Henk Weerts
Jobs
August 2007 – present: Senior Researcher Physical Geography, Cultural Heritage Agency, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
May 1997 – July 2007: Geologist and Senior Geologist, TNO Geological Survey of The Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands
January 1997 – April 2007: Post-Doc Oekologiezentrum, Christian Albrechts Universität, Kiel, Germany
January 1990 – December 1996: PhD, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
April 1989 – December 1989: Policy Advisor Groundwater Protection, Province of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
October 1986 – March 1989: Contract researcher / teacher, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Present memberships
Advisory Board Eiszeitalter und Gegenwart – Quaternary Science Journal (E & G) (january 2012 – present)
Management Committee and Working Group 2 (Submerged Landscapes) of Cost Action TD0902 SPLASHCOS Submerged Prehistoric Archaeology and Landscapes of the Continental Shelf (http://splashcos.org/) (april 2010 – present).
Projectbegeleidingsgroep Basis Registratie Ondergrond (september 2009 – present).
Werkgroep Archeologie Maasvlakte 2 (juli 2008 – present).
Werkgroep Beheer, Inrichting en Onderzoek Biesbosch (july 2004 – present).
Advisory Board Geologie en Mijnbouw – Netherlands Journal of Geosciences (july 2003 – present).
Education
September 1979 – August 1986: Msc. Physical Geography, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Phone: 0031 6 2116 7087
Address: Smallepad 5
Amersfoort
August 2007 – present: Senior Researcher Physical Geography, Cultural Heritage Agency, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
May 1997 – July 2007: Geologist and Senior Geologist, TNO Geological Survey of The Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands
January 1997 – April 2007: Post-Doc Oekologiezentrum, Christian Albrechts Universität, Kiel, Germany
January 1990 – December 1996: PhD, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
April 1989 – December 1989: Policy Advisor Groundwater Protection, Province of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
October 1986 – March 1989: Contract researcher / teacher, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Present memberships
Advisory Board Eiszeitalter und Gegenwart – Quaternary Science Journal (E & G) (january 2012 – present)
Management Committee and Working Group 2 (Submerged Landscapes) of Cost Action TD0902 SPLASHCOS Submerged Prehistoric Archaeology and Landscapes of the Continental Shelf (http://splashcos.org/) (april 2010 – present).
Projectbegeleidingsgroep Basis Registratie Ondergrond (september 2009 – present).
Werkgroep Archeologie Maasvlakte 2 (juli 2008 – present).
Werkgroep Beheer, Inrichting en Onderzoek Biesbosch (july 2004 – present).
Advisory Board Geologie en Mijnbouw – Netherlands Journal of Geosciences (july 2003 – present).
Education
September 1979 – August 1986: Msc. Physical Geography, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Phone: 0031 6 2116 7087
Address: Smallepad 5
Amersfoort
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Interests
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Papers by Henk Weerts
The first layer of this map was the physical environment. While the Netherlands have the luxury to have 1:50.000 soil maps and geomorphological maps which are also aggregated to a higher landscape level, the surrounding countries do not always have such an instrument. So we had to make a new map, based on existing digital maps. This was done by expert judgement to attune existing maps to one another. Existing polygons of the digital maps were joined by reclassifying them at a higher scale level. This led to new aggregations of physical geographical landscape-units for the entire region, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northern France and northwestern Germany. Next necessary steps will be refining the map and adding a layer for the anthropogenic landscapes and landscape development.
In this paper we will present the first version of this map and hope to get the discussion on pan-European anthropogenic landscapes going.
to the 1990’s, is based on geomorphometrical (observable and measurable in the field), geomorphological and, lithological and geochronological criteria. When used at a national scale, the legend of this comprehensive geomorphological map is very complex which hampers use in e.g. planning practice or predictive archaeology. At the national scale several landscape classifications have been in use in the Netherlands since the early 1950’s, typically ranging in the order of 10 -15 landscape units for the entire country. A widely used regional predictive archaeological classification has 13 archaeo-landscapes. All these classifications have been defined “top-down” and their
actual content and boundaries have only been broadly defined. Thus, these classifications have little or no meaning at a local scale. We have tried to combine the local scale with the national scale. To do so, we first defined national physical geographical regions based on the new 2010 national geological map 1:500,000. We also made sure there was a reference with the European LANMAP2 classification. We arrived at 20 landscape units at the national scale, based on (1) genesis, (2) large-scale geomorphology, (3) lithology of the shallow sub-surface and (4) age. These criteria that were chosen because the genesis of the landscape largely determines its (scale of) morphology and
lithology that in turn determine hydrological conditions. All together, they define the natural boundary conditions for anthropogenic use. All units have been defined, mapped and described based on these criteria. This enables the link with the European LANMAP2 GIS. The unit “Till-plateau sand region” for instance runs deep into Germany and even Poland. At the local scale, the boundaries of the national units can be defined and precisely mapped by linking them to the 1:50,000 geomorphological map polygons. Each national unit consists of a typical assemblage of local geomorphological units. So, the newly developed natural physical landscape map layer can be used from
the local to the European scale.
The location of Dorestad on a high natural levee along a relatively stable navigable branch of the Rhine in the central Rhine delta was perfect for trade. The high levee gave protection from the annual river floods. Although this branch of the Rhine was fairly stable in the heydays of Dorestad, the meanders near Dorestad slowly migrated.
Excavations at Dorestad show that the harbour works of Dorestad were constantly adapted to this migration, thereby following the meander on which they were located. Ships could reach the port from the sea through at least three navigable Rhine branches: the Lek, the Old Rhine and the Vecht rivers. Dorestad was thus easily accessible and yet far enough from the coast to be safe from storm floods – but was it located at its specific location for these
reasons alone?
We combined existing geomorphological and geological maps with recent nation-wide laser-altimetry (AHN, General Elevation model of the Netherlands’) for a regional palaeogeographical reconstruction of 9th-century active Rhine branches in a GIS. This reconstruction revealed that river connections with the Flemish, French and German hinterland were perfect. Other delta branches ensured safe connections to the Zeeland delta and the open
Flemish coast, all the way to Dover Straight to the south and to the open Frisian coast all the way to present Southern Denmark in the North. The dangerously closed coast of Holland without any safe shelter places for storms could thus be avoided by ships coming in both from the South and from the North.
This interdisciplinary approach not only gave insight in the changing river activity, but also in the reasons why Dorestad could rise to its glory, and the possible reason for its demise as important Rhine branches silted up, while new branches developed into navigable waterways. The demise of Dorestad gave room for later river towns such as Tiel, Dordrecht and the cities along the IJssel.
The first layer of this map was the physical environment. While the Netherlands have the luxury to have 1:50.000 soil maps and geomorphological maps which are also aggregated to a higher landscape level, the surrounding countries do not always have such an instrument. So we had to make a new map, based on existing digital maps. This was done by expert judgement to attune existing maps to one another. Existing polygons of the digital maps were joined by reclassifying them at a higher scale level. This led to new aggregations of physical geographical landscape-units for the entire region, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northern France and north-western Germany.
For this European scale the Alterra LANMAP2 mapping was used as a basis. LANMAP2 had as an added bonus that this map also has information on land use and climate. This way a multi-disciplinary approach was possible. More landscape characterization issues could be added to this map.
The Cultural Heritage Agency is now working on developing a Landscape Characterization Framework GIS and an Landscape Archaeological GIS based on this north western European base map. This allows us to not only use landscape (archaeological) features on a national scale, but also to compare and cooperate with our direct neighbours in Europe… Moreover, the multi-disciplinary database behind this map also allows palaeo-geographic and palaeo-botanic reconstructions not restricted by modern national borders to be developed.
This poster presentation will give a few preliminary results of this new landscape maps.