Les decouvertes archeologiques du Mormont (Vaud, Suisse) temoignent d’une occupation humaine au 1... more Les decouvertes archeologiques du Mormont (Vaud, Suisse) temoignent d’une occupation humaine au 1er siecle avant notre ere. Afin de definir le contexte environnemental, une etude alliant approches sedimentologiques et palynologiques a ete conduite sur une sequence de 6 metres sur la tourbiere d’En Deleze a Dizy. La dynamique lacustre est attestee du Tardiglaciaire au Preboreal avec un remplissage de silts et de craie. Un episode palustre avec accumulation de tourbe se developpe ensuite jusqu’a nos jours. Au Tardiglaciaire, la region etait couverte de pelouses parsemees de tapis de bouleaux, saules et genevriers nains. Le rechauffement du Bolling permet au genevrier et a d’autres arbustes d’envahir ces pelouses ; de rares forets claires a bouleau se developpent. A l’Allerod, le bouleau cede sa place au pin. La sedimentation du Dryas recent est carbonatee, ce qui distingue Dizy des sites jurassiens d’altitude, probablement en raison de conditions estivales suffisamment temperees favorisant la precipitation de carbonates. Au debut de l’Holocene, les pinedes regressent au profit d’une foret mesophile qui perdurera avant de subir les defrichements des groupes humains successifs. Les signes d’agro-pastoralisme au Neolithique sont tenus. Au-dela de l’Âge du Bronze, la tourbe n’est pas exploitable par les analyses mises en œuvre.
L’interet renouvele porte aux hauts plateaux volcaniques du Velay oriental (Massif central, Franc... more L’interet renouvele porte aux hauts plateaux volcaniques du Velay oriental (Massif central, France) a permis de mettre en evidence une nouvelle sequence sedimentaire issue de la tourbiere de La Narce du Beage, en Ardeche. Plusieurs carottages ont ete menes afin de realiser une etude pluridisciplinaire a haute resolution. Cet article presente les donnees sedimentologiques (lithologie, estimation du taux de matiere organique, granulometrie, susceptibilite magnetique) obtenues sur la sequence D (357 cm de profondeur), extraite pres de l’exutoire de la zone humide. Ces resultats s’appuient sur une serie de dix datations radiocarbone AMS. Cette etude constitue une premiere etape du travail de reconstitution de l’evolution de l’environnement local depuis la charniere Pleniglaciaire superieur / Tardiglaciaire. L’enregistrement sedimentaire montre un atterrissement progressif de l’etendue lacustre datant du Tardiglaciaire (apres 18 000 ans cal. BP) et l’augmentation graduelle de la teneur e...
A paleoecological study (macrofossils, pollen, cryptogam spores, non-pollen palynomorphs) was per... more A paleoecological study (macrofossils, pollen, cryptogam spores, non-pollen palynomorphs) was performed to investigate environmental changes recorded on the peat deposits of the La Narce du Béage mire (Massif Central, France). We reconstructed the development of a limnogenous mire ecosystem during the Holocene, consequently to the infilling of a small Late Glacial lake. Successions from aquatic flora ( Isoëtes, Nitella opaca/ syncarpa, Botryococcus, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Potamogeton, Sparganium) to mire plant species ( Alnus glutinosa, Betula nana, Betula pubescens, Cyperaceae, Ericaceae, Sphagnum) underlined a gradual eutrophication and acidification during the lowering of the water table. We demonstrated a clear link between these local hydro-ecological changes and the early Holocene climatic warming. Also dealing with archeology, we provided key issues for the identification of human-induced environmental changes. Three phases of ecological disturbances with clearings of the ...
Two series of pollen analyses at En Delèze, Dizy. Natural site: peat bog. Series 1: Samples from ... more Two series of pollen analyses at En Delèze, Dizy. Natural site: peat bog. Series 1: Samples from three trenches (M20, M25 et M80) Series 2: Drilling with a mechanized Russian core (DZ6) All together, 289 samples analysed and 18 14C dates.
Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cult... more Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cultural landscape in the European Alps. This study reports about prehistoric fire incidents and their impact on the flora and vegetation near the village of Ardez in the Lower Engadine Valley (Switzerland) since the Late Neolithic Period. Pollen, charcoal particles and non-pollen palynomorphs preserved in the Saglias and Cutüra peat bog stratigraphies were quantified and the results compared with the regional archaeological evidence. Anthropogenic deforestation using fire started around 4850 cal. BP at Saglias and aimed at establishing first cultivated crop fields (e.g. cereals) and small pastoral areas as implied by the positive correlation coefficients between charcoal particles and cultural and pastoral pollen indicators, as well as spores of coprophilous fungi. Pressure on the natural environment by humans and livestock continued until 3650 cal. BP and was followed by reforestation proc...
Les decouvertes archeologiques du Mormont (Vaud, Suisse) temoignent d’une occupation humaine au 1... more Les decouvertes archeologiques du Mormont (Vaud, Suisse) temoignent d’une occupation humaine au 1er siecle avant notre ere. Afin de definir le contexte environnemental, une etude alliant approches sedimentologiques et palynologiques a ete conduite sur une sequence de 6 metres sur la tourbiere d’En Deleze a Dizy. La dynamique lacustre est attestee du Tardiglaciaire au Preboreal avec un remplissage de silts et de craie. Un episode palustre avec accumulation de tourbe se developpe ensuite jusqu’a nos jours. Au Tardiglaciaire, la region etait couverte de pelouses parsemees de tapis de bouleaux, saules et genevriers nains. Le rechauffement du Bolling permet au genevrier et a d’autres arbustes d’envahir ces pelouses ; de rares forets claires a bouleau se developpent. A l’Allerod, le bouleau cede sa place au pin. La sedimentation du Dryas recent est carbonatee, ce qui distingue Dizy des sites jurassiens d’altitude, probablement en raison de conditions estivales suffisamment temperees favorisant la precipitation de carbonates. Au debut de l’Holocene, les pinedes regressent au profit d’une foret mesophile qui perdurera avant de subir les defrichements des groupes humains successifs. Les signes d’agro-pastoralisme au Neolithique sont tenus. Au-dela de l’Âge du Bronze, la tourbe n’est pas exploitable par les analyses mises en œuvre.
L’interet renouvele porte aux hauts plateaux volcaniques du Velay oriental (Massif central, Franc... more L’interet renouvele porte aux hauts plateaux volcaniques du Velay oriental (Massif central, France) a permis de mettre en evidence une nouvelle sequence sedimentaire issue de la tourbiere de La Narce du Beage, en Ardeche. Plusieurs carottages ont ete menes afin de realiser une etude pluridisciplinaire a haute resolution. Cet article presente les donnees sedimentologiques (lithologie, estimation du taux de matiere organique, granulometrie, susceptibilite magnetique) obtenues sur la sequence D (357 cm de profondeur), extraite pres de l’exutoire de la zone humide. Ces resultats s’appuient sur une serie de dix datations radiocarbone AMS. Cette etude constitue une premiere etape du travail de reconstitution de l’evolution de l’environnement local depuis la charniere Pleniglaciaire superieur / Tardiglaciaire. L’enregistrement sedimentaire montre un atterrissement progressif de l’etendue lacustre datant du Tardiglaciaire (apres 18 000 ans cal. BP) et l’augmentation graduelle de la teneur e...
A paleoecological study (macrofossils, pollen, cryptogam spores, non-pollen palynomorphs) was per... more A paleoecological study (macrofossils, pollen, cryptogam spores, non-pollen palynomorphs) was performed to investigate environmental changes recorded on the peat deposits of the La Narce du Béage mire (Massif Central, France). We reconstructed the development of a limnogenous mire ecosystem during the Holocene, consequently to the infilling of a small Late Glacial lake. Successions from aquatic flora ( Isoëtes, Nitella opaca/ syncarpa, Botryococcus, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Potamogeton, Sparganium) to mire plant species ( Alnus glutinosa, Betula nana, Betula pubescens, Cyperaceae, Ericaceae, Sphagnum) underlined a gradual eutrophication and acidification during the lowering of the water table. We demonstrated a clear link between these local hydro-ecological changes and the early Holocene climatic warming. Also dealing with archeology, we provided key issues for the identification of human-induced environmental changes. Three phases of ecological disturbances with clearings of the ...
Two series of pollen analyses at En Delèze, Dizy. Natural site: peat bog. Series 1: Samples from ... more Two series of pollen analyses at En Delèze, Dizy. Natural site: peat bog. Series 1: Samples from three trenches (M20, M25 et M80) Series 2: Drilling with a mechanized Russian core (DZ6) All together, 289 samples analysed and 18 14C dates.
Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cult... more Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cultural landscape in the European Alps. This study reports about prehistoric fire incidents and their impact on the flora and vegetation near the village of Ardez in the Lower Engadine Valley (Switzerland) since the Late Neolithic Period. Pollen, charcoal particles and non-pollen palynomorphs preserved in the Saglias and Cutüra peat bog stratigraphies were quantified and the results compared with the regional archaeological evidence. Anthropogenic deforestation using fire started around 4850 cal. BP at Saglias and aimed at establishing first cultivated crop fields (e.g. cereals) and small pastoral areas as implied by the positive correlation coefficients between charcoal particles and cultural and pastoral pollen indicators, as well as spores of coprophilous fungi. Pressure on the natural environment by humans and livestock continued until 3650 cal. BP and was followed by reforestation proc...
In diesem Posterbeitrag werden die Ergebnisse neuer Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des Klimas auf die alpine Hochlagennutzung am Übergang vom Neolithikum zur frühen Bronzezeit in den zentralen Ostalpen - Graubünden (CH), Tirol, Vorarlberg (beide A) und Vinschgau (I) – anhand archäologischer, paläoökologischer und pedologischer Proxydaten vorgestellt.
Der hochalpine Raum reagiert besonders sensibel auf sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen. Schon geringe klimatische Variationen können das Ökosystem stark beeinflussen. Die Klimabedingungen im Alpenraum ab dem zweiten Jahrtausend v. Chr. sind in etwa mit jenen zwischen Mitte des 19. und Mitte 2o. Jahrhundert n. Chr. vergleichbar (Nicolussi 2oo9, 121). Verschiedene Proxydatensätze deuten für diesen Zeitraum auf eine sich verändernde Niederschlagssaisonalität, hin zu mehr Niederschlag im Sommer (Nicolussi 2oo9, 119).
Aus archäologischer Sicht ist der Übergang vom Neolithikum zur frühen Bronzezeit in den zentralen Ostalpen durch einen massiven Siedlungsausbau gekennzeichnet, der auch peripher gelegene Talschaften miteinbezieht. Diese Landnahme zeichnet sich im archäologischen Fundbild in einer intensivierten Nutzung der alpinen Hochlagen ab, also der Gebiete oberhalb von 2ooo m.ü.M. Bestätigt wird dieses Bild durch neue palynologische und (paläo-)pedologische Untersuchungen aus der Silvretta-Region im Grenzgebiet zwischen Österreich und der Schweiz. Diese legen für diesen Zeitabschnitt verstärkten menschlichen Eingriff im Waldgrenzbereich in Form von Brandrodung nahe, der mit einer Zunahme von Weide- und Kulturzeigerpflanzen einherging.
Die hier präsentierten Forschungen zeigen auf, dass die Intensivierung der Hochlagennutzung in den zentralen Ostalpen zu Beginn der Bronzezeit parallel mit der Aufsiedlung der inneralpinen Talschaften verlief und nach heutigem Erkenntnisstand wohl weitgehend unabhängig von etwaigen klimatischen Stressoren vor sich gegangen sein dürfte.
Literatur
K. Nicolussi, Klimaentwicklung in den Alpen während der letzten 7ooo Jahre. In K. Oeggl/M. Prast (Hrsg.), Die Geschichte des Bergbaus in Tirol und seinen angrenzenden Gebieten. Impulsreferat zum 3. Milestone-Meeting des SFB HiMAT vom 23.-26.1o.2oo8 in Silbertal. Innsbruck University Press, 2oo9, 1o9–24.
The poster will present the results of recent investigations into the impact of the climate on the use of high-altitude Alpine areas during the transition between the Neolithic period and the Early Bronze Age in the central Eastern Alps – Grisons (Switzerland), Tyrol and Vorarlberg (Austria), and Vinschgau Valley (Italy) – using archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and pedological proxy data.
High-alpine areas are particularly sensitive to environmental change. Even the slightest climatic variation can have a significant impact on the ecosystem. From the second 2nd millennium BC onwards, the climatic conditions in the Alps would have been comparable to those from the mid-19th to the mid-2oth centuries AD (Nicolussi 2oo9, 121). Various proxy datasets suggest that seasonal precipitation changed during this particular phase towards increased precipitation in summer (Nicolussi 2oo9, 119).
From an archaeological point of view the transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the central Eastern Alps was characterised by a massive settlement expansion which also included peripheral valleys. In the archaeological record this expansion manifests itself in a more intense use of high-altitude areas, i.e. areas over 2ooo m a.s.l. This is supported by palynological and (palaeo) pedological investigations recently carried out in the Silvretta region in the border area between Austria and Switzerland. They suggest that the period was characterised by increased human impact in the treeline areas as attested to by land-clearances using the slash-and-burn method, along with an increase in pasture and anthropogenic indicator plants.
The research presented here shows that the increased use of high-altitude areas in the central Eastern Alps at the beginning of the Bronze Age occurred at the same time as the settlement expansion in the inner alpine valleys and, according to the current state of research, would largely have taken place independent of any climatic stressors.
References
K. Nicolussi, Klimaentwicklung in den Alpen während der letzten 7ooo Jahre. In K. Oeggl/M. Prast (Hrsg.), Die Geschichte des Bergbaus in Tirol und seinen angrenzenden Gebieten. Impulsreferat zum 3. Milestone-Meeting des SFB HiMAT vom 23.-26.1o.2oo8 in Silbertal. Innsbruck University Press, 2oo9, 1o9–24.
Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cult... more Agro-pastoral activities in the past act as environmental legacy and have shaped the current cultural landscape in the European Alps. This study reports about prehistoric fire incidents and their impact on the flora and vegetation near the village of Ardez in the Lower Engadine Valley (Switzerland) since the Late Neolithic Period. Pollen, charcoal particles and non-pollen palynomorphs preserved in the Saglias and Cutüra peat bog stratigraphies were quantified and the results compared with the regional archaeological evidence. Anthropogenic deforestation using fire started around 4850 cal. BP at Saglias and aimed at establishing first cultivated crop fields (e.g. cereals) and small pastoral areas as implied by the positive correlation coefficients between charcoal particles and cultural and pastoral pollen indicators, as well as spores of coprophilous fungi. Pressure on the natural environment by humans and livestock continued until 3650 cal. BP and was followed by reforestation processes until 3400 cal. BP because of climatic deterioration. Thereafter, a new, continuous cultivation/pastoral phase was recorded for the Middle to Late Bronze Age (3400–2800 cal. BP). After rather minor human impact during the Iron Age and Roman Period, intensive agriculture was recorded for the Medieval Period. The area around Ardez was used for crop cultivation from about 1000 cal. BP until the start of the ‘Little Ice Age’ (600 cal. BP). Despite a land-use reorganisation, the following gradual decrease in agricultural activities led to the extant mixture of a cultivated, grazed and forested landscape in the Lower Engadine. In addition, this study demonstrates the excellent value of the fungus Gelasinospora as a highly local marker of past and today’s fire incidents, as well as of the use of micro-charcoals from pollen slides and macro-charcoals (>150 µm) from pollen sample residues for the reconstruction of short- and long-term fire histories.
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In diesem Posterbeitrag werden die Ergebnisse neuer Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des Klimas auf die alpine Hochlagennutzung am Übergang vom Neolithikum zur frühen Bronzezeit in den zentralen Ostalpen - Graubünden (CH), Tirol, Vorarlberg (beide A) und Vinschgau (I) – anhand archäologischer, paläoökologischer und pedologischer Proxydaten vorgestellt.
Der hochalpine Raum reagiert besonders sensibel auf sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen. Schon geringe klimatische Variationen können das Ökosystem stark beeinflussen. Die Klimabedingungen im Alpenraum ab dem zweiten Jahrtausend v. Chr. sind in etwa mit jenen zwischen Mitte des 19. und Mitte 2o. Jahrhundert n. Chr. vergleichbar (Nicolussi 2oo9, 121). Verschiedene Proxydatensätze deuten für diesen Zeitraum auf eine sich verändernde Niederschlagssaisonalität, hin zu mehr Niederschlag im Sommer (Nicolussi 2oo9, 119).
Aus archäologischer Sicht ist der Übergang vom Neolithikum zur frühen Bronzezeit in den zentralen Ostalpen durch einen massiven Siedlungsausbau gekennzeichnet, der auch peripher gelegene Talschaften miteinbezieht. Diese Landnahme zeichnet sich im archäologischen Fundbild in einer intensivierten Nutzung der alpinen Hochlagen ab, also der Gebiete oberhalb von 2ooo m.ü.M. Bestätigt wird dieses Bild durch neue palynologische und (paläo-)pedologische Untersuchungen aus der Silvretta-Region im Grenzgebiet zwischen Österreich und der Schweiz. Diese legen für diesen Zeitabschnitt verstärkten menschlichen Eingriff im Waldgrenzbereich in Form von Brandrodung nahe, der mit einer Zunahme von Weide- und Kulturzeigerpflanzen einherging.
Die hier präsentierten Forschungen zeigen auf, dass die Intensivierung der Hochlagennutzung in den zentralen Ostalpen zu Beginn der Bronzezeit parallel mit der Aufsiedlung der inneralpinen Talschaften verlief und nach heutigem Erkenntnisstand wohl weitgehend unabhängig von etwaigen klimatischen Stressoren vor sich gegangen sein dürfte.
Literatur
K. Nicolussi, Klimaentwicklung in den Alpen während der letzten 7ooo Jahre. In K. Oeggl/M. Prast (Hrsg.), Die Geschichte des Bergbaus in Tirol und seinen angrenzenden Gebieten. Impulsreferat zum 3. Milestone-Meeting des SFB HiMAT vom 23.-26.1o.2oo8 in Silbertal. Innsbruck University Press, 2oo9, 1o9–24.
The poster will present the results of recent investigations into the impact of the climate on the use of high-altitude Alpine areas during the transition between the Neolithic period and the Early Bronze Age in the central Eastern Alps – Grisons (Switzerland), Tyrol and Vorarlberg (Austria), and Vinschgau Valley (Italy) – using archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and pedological proxy data.
High-alpine areas are particularly sensitive to environmental change. Even the slightest climatic variation can have a significant impact on the ecosystem. From the second 2nd millennium BC onwards, the climatic conditions in the Alps would have been comparable to those from the mid-19th to the mid-2oth centuries AD (Nicolussi 2oo9, 121). Various proxy datasets suggest that seasonal precipitation changed during this particular phase towards increased precipitation in summer (Nicolussi 2oo9, 119).
From an archaeological point of view the transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the central Eastern Alps was characterised by a massive settlement expansion which also included peripheral valleys. In the archaeological record this expansion manifests itself in a more intense use of high-altitude areas, i.e. areas over 2ooo m a.s.l. This is supported by palynological and (palaeo) pedological investigations recently carried out in the Silvretta region in the border area between Austria and Switzerland. They suggest that the period was characterised by increased human impact in the treeline areas as attested to by land-clearances using the slash-and-burn method, along with an increase in pasture and anthropogenic indicator plants.
The research presented here shows that the increased use of high-altitude areas in the central Eastern Alps at the beginning of the Bronze Age occurred at the same time as the settlement expansion in the inner alpine valleys and, according to the current state of research, would largely have taken place independent of any climatic stressors.
References
K. Nicolussi, Klimaentwicklung in den Alpen während der letzten 7ooo Jahre. In K. Oeggl/M. Prast (Hrsg.), Die Geschichte des Bergbaus in Tirol und seinen angrenzenden Gebieten. Impulsreferat zum 3. Milestone-Meeting des SFB HiMAT vom 23.-26.1o.2oo8 in Silbertal. Innsbruck University Press, 2oo9, 1o9–24.