TY - CHAP A1 - Schneider, Anna A1 - Takla, Melanie A1 - Raab, Alexandra A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Bonhage, Alexander A1 - Hirsch, Florian A1 - Rösler, Horst T1 - Towards an inventory of historic charcoal production fields in Brandenburg, Germany T2 - European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015 KW - historic charcoal production Y1 - 2015 UR - http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/EGU2015-3949.pdf N1 - EGU2015-3949 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - GEN A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Krümmelbein, Julia A1 - Schneider, Anna A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Maurer, Thomas A1 - Naeth, M. Anne T1 - Initial Ecosystem Processes as Key Factors of Landscape Development - A Review T2 - Physical Geography Y1 - 2012 SN - 1930-0557 VL - 33 IS - 4 SP - 305 EP - 343 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Raab, Alexandra A1 - Bonhage, Alexander A1 - Schneider, Anna A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Rösler, Horst A1 - Heußner, Karl-Uwe A1 - Hirsch, Florian T1 - Spatial distribution of relict charcoal hearths in the former royal forest district Tauer (SE Brandenburg, Germany) T2 - Quaternary International N2 - Historical charcoal production has long been an unconsidered type of forest utilization in lowland areas. The archaeological discovery of a large charcoal burning area in the forefield of the active opencast lignite mine J€anschwalde in SE Brandenburg (North German Lowlands) has highlighted the need for multidisciplinary research in the study of the dimensions of historical charcoal burning. The charcoal produced in our study area, the former royal forest district Tauer, provided energy for the nearby Peitz ironworks during its operation from the mid-16th to the mid-19th century. Here, we aimed to record the amount, size and distribution of relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) to examine their context with respect to the ironworks and to better understand the potential impacts on late Quaternary landscape change. The applied methods combined archaeological research with shaded-relief mapping of RCHs. To evaluate the detection success of RCHs in the shaded-relief maps (SRMs), we compared the results with the results from specific archaeological surveys and conventional forest site mapping. Furthermore, we analyzed our dataset with descriptive, comparable and spatial statistics. Additionally, dendrochronological dating of charcoal fragments from selected RCHs was used to investigate the temporal relationships among the RCHs. Approximately 6000 circular RCHs were manually digitally identified in the SRMs of the 109-km2 evaluable area. However, ground truthing showed that the shaded-relief maps could not completely capture all RCHs in our study area due to local conditions. At the regional scale, two focus areas with high RCH site densities were found. Statistical analysis revealed that the diameters of the RCHs range widely from 4 to 30.5 m. Spatial statistics were applied to the RCH diameters to aggregate areas with larger or smaller RCHs. At the small scale, no systematic arrangement of RCHs was obvious in the SRMs. Dendrochronological dating of selected RCHs lying close together could not detect significant spatiotemporal relationships or patterns. The dating results also showed that some areas have been preferentially used for charcoal production for over 300 years. Due to the homogeneity of the physiogeographical location factors, we assume that these factors are not superficially responsible for site selection. Instead, economic location factors and contemporary regulations are more likely responsible for the distribution of RCHs. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2017.07.022 SN - 1040-6182 VL - Vol. 511 SP - 153 EP - 165 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schneider, Anna A1 - Takla, Melanie A1 - Nicolay, Alexander A1 - Raab, Alexandra A1 - Raab, Thomas T1 - A Template-matching Approach Combining Morphometric Variables for Automated Mapping of Charcoal Kiln Sites T2 - Archaeological Prospection N2 - Analysing the spatial distribution of anthropogenic relief structures can contribute to the understanding of past landuse systems. With automated mapping routines, small relief forms can be detected efficiently from high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs). In this study, we describe an approach for the automated mapping of charcoal kiln sites from an airborne laser-scanning DTM. The study site is located north of Cottbus, Germany, where an exceptionally large historic charcoal production field has been documented in previous archaeological surveys. The goal of this study was to implement, evaluate and improve an automated GIS-based routine for mapping these features based on the template-matching principle. In addition to the DTM, different morphometric variables were evaluated for their suitability to detect kiln sites. The mapping results were validated against a comprehensive database of kiln sites recorded from archaeological excavations and via manual digitization. The effects of irregular kiln-site geometry and DTM noise were evaluated using synthetic DTMs. The results of the synthetic DTM mapping show that the template-matching results differed depending on the morphometric variable used for the mapping process. In accordance with this observation, a validation of the mapping procedure for the field site suggests that feature mapping can be improved. In particular, the number of false detections can be reduced using a combination of morphometric variables. For the validation area, the kiln sites with diameters of at least 10m were mapped using the automated routine, with detection rates that were close to those of manual digitization. Therefore, the described method can considerably facilitate the mapping and distribution analysis of kiln sites or similar small relief forms that are prominent in a specific landscape. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1497 SN - 1099-0763 VL - 22 IS - 1 SP - 45 EP - 62 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schneider, Anna A1 - Hirsch, Florian A1 - Wechler, Klaus-Peter A1 - Raab, Alexandra A1 - Raab, Thomas T1 - Reconstruction of a Paleosurface and Archaeological Site Location in an Anthropogenic Drift Sand Area T2 - Archaeological Prospection N2 - 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. Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1571 SN - 1099-0763 VL - 24 IS - 4 SP - 297 EP - 310 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Hirsch, Florian A1 - Ouimet, William A1 - Johnson, Katharine M. A1 - Dethier, David A1 - Raab, Alexandra T1 - Architecture of relict charcoal hearths in northwestern Connecticut, USA T2 - Geoarchaeology N2 - 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. Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21614 SN - 1520-6548 VL - 32 IS - 4 SP - 502 EP - 510 ER - 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 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-015-0227-6 SN - 1866-9565 VL - 8 IS - 3 SP - 453 EP - 466 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Hinz, Christoph A1 - Letmathe, Peter A1 - Leuchner, Michael A1 - Roß-Nickoll, Martina A1 - Rüde, Thomas A1 - Trachte, Katja A1 - Wätzold, Frank A1 - Lehmkuhl, Frank T1 - Perspectives of lignite post‑mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany? T2 - Environmental Sciences Europe N2 - Background The decision of the German federal government to cease lignite mining until 2038 or—if possible— already earlier until 2030, will cause manifold transition processes in the remaining lignite mining districts of Germany. The two largest districts are located in geographically opposite regions: The Rhineland in the western part and Lusatia in the east of Germany. As particularly these two mining districts will experience severe changes in their socioeconomic as well environmental conditions, the federal government has adopted comprehensive economic support measures. However, the environmental changes will also cause altered ecosystem functions and services to be provided by the future post-mining landscapes. Results In this paper, the two main lignite-producing regions of Germany are compared with regard to their natural and cultural settings. The economic situation and its history are reflected and differences are outlined. Part of the disparities in the cultural development can be explained by very different natural conditions, especially edaphic factors and climatic situation. Because of dissimilar geological settings, different mining technologies were developed and are in use in the two regions with distinct effects on the resulting post-mining landscapes. Conclusion The long-standing and manifold lignite mining activities have radically restructured the landscapes in Lusatia and the Rhineland. With the ongoing decline of the mining industry and its complete cessation, presumably within the next decade, both regions will alter their faces significantly. These changes offer both challenges but also opportunities with respect to the post-mining landscapes and their ecosystem services they are going to provide. The prerequisites for a positive socioeconomic development and for sustainable land-use concepts that also consider ecological aspects are different for both regions. However, or especially because of these differences, the knowledge exchange and experience transfer between both mining regions are pivotal for the success of this extensive transformation process. KW - Lignite mining KW - Ecosystem services KW - Post-mining landscapes KW - Transformation processes Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00738-z SN - 2190-4715 VL - 35 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Jouy, Florent A1 - Schüle, Maren A1 - Adhikari, Yojana A1 - Binder, Anja A1 - Clerc, Danica A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Repmann, Frank A1 - Rönnefarth, Susanne A1 - Schirrmacher, Marina A1 - Schmehl, Marie-Therese A1 - Schröder, Jens A1 - Ibisch, Pierre L. T1 - Factors impacting the variability of post-fire forest regeneration in central European pine plantations T2 - Restoration Ecology N2 - Fire is increasingly posing a risk to forests and plantations, even in the temperate latitudes of central Europe. Little is known about fire ecology in this region, and therefore, appropriate approaches for the management and reforestation of burned sites are mostly lacking. In a Scots pine plantation region in Brandenburg (northeast Germany), the early tree regeneration of two nearby areas that burned 1 year apart was investigated. We observed that 3 years after the fire events, the forest in one study area showed a relatively high regeneration with a mean density of 7765 saplings/ha, clearly dominated by European aspen (93%); whereas the other study area showed a lower mean density of 5061 saplings/ha, dominated by Scots pine (71%) and aspen (15%). Three years after the fires, the difference in aspen density was 11-fold between the two areas. We studied the effects of several variables about soil and environmental properties on the aspen establishment in these two study areas in the second and third years after the fire events. We found that the post-fire aspen regeneration was influenced by several factors, including soil texture, soil disturbance from forest management, volume of deadwood, and browsing. We also discussed that weather conditions during seed production and germination might have played a role in the difference in aspen establishment between the two study areas. We concluded that the post-fire forest regeneration potential in the study region is highly variable and could come under critical pressure as climate change progresses. Y1 - 2025 UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/rec.70017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70017 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Hinz, Christoph A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Lehmkuhl, Frank T1 - Editorial for the Special Issue “Anthropogenic Geomorphology – Geomorphology in the Anthropocene” T2 - Geomorphology Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108528 SN - 0169-555X VL - 422 ER -