Seeking the meaning of a unique mountain site through a multidisciplinary approach. The Late La Tène site at Sklářské Valley, Šumava Mountains, Czech Republic

Dreslerová, Dagmar; Kozáková, Radka; Metlička, Milan; Brychová, Veronika; Bobek, Přemysl; Čišecký, Čeněk; Demján, Peter; Lisá, Lenka; Pokorná, Adéla; Michálek, Jan; Strouhalová, Barbora; Trubač, Jakub

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.03.013

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…All calibrated dates are reported in years Before Present (hereafter, cal yr BP). Summed probability distribution of radiocarbon dates from Sklářské Valley archaeological site (Dreslerová et al, 2020) was used to identify phases of human occupation. All the calculations on 14 C dates were performed in Oxcal, version 4.3 (Ramsey, 2009).…”

Section: Chronological Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regional fire activity (f ) (median and 95% confidence interval) is based on a composite fire signal of five charcoal sequences from Šumava (see Supplementary Figure S2). Summed probability distribution of radiocarbon dates (g) from the archaeological site in Sklářské Valley (Dreslerová et al, 2020) show the phases of human presence. Yellow vertical bars show the visual correlation between increased regional fire activity and other proxies.…”

Section: Primary Anthropogenic Indicators: the Question Of Local Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…located near the abandoned village of Frauenthal in the Sklářské Valley, dated to ca. 300–390 BC (Figure 1; Dreslerová et al, 2020). A person (or a small group of people) left traces of repeated activity over a small platform (ca.…”

Section: The Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20×20 m) situated above a distinct meander of the Křemelná river. The exact nature of this activity has been difficult to determine, but evidence gained from multi-disciplinary research suggests that the site might have been a camp on a trade route, a guardhouse, or perhaps a hermitage (Dreslerová et al, 2020). A peat bog located just 60 m away provided pollen and macro-charcoal records.…”

Section: The Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased evidence of fire during the Iron Age further suggests a period of intensified human land use (Carter et al, 2018b). Recent advances in archaeological knowledge of the Šumava Mountains (hereafter referred to as Šumava) have revealed evidence of human presence during the Mesolithic (Eigner et al, 2017; Kapustka et al, 2019) and later prehistory (Dreslerová et al, 2020). These new findings have prompted a debate over the recognition of prehistoric human activity, the relationship between fire and humans, and the way people used the mountain landscape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The prehistory and early history of the Šumava Mountains (Czech Republic) as seen through anthropogenic pollen indicators and charcoal data

et al. 2020

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In the lower forested mountain ranges of Europe, human impact on nature is usually confined to the written history of the Middle Ages. Our research in the Šumava mountains aims to specify the nature and intensity of human impact on vegetation, especially during agricultural prehistory. We use results from a multidisciplinary study of the unique La Tène archaeological site in the Sklářské Valley (elevation 802 m a.s.l.) and from a pollen and charcoal record 60 m away. With knowledge of this reference site we focus on the meaning of anthropogenic pollen indicators in 13 other pollen sites from central Šumava. From ca 3300 cal yr BP we detect an increase in NAP, Betula, Pinus and secondary anthropogenic indicators in pollen records – vegetation changes of anthropogenic origin. Charcoal records show a significant peak around 3200 cal yr BP. We found weak anthropogenic influence on the La Tène archaeological site in the Sklářské Valley, and much stronger anthropogenic pollen signals at other pollen sites dated to the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Some of these sites are situated on trade routes which have been known since Medieval times but which most likely have much older origins. During prehistory, pollen data reveal no specific human activity such as pasturing or arable farming but reflect small-scale disturbances that supported growth of Betula and Pinus and an abundance of herbs. Such human impact could be connected primarily to activities along trade routes and to hunting, but other factors cannot be excluded.

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Section: Chronological Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Primary Anthropogenic Indicators: the Question Of Local Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The prehistory and early history of the Šumava Mountains (Czech Republic) as seen through anthropogenic pollen indicators and charcoal data

et al. 2020

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Silver mining and landscape changes in medieval Central Europe: Reconstructing ore processing in a buried fir forest on the Bohemian‐Moravian Highlands (Koječín, Czech Republic)

Hrubý,

Kaiser,

Kočár

et al. 2024

Geoarchaeology

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This study discusses the potential of archaeological organic objects in anthropogenic sediments in terms of research into human impact on the medieval landscape and environment. In the Bohemian‐Moravian Highlands, at a mid‐altitudinal stream valley site (ca. 510 m asl), remains of a cut medieval forest stand with anthropogenic wooden structures and buried by technogenic sediments (e.g., ore, gangue and tailings) were archaeologically excavated. The site was analysed using an interdisciplinary approach, applying methods from archaeology, archaeobotany, sedimentology, pedology and geochemistry as well as dendrochronology and radiometric dating. The vegetation can be reconstructed as forest with a dominance of fir and an admixture of spruce and alder. The surrounding slopes were covered by broadleaf trees. Remains of wooden technical structures, stamped, ground and washed ores and gangue, together with fragments of grinding stones, allow the interpretation of the site as an ore and stamp mill linked to ore washing equipment. This record of a buried medieval fir forest can be likewise used as a historical testimony and analogue for present‐day issues on ecology and forestry, aiming at ecological revitalisation and adaptation of forests to ongoing climate change in Central Europe.

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Colluvial sediments originating from past land-use activities in the Erzgebirge Mountains, Central Europe: occurrence, properties, and historic environmental implications

Kaiser

Tolksdorf²,

Boer

et al. 2021

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Colluvial sediments originating from soil erosion on slopes have proven to constitute significant evidence for tracing past human impact on mountain landscapes. In the Central European Erzgebirge (Ore) Mountains, colluvial sediments are associated with specific landforms (footslopes, slope flattenings, dells) and cover a share of 11% (11,905 ha) of the regional soil landscape. Thirteen pedosedimentary sections with colluvial layers were investigated at five forested sites (520–730 m a.s.l.) within a context of mining archaeology, integrating data from pedology, archaeology, palaeobotany, and geochronology. The thickness of the gravel-bearing loamy, silty, and sandy colluvial layers is up to 70 cm, which are mostly located on top of the sections. The geochronological ages and archaeological data reveal a high to late medieval to post-medieval age of the colluvial sediments. Pollen data show a drastic decline of the mountain forests in the late twelfth to fifteenth centuries AD accompanied by an increase of pioneer trees and spruce at the expense of fir and beech. The primary cause of soil erosion and subsequent colluvial deposition at the sites investigated is medieval to post-medieval mining and other early industrial activities. A compilation of 395 radiocarbon and OSL ages, obtained from colluvial sediments at 197 upland sites in Central Europe, shows that anthropogenically initiated colluvial dynamics go as far back as the late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. Most ages derive from the medieval to post-medieval period, corresponding to the general intensification of settlement and land-use activities including deforestation and widespread ore mining.

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Seeking the meaning of a unique mountain site through a multidisciplinary approach. The Late La Tène site at Sklářské Valley, Šumava Mountains, Czech Republic

Cited by 10 publications

References 52 publications

The prehistory and early history of the Šumava Mountains (Czech Republic) as seen through anthropogenic pollen indicators and charcoal data

The prehistory and early history of the Šumava Mountains (Czech Republic) as seen through anthropogenic pollen indicators and charcoal data

Silver mining and landscape changes in medieval Central Europe: Reconstructing ore processing in a buried fir forest on the Bohemian‐Moravian Highlands (Koječín, Czech Republic)

Colluvial sediments originating from past land-use activities in the Erzgebirge Mountains, Central Europe: occurrence, properties, and historic environmental implications

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