quite heterogenous mixture of mineral and organic compounds which were modified through heat during charring. It is characterized by its black color resulting from charcoal fragments (from fine dust to decimetre size pieces), lower bulk density, and higher porosity. After their use, the charcoal production sites were abandoned and soon became overgrown. Soil formation could commence in this anthropogenically modified RCH substrate. During recently conducted field work on RCHs in the Tauer Forest we detected features of initial podzolisation (bleaching of quartz grains) within this RCH substrate. To further investigate initial processes of soil formation (acidification, podzolisation, accumulation of soil organic matter) on RCHs, two different RCH sites were selected in the Tauer Forest: one RCH site in the forest district Tannenwald and one RCH site in the forest district Kleinsee. The Tannenwald site (RCH no. 29958) is situated in the western part of the Tauer Forest. It is an inland dune area with a coniferous forest (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L.) plantation. The forest soils are Podzols and the soils on the RCHs are classified as Spolic Technosols. The dense undergrowth consists of mainly blueberry (Vaccinium L.). Dendrochronological ages (determination by K-U Heußner, DAI Berlin) of charcoal pieces proof, that the charcoal hearth was used after 1655. The Kleinsee site (RCH no. 29424) is situated in the eastern part of the Tauer Forest. The parent material is sand from glaciofluvial sediments of the Weichselian glaciation. The forest soils are Brunic Arenosols (Protospodic) and the soils on the RCHs are classified as Spolic Technosols (Arenic). The deciduous forest is dominated by sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). The undergrowth is only scarce with some ferns (sporadic), blueberry (Vaccinium L.), some shoots of rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and some moss. There is no dendrochronological age available from the RCH, but RCHs nearby were dated from the 18th to the 19th centuries. At both sites, three soil monoliths were sampled on the RCH platform and three monoliths from the natural forest soil as reference soils. The soil monoliths were sampled continuously in 3 cm vertical spacings. Following lab analyses were carried out: pH (CaCl2), pH (H2O), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), CECeff and total concentrations of selected elements. Analyses of pedogenic Fe are in progress. First results of these study will be presented and discussed.}, language = {en} }