Die Studie befasst sich mit Formenschatz, Sedimenten und Böden des Komadugu-Flusssystems. Neben e... more Die Studie befasst sich mit Formenschatz, Sedimenten und Böden des Komadugu-Flusssystems. Neben einer grundsätzlichen Inventarisierung des bislang kaum erforschten Landschaftskomplexes lag der Schwerpunkt auf der Rekonstruktion von Systemveränderungen im Kontext des spätquartären Klimawandels. So sind die schmalen rezenten Auen teilweise in eine weitgespannte reliktische Überschwemmungsebene eingeschnitten, die möglicherweise synchron zu ehemaligen früh- bis mittelholozänen Tschadsee-Maxima bei Rückstau der Flüsse außerhalb der prominenten Bama-Beach-Ridge-Begrenzung entstand. Während die rezente Aue ein deutlich ausgeprägtes Mäandersystem aufweist, liegen in der Paläoschwemmebene komplexere fluviodeltaische Strukturen mit fließenden Übergängen der klassischen Gerinnebettmuster vor, deren häufige sprunghafte Verlagerung unter Ausräumung und Wiederverfüllung sich auch in der fluvialen Architektur des älteren Alluviums widerspiegelt. Bei Korngrößenanalysen ergab sich eine generelle Do...
This paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement ... more This paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement Corneşti-Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortification in Europe. Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick colluvial layers within the fortification proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves, which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data offer a unique opportunity to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began in some central parts of the settlement s...
In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by... more In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by climate change. With the establishment of beech forests about 3000 years ago and pure spruce stands 500 years ago, they might be regarded as ‘neophytes’ in the Hessian forests. Palaeoecological investigations at wetland sites in the low mountain ranges and intramontane basins point to an asynchronous vegetation evolution in a comparatively small but heterogenous region. On the other hand, palynological data prove that sustainably managed woodlands with high proportions of Tilia have been persisting for several millennia, before the spread of beech took place as a result of a cooler and wetter climate and changes in land management. In view of increasingly warmer and drier conditions, Tilia cordata appears especially qualified to be an important silvicultural constituent of the future, not only due to its tolerance towards drought, but also its resistance to browsing, and the ability to ...
The study aimed at assessing vegetation cover and status of Gashaka Gumti, Nigeria's largest ... more The study aimed at assessing vegetation cover and status of Gashaka Gumti, Nigeria's largest national park. For this, a traditional pixel-based maximum likelihood classification of a Landsat-7 scene, recorded in December 2000, was carried out. Because simultaneous ground truthing had not been possible, and because of the dynamic nature of the given habitats, different reference data were used to allocate training areas, specify ecological conditions and assess classification accuracy. These included initial unsupervised classifications of multi-temporal images, inter-seasonal field observations and visual interpretations of newly acquired Quickbird mini scenes. The latter served as spatial and temporal scaling tools and were found to be particularly valuable to detect anthropogenic interference. The data reveal that, during most of the dry season, green vegetation is absent in up to one fifth of the park or in about half of the environments of settlement enclaves. This is largel...
In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by... more In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by climate change. With the establishment of beech forests about 3000 years ago and pure spruce stands 500 years ago, they might be regarded as ‘neophytes’ in the Hessian forests. Palaeoecological investigations at wetland sites in the low mountain ranges and intramontane basins point to an asynchronous vegetation evolution in a comparatively small but heterogenous region. On the other hand, palynological data prove that sustainably managed woodlands with high proportions of Tilia have been persisting for several millennia, before the spread of beech took place as a result of a cooler and wetter climate and changes in land management. In view of increasingly warmer and drier conditions, Tilia cordata appears especially qualified to be an important silvicultural constituent of the future, not only due to its tolerance towards drought, but also its resistance to browsing, and the ability to ...
Located in the Romanian Banat region, the Late Bronze Age (LBA) fortification Corneşti-Iarcuri is... more Located in the Romanian Banat region, the Late Bronze Age (LBA) fortification Corneşti-Iarcuri is the largest known prehistoric settlement in Europe. Archaeobotanical and geoarchaeological investigations have targeted the reconstruction of vegetation, land use practices and subsistence strategies at the site, together with related human impact and environmental changes in the wider study area. Since colluvia constitute valuable archives in terms of landscape history and anthropogenic disturbance, one major focus was put on floodplain profiles. In the valleys, two generations of colluvium prevailed which were separated by fossil topsoils. Based on several radiocarbon datings, a chronology of events, including distinct phases of geomorphological activity and stability, has been established. Some of the buried palaeosurfaces contained pollen in sufficient concentrations to confirm off-site data from the Vinga area, where the regional vegetation during the Middle Copper Age consisted of Tilia-dominated woodlands with steppe elements. Following a major Late Copper Age deforestation phase that also led to considerable soil erosion, the gradual formation of a cultural landscape is documented by a progressive decline in tree cover in which Quercus gained relative importance, and a continuous presence of land use indicators. Plant macro-remains from archaeological excavations underpin both the openness of the semi-natural woodlands during the pre-fortification era and the increase of animal husbandry and farming in the LBA. Despite evident settlement pressure, it proved to be a geomorphologically stable phase. Towards the Early Iron Age, the values of anthropogenic markers in on-site pollen spectra rose to values comparable to those in surface samples.
Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie, Band 335, Bonn, 2019
Geophysical prospection and excavations show that the heavily fortified Teleac hillfort was dense... more Geophysical prospection and excavations show that the heavily fortified Teleac hillfort was densely occupied with a population reaching the low thousands. In this article it is argued that Teleac was a local political centre that acted as a hub for transportation and trade in a region that is rich in mineral resources. Recent investigations also reveal that Teleac was attacked in the late 10th century in an event that breached and destroyed the formidable northern defensive system. This attack suggests that the level of military threat was quite severe in the eastern Carpathian Basin. The attacking forces must have had signifcant offensive capabilities in order to tackle Teleac’s defences. It is also a strong indication that not only Teleac, but contemporary fortified settlements in the surrounding region were at least in part erected to resist serious military threats.
Th is paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement... more Th is paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement Corneşti- Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortifi cation in Europe. Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick colluvial1 layers within the fortifi cation proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves, which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data off er a unique opportunity to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began in some central parts of the settlement site, resulting in the accumulation of up to 90 cm of colluvium in the main valley. Until the Early Iron Age, regional tree percentages dropped from around 38 to 22 %, while anthropogenic indicators (Cerealia, Plantago lanceolata, Polygonum aviculare) increased from 11 to 16 %. Meanwhile, between 50 to 170 cm of colluvium were deposited at the investigated floodplain sites.
At the turn of the second to the third millennium BC, fortified and systematically organized sett... more At the turn of the second to the third millennium BC, fortified and systematically organized settlements along with a developed metallurgy emerged in the Trans-Ural steppe. In order to reconstruct the related vegetation and climatic changes in the area and to detect effects of human impact during the respective Bronze-Age Sintashta-Petrovka and Srubnaya-Alakul cultures (2100-1650 cal BC), palynological and sedimentological investigations accompanying archaeological excavations were carried out. Statistical analyses of pollen spectra from two sediment cores in the immediate vicinity of the settlement Kamennyi Ambar demonstrate substantial similarities in Bronze Age and present vegetation covers. Higher percentages of arboreal pollen, especially in respect of deciduous trees, and consistently high values of Artemisia within the regional spectra suggest that Bronze Age cultures developed in a relatively humid environment. Simultaneously, higher values of Chenopodiaceae, Plan-tago and Cichorioideae point to steppe degradation at local scales, whereas regional vegetation appears to have been relatively unaffected by human activities. Although more than 30 localities in the micro-region of Karagaily Ayat were analyzed, none of these sediment cores accounts for a continuous sedimentation during the last 9,000 years. Our results reveal that climatic fluctuations are not always directly reflected by sediment formation, with many non-climatic factors, such as post-sedimentary processes, local morphology and erosion believed to be crucial. Only the use of high resolution AMS radiocarbon dating is suitable to detect hiatuses, hence providing a valuable clue to the interpretation of palaeoenvironmental conditions.
ABSTRACT The paper features some recent results on the Young Quaternary floodplain development in... more ABSTRACT The paper features some recent results on the Young Quaternary floodplain development in the middle to lower catchment of the Komadugu Yobe, a main northeast-Nigerian tributary to Lake Chad. The major aim of the study was the reconstruction of spatiotemporal changes in the fluvial response, the assessment of the system as one of the last untapped regional palaeo-ecological archives, and the chronological integration into the existing climato-stratigraphic models of the southwestern Chad Basin. For this purpose, a lithostratigraphical data base was created (41 sediment cores) and supplemented by age determinations (20 OSL datings). The morphogenetic information about ancient and modern depositional environments was derived from palaeo-geographical and -hydrological interpretations of diverse remote sensing data (air photographs, Landsat-5 imagery).Investigations focussed mainly on the large Komadugu terrace or palaeo-floodplain located upstream of the Bama Beach Ridge, which marks the high stand of Lake Chad during Holocene wet periods. It turned out that the ancient alluvium consists primarily of well-sorted fine and very fine sands, which occur both in structures of lateral accretion (e.g. point bars) and in channel fills. The palaeo-floodplain does not contain extensive stillwater facies, as could have been assumed in view of the supposed damming of Komadugu waters under humid conditions by the Bama Ridge. The lithofacial units correspond to the hybrid palaeo-channel morphology that combines meandering, braided and anastomosing drainage patterns with a high channel/floodplain ratio. The latter results from frequent avulsions in response to dominant downstream factors such as local tectonics and a high sediment load at a shallow and uneven floor. The datings reveal that alluvial deposition has typically occurred in transition periods. Especially the Pleistocene-Holocene transition is well represented, and it appears that extensive fluvial reworking has taken place between 13 and 10.5 kyr (approximately 11 and 9 14C kyr BP). The both spatially and temporally considerable morphodynamic activity was probably controlled by a lasting irregularity in rainfall and discharge, which is thought to have characterized the Komadugu catchment in the Early Holocene.
... Maren Gumnior Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author and ... more ... Maren Gumnior Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author and Heinrich Thiemeyer E-mail The Corresponding Author. ... bench, the recent alluvial plain, an old oxbow lake and the ancient terrace (usually masked by reactivated aeolian sands). ...
Die Studie befasst sich mit Formenschatz, Sedimenten und Böden des Komadugu-Flusssystems. Neben e... more Die Studie befasst sich mit Formenschatz, Sedimenten und Böden des Komadugu-Flusssystems. Neben einer grundsätzlichen Inventarisierung des bislang kaum erforschten Landschaftskomplexes lag der Schwerpunkt auf der Rekonstruktion von Systemveränderungen im Kontext des spätquartären Klimawandels. So sind die schmalen rezenten Auen teilweise in eine weitgespannte reliktische Überschwemmungsebene eingeschnitten, die möglicherweise synchron zu ehemaligen früh- bis mittelholozänen Tschadsee-Maxima bei Rückstau der Flüsse außerhalb der prominenten Bama-Beach-Ridge-Begrenzung entstand. Während die rezente Aue ein deutlich ausgeprägtes Mäandersystem aufweist, liegen in der Paläoschwemmebene komplexere fluviodeltaische Strukturen mit fließenden Übergängen der klassischen Gerinnebettmuster vor, deren häufige sprunghafte Verlagerung unter Ausräumung und Wiederverfüllung sich auch in der fluvialen Architektur des älteren Alluviums widerspiegelt. Bei Korngrößenanalysen ergab sich eine generelle Do...
This paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement ... more This paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement Corneşti-Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortification in Europe. Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick colluvial layers within the fortification proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves, which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data offer a unique opportunity to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began in some central parts of the settlement s...
In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by... more In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by climate change. With the establishment of beech forests about 3000 years ago and pure spruce stands 500 years ago, they might be regarded as ‘neophytes’ in the Hessian forests. Palaeoecological investigations at wetland sites in the low mountain ranges and intramontane basins point to an asynchronous vegetation evolution in a comparatively small but heterogenous region. On the other hand, palynological data prove that sustainably managed woodlands with high proportions of Tilia have been persisting for several millennia, before the spread of beech took place as a result of a cooler and wetter climate and changes in land management. In view of increasingly warmer and drier conditions, Tilia cordata appears especially qualified to be an important silvicultural constituent of the future, not only due to its tolerance towards drought, but also its resistance to browsing, and the ability to ...
The study aimed at assessing vegetation cover and status of Gashaka Gumti, Nigeria's largest ... more The study aimed at assessing vegetation cover and status of Gashaka Gumti, Nigeria's largest national park. For this, a traditional pixel-based maximum likelihood classification of a Landsat-7 scene, recorded in December 2000, was carried out. Because simultaneous ground truthing had not been possible, and because of the dynamic nature of the given habitats, different reference data were used to allocate training areas, specify ecological conditions and assess classification accuracy. These included initial unsupervised classifications of multi-temporal images, inter-seasonal field observations and visual interpretations of newly acquired Quickbird mini scenes. The latter served as spatial and temporal scaling tools and were found to be particularly valuable to detect anthropogenic interference. The data reveal that, during most of the dry season, green vegetation is absent in up to one fifth of the park or in about half of the environments of settlement enclaves. This is largel...
In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by... more In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by climate change. With the establishment of beech forests about 3000 years ago and pure spruce stands 500 years ago, they might be regarded as ‘neophytes’ in the Hessian forests. Palaeoecological investigations at wetland sites in the low mountain ranges and intramontane basins point to an asynchronous vegetation evolution in a comparatively small but heterogenous region. On the other hand, palynological data prove that sustainably managed woodlands with high proportions of Tilia have been persisting for several millennia, before the spread of beech took place as a result of a cooler and wetter climate and changes in land management. In view of increasingly warmer and drier conditions, Tilia cordata appears especially qualified to be an important silvicultural constituent of the future, not only due to its tolerance towards drought, but also its resistance to browsing, and the ability to ...
Located in the Romanian Banat region, the Late Bronze Age (LBA) fortification Corneşti-Iarcuri is... more Located in the Romanian Banat region, the Late Bronze Age (LBA) fortification Corneşti-Iarcuri is the largest known prehistoric settlement in Europe. Archaeobotanical and geoarchaeological investigations have targeted the reconstruction of vegetation, land use practices and subsistence strategies at the site, together with related human impact and environmental changes in the wider study area. Since colluvia constitute valuable archives in terms of landscape history and anthropogenic disturbance, one major focus was put on floodplain profiles. In the valleys, two generations of colluvium prevailed which were separated by fossil topsoils. Based on several radiocarbon datings, a chronology of events, including distinct phases of geomorphological activity and stability, has been established. Some of the buried palaeosurfaces contained pollen in sufficient concentrations to confirm off-site data from the Vinga area, where the regional vegetation during the Middle Copper Age consisted of Tilia-dominated woodlands with steppe elements. Following a major Late Copper Age deforestation phase that also led to considerable soil erosion, the gradual formation of a cultural landscape is documented by a progressive decline in tree cover in which Quercus gained relative importance, and a continuous presence of land use indicators. Plant macro-remains from archaeological excavations underpin both the openness of the semi-natural woodlands during the pre-fortification era and the increase of animal husbandry and farming in the LBA. Despite evident settlement pressure, it proved to be a geomorphologically stable phase. Towards the Early Iron Age, the values of anthropogenic markers in on-site pollen spectra rose to values comparable to those in surface samples.
Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie, Band 335, Bonn, 2019
Geophysical prospection and excavations show that the heavily fortified Teleac hillfort was dense... more Geophysical prospection and excavations show that the heavily fortified Teleac hillfort was densely occupied with a population reaching the low thousands. In this article it is argued that Teleac was a local political centre that acted as a hub for transportation and trade in a region that is rich in mineral resources. Recent investigations also reveal that Teleac was attacked in the late 10th century in an event that breached and destroyed the formidable northern defensive system. This attack suggests that the level of military threat was quite severe in the eastern Carpathian Basin. The attacking forces must have had signifcant offensive capabilities in order to tackle Teleac’s defences. It is also a strong indication that not only Teleac, but contemporary fortified settlements in the surrounding region were at least in part erected to resist serious military threats.
Th is paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement... more Th is paper provides a glimpse into the palaeoecological conditions at the prehistoric settlement Corneşti- Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortifi cation in Europe. Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick colluvial1 layers within the fortifi cation proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves, which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data off er a unique opportunity to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began in some central parts of the settlement site, resulting in the accumulation of up to 90 cm of colluvium in the main valley. Until the Early Iron Age, regional tree percentages dropped from around 38 to 22 %, while anthropogenic indicators (Cerealia, Plantago lanceolata, Polygonum aviculare) increased from 11 to 16 %. Meanwhile, between 50 to 170 cm of colluvium were deposited at the investigated floodplain sites.
At the turn of the second to the third millennium BC, fortified and systematically organized sett... more At the turn of the second to the third millennium BC, fortified and systematically organized settlements along with a developed metallurgy emerged in the Trans-Ural steppe. In order to reconstruct the related vegetation and climatic changes in the area and to detect effects of human impact during the respective Bronze-Age Sintashta-Petrovka and Srubnaya-Alakul cultures (2100-1650 cal BC), palynological and sedimentological investigations accompanying archaeological excavations were carried out. Statistical analyses of pollen spectra from two sediment cores in the immediate vicinity of the settlement Kamennyi Ambar demonstrate substantial similarities in Bronze Age and present vegetation covers. Higher percentages of arboreal pollen, especially in respect of deciduous trees, and consistently high values of Artemisia within the regional spectra suggest that Bronze Age cultures developed in a relatively humid environment. Simultaneously, higher values of Chenopodiaceae, Plan-tago and Cichorioideae point to steppe degradation at local scales, whereas regional vegetation appears to have been relatively unaffected by human activities. Although more than 30 localities in the micro-region of Karagaily Ayat were analyzed, none of these sediment cores accounts for a continuous sedimentation during the last 9,000 years. Our results reveal that climatic fluctuations are not always directly reflected by sediment formation, with many non-climatic factors, such as post-sedimentary processes, local morphology and erosion believed to be crucial. Only the use of high resolution AMS radiocarbon dating is suitable to detect hiatuses, hence providing a valuable clue to the interpretation of palaeoenvironmental conditions.
ABSTRACT The paper features some recent results on the Young Quaternary floodplain development in... more ABSTRACT The paper features some recent results on the Young Quaternary floodplain development in the middle to lower catchment of the Komadugu Yobe, a main northeast-Nigerian tributary to Lake Chad. The major aim of the study was the reconstruction of spatiotemporal changes in the fluvial response, the assessment of the system as one of the last untapped regional palaeo-ecological archives, and the chronological integration into the existing climato-stratigraphic models of the southwestern Chad Basin. For this purpose, a lithostratigraphical data base was created (41 sediment cores) and supplemented by age determinations (20 OSL datings). The morphogenetic information about ancient and modern depositional environments was derived from palaeo-geographical and -hydrological interpretations of diverse remote sensing data (air photographs, Landsat-5 imagery).Investigations focussed mainly on the large Komadugu terrace or palaeo-floodplain located upstream of the Bama Beach Ridge, which marks the high stand of Lake Chad during Holocene wet periods. It turned out that the ancient alluvium consists primarily of well-sorted fine and very fine sands, which occur both in structures of lateral accretion (e.g. point bars) and in channel fills. The palaeo-floodplain does not contain extensive stillwater facies, as could have been assumed in view of the supposed damming of Komadugu waters under humid conditions by the Bama Ridge. The lithofacial units correspond to the hybrid palaeo-channel morphology that combines meandering, braided and anastomosing drainage patterns with a high channel/floodplain ratio. The latter results from frequent avulsions in response to dominant downstream factors such as local tectonics and a high sediment load at a shallow and uneven floor. The datings reveal that alluvial deposition has typically occurred in transition periods. Especially the Pleistocene-Holocene transition is well represented, and it appears that extensive fluvial reworking has taken place between 13 and 10.5 kyr (approximately 11 and 9 14C kyr BP). The both spatially and temporally considerable morphodynamic activity was probably controlled by a lasting irregularity in rainfall and discharge, which is thought to have characterized the Komadugu catchment in the Early Holocene.
... Maren Gumnior Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author and ... more ... Maren Gumnior Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author and Heinrich Thiemeyer E-mail The Corresponding Author. ... bench, the recent alluvial plain, an old oxbow lake and the ancient terrace (usually masked by reactivated aeolian sands). ...
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Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortifi cation in Europe.
Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and
converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick
colluvial1 layers within the fortifi cation proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves,
which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be
put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data off er a unique opportunity
to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic
period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began
in some central parts of the settlement site, resulting in the accumulation of up to 90 cm of colluvium in
the main valley. Until the Early Iron Age, regional tree percentages dropped from around 38 to 22 %, while
anthropogenic indicators (Cerealia, Plantago lanceolata, Polygonum aviculare) increased from 11 to 16 %.
Meanwhile, between 50 to 170 cm of colluvium were deposited at the investigated floodplain sites.
Iarcuri in the southwest Romanian Banat, which is known as the largest Bronze Age fortifi cation in Europe.
Preservation of pollen is generally poor in the region, where extensive marshlands have been drained and
converted into arable lands since the 18th century. Remarkably, some fossil topsoils buried under thick
colluvial1 layers within the fortifi cation proved to contain pollen. Together with the sediments themselves,
which serve as direct evidence for anthropogenically infl uenced geomorphodynamics and could partially be
put into chronological context by radiocarbon dating, the on-site palynological data off er a unique opportunity
to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental setting at Corneşti. Results reveal that during the Chalcolithic
period, a partially cleared open woodland with Tilia, Quercus and Corylus prevailed. Soil erosion began
in some central parts of the settlement site, resulting in the accumulation of up to 90 cm of colluvium in
the main valley. Until the Early Iron Age, regional tree percentages dropped from around 38 to 22 %, while
anthropogenic indicators (Cerealia, Plantago lanceolata, Polygonum aviculare) increased from 11 to 16 %.
Meanwhile, between 50 to 170 cm of colluvium were deposited at the investigated floodplain sites.