scholarly journals Medieval Relict Beaver Ponds in the Polish Plain: Studies from the Tuchola Forest

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Śnieszko ◽  
Mirosław Rurek ◽  
Marcin Hojan
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Beaver Ponds ◽  
Field Works ◽  
Organic Deposits ◽  
River Valleys ◽  
The Middle Ages

Beavers have lived in the territory of Poland since the beginning of the Holocene, as testified by bone remains found in archaeological sites of different ages. The area inhabited by these animals has experienced continuing transformations of terrain relief, geological structure, hydrology and plant cover. In Poland, beavers are partially protected and their population has spread in virtually every part of the country (except in the highest mountain ranges). The authors of this paper wish to present the results of field works carried out since 2006 in the Tuchola Forest (Polish Plain). This paper aims to identify the potential sediments of relict beaver ponds and their sedimentological features. The studies are also backed up with a description of radiocarbon dating of samples. The results indicate that beavers used to live in the Tuchola Forest in the Middle Ages, as shown by the radiocarbon dates and sequences of mineral–organic deposits found in exposures and geological boreholes. The spatial distribution of organic and mineral deposits in wider sections of river valleys can be explained by the avulsion of the riverbed downstream of the pond and by the distribution of ponds in the Gołyjonka valley. The discovery of relict beaver pond sediments suggests that the activity of these mammals in the Middle Ages played a major part in shaping the landscape of the valley. The results of studies clearly indicate that analyses of the valley sediment facies of small watercourses should take into account the role beavers played in the past in shaping the landscape of the analysed valley. This highlights the insufficiency of studies concerning the activity of beavers in river valleys.

scholarly journals Chronology of Prehistoric Cultural Complexes of Sakhalin Island (Russian Far East)

Radiocarbon ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaroslav V Kuzmin ◽  
Alexander A Vasilevski ◽  
Sergei V Gorbunov ◽  
G S Burr ◽  
A J Timothy Jull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Sakhalin Island ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Continuous Sequence ◽  
The Middle Ages

A chronological framework for the prehistoric cultural complexes of Sakhalin Island is presented based on 160 radiocarbon dates from 74 sites. The earliest 14C-dated site, Ogonki 5, corresponds to the Upper Paleolithic, about 19,500–17,800 BP. According to the 14C data, since about 8800 BP, there is a continuous sequence of Neolithic, Early Iron Age, and Medieval complexes. The Neolithic existed during approximately 8800–2800 BP. Transitional Neolithic-Early Iron Age complexes are dated to about 2800–2300 BP. The Early Iron Age may be dated to about 2500–1300 BP. The Middle Ages period is dated to approximately 1300–300 BP (VII–XVII centuries AD).

scholarly journals GEOLOGICAL-GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL NATURAL PARKS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS

2021 ◽  
pp. 184-207
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Kravchuk ◽  
Vitaliy Brusak
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Natural Parks ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
Gravitational Processes ◽  
River Valleys ◽  
North Western

In the stydy an analysis of the geological structure and relief of Uzhansky, “Skolivsky Beskydy”, and “Boykivshchyna” national natural parks (NNP), located in the north-western part of the Ukrainian Carpathians, is presented. Uzhansky NNP is located within the Polonynsko-Chornohirska and Vododilno-Verkhovyna geomorphological regions, “Skolivski Beskydy” NNP is situated in the Skibovy Carpathians, and the newly created “Boykivshchyna” NNP is located within the Vododilno-Verkhovyna and Skybovi Carpathians. The analysis of the morphostructure and morphosculpture of national parks is carried out taking into account the longitudinal (N-W–S-E) and transverse divisions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The longitudinal division is associated with higher morphostructures of higher orders – the second and third, with the transverse is associated with the fourth and fifth morphostructures. In the analysis of morphosculpture of national parks, the types which are characteristic of the Carpathian Flysch belt are allocated. All mountain ranges and ridges are characterized by an asymmetrical structure – steep northeastern slopes and declivous southwestern slopes. The relic morphosculpture is represented by: 1) fragments of denudation surfaces of different ages such as Beskid, Pidbeskid, and riparian; 2) extra glacial and firn glaciations; 3) areas of ancient longitudinal valleys. Inherited morphosculpture is represented by river valleys with a complex of terraces of different ages. Modern morphodynamic processes represent by height (tier) differentiation. In the tiers of strongly dissected mid-mountain and low-mountain relief, the processes of planar erosion, deflux, and linear erosion play an important role in the modeling of the relief. The lower tier of the terraced and non-terraced bottoms of the valleys are associated with the processes of leaching and erosion as well as a significant accumulation of erosion products and mudflows. Among gravitational processes and block motions, stabilized and active displacements are the most recorded. Keywords: National natural park; Ukrainian Carpathians; relief; morphostructure; morphosculpture.

scholarly journals Stadt, Land, Berg. Vom Zusammenspiel von Dialektwahrnehmung und Topographie

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Schwarz ◽  
Philipp Stöckle
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Black Forest ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
South Tyrol ◽  
Political Borders ◽  
Low Mountain Ranges ◽  
Rhine Valley ◽  
Tribal Areas ◽  
National Borders ◽  
The Middle Ages

In traditional dialectology, prominent geographical conditions are particularly made responsible for linguistic divergence between neighboring dialect areas (e. g. rivers, mountain ranges, etc.). Also modern national borders, territories of the Middle Ages or even older borders between tribal areas are made responsible as factors which consider linguistic areas as “mirror pictures of history” (Bach 1950: 31, translation: CS). Geographical as well as political borders seem to function as points of orientation that speakers use for constructing their cognitive surroundings and which consequently can result in linguistic divergence. In our contribution, we want to focus on the question of how the topographic nature of land-scapes influences the mental construction of linguistic areas by lay speakers. For pursuing this question, we will discuss results from German dialect areas that cover a broad range of different topographic landscape forms. The analyzed areas are located in the utter southwest of Germany (characterized by flat lands along the Rhine valley and low mountain ranges of the Black Forest) and in South Tyrol in the very north of Italy (characterized by mountains and deep valley cuttings). In our contribution, we will argue that speakers in their subjective dialect perception orient themselves toward national borders and topographically prominent points. With regard to topography primarily valleys are used as eponyms for subjective dialect areas.

scholarly journals EXPERIENCE OF USE OF THE RADIOCARBON METHOD DATING OF EARLY SLAVIC SITES FROM UKRAINE (1970—1987)

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 254-267
Author(s):  
O. V. Komar
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Method Development ◽  
The Body ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Dating Method ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
The Middle Ages

The introduction of radiocarbon dating method in USSR and Ukrainian archeology was much slower compared to world practice. Natural scientific methods of dating in archeology have found quick application for the study of prehistoric sites — from the Paleolithic to the late Bronze Age. Much more time passed before the method began to be used for dating of sites of the 1st and 2nd millennium AD. The initiative of serial sampling from the medieval archaeological complexes of Ukraine for radiocarbon analysis initially came not from archaeologists. This led at the first stage to a confrontation between traditional archaeological methods of analysis and the new «revolutionary» approaches of the natural sciences. In 1968 mathematician A. S. Buhai collected 63 samples of charcoal from different parts of the «Zmievi Valy» («Snake Ramparts») and hillforts of the Kyiv region. At least 34 results were obtained from 3 different laboratories. All results attributed the time of existence of fortifications not to the Middle Ages, but to the 2nd century BC — 7th century AD, what caused the emergence of the sensational concept of the Early Slavic state in the Middle Dnieper region long before the formation of the Old Rus’ state. Institute of Archaeology (Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR) has developed a big project for complex researches of these fortifications led by M. P. Kuchera. During 1974—1985, many fortifications of «Zmievi Valy» in different regions were studied archaeologically. The facts of overlapping of settlements of the 3th—7th centuries AD by ramparts as well as the presence of Old Rus’ artifacts of the 10th—13th centuries in the body of wooden and earth structures of ramparts were recorded. Stratigraphic and archaeological data confidently dated the ramparts to the Middle Ages, while 28 radiocarbon dates for samples, carefully selected from wooden constructions of fortifications, showed a chaotic spread of dates from the 24th century BC until the 14th century AD. The verdict of M. P. Kuchera on the possibility of using the radiocarbon dating method for the archeology of Middle Ages was naturally negative. Geologist L. V. Firsov faced a similar problems after collecting in 1970 of 57 samples from archaeological complexes of Chersonesos and 33 samples from other sites of Crimea. Believing in the high accuracy of the radiocarbon dating method, he tried to explain the wide scatter of radiocarbon dates from the same medieval objects by their existence for half a millennium, what was rejected by archaeologists. The Institute Archeology and the Radiocarbon Laboratory of the Institute of Geochemistry and Mineral Physics af the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR managed joint project to get answers to the topical questions of Ukrainian archaeologists concerning the possibilities of the radiocarbon dating method in archeology. Two institutes approved a joint plan theme for 1973—1978 «Determination of the age of archeological sites by the natural scientific methods», for which a Coordination Council was established, led by D. Ya. Telegin and E. V. Sobotovich. According to the first report of the group, 237 samples were collected from various archaeological sites, for which 148 datings were successfully obtained (62.4 %). Cooperation continued further, but radiocarbon dates for archaeological cultures of the historical period from Ukraine had a little accuracy again on this stage of the radiocarbon method development (1974—1987). Thus, out of 31 examined medieval samples only 5 matched to archeological datings. 12 samples from sites of 6th — 10th centuries gave 7 dates, only 4 of them were in agreement with archaeological dating. For 12 samples from sites of Zarubyntsi and Chernyakhiv cultures 5 dates were received, and only one was in agreement with archaeological dating. The problem of the difference in these cases cannot be solved with the help of modern calibration of radiocarbon dates. After the complete fiasco of the initial stage of the radiocarbon dating of the medieval archaeological objects from Ukraine (1970—1973), a small step forward was made in 1974—1987. But this did not convince archaeologists in the rationality of using the method of radiocarbon dating for cultures with a wide choice of dating markers. The situation remained stable until the present stage of development of the accelerator mass spectrometry dating which makes again actual the renewal of the program of radiocarbon dating for the Early Slavic cultures of the 1st millennium AD.

scholarly journals A spatiotemporal gradient in the anthropization of Pyrenean landscapes. Preliminary report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentí Rull ◽  
Teresa Vegas-Vilarrúbia
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Southern Central ◽  
The Bronze Age ◽  
The Middle Ages

A preliminary analysis of the timing of landscape anthropization in the southern-central Pyrenees shows the occurrence of an elevational gradient from the Bronze Age (basal belts) to the Middle Ages (alpine belts). This relationship is statistically significant and suggests an average anthropization rate of 40 m in elevation per century. The elevational gradient is most clear between the Bronze Age and the Roman occupation, suggesting a progressive upward anthropization trend from the south with the likely involvement of Iberian cultures. During the Middle Ages, a massive anthropization pattern of subalpine/alpine areas is observed; this pattern is chronologically consistent with the incursion of northern cultures crossing the Pyrenees and the development of extensive high-mountain pastoralism and horizontal transhumance. In general, the progression of upward anthropization has occurred during warm climatic phases. Further work is needed to confirm these observations, especially in areas with few available paleoecological studies, notably the basal and montane belts. It could be interesting to develop similar studies of other Pyrenean regions and other mountain ranges.

Long-term human impact on alluvial peatland dynamics in temperate climates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ward Swinnen ◽  
Nils Broothaerts ◽  
Gert Verstraeten
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
River Valleys ◽  
The Middle Ages

<p>Peatlands across the globe are experiencing external pressures such as land use change, drainage and climatic changes, but are also directly impacted e.g. through peat harvesting. As a result, the dynamics of these peatlands, and their role in long-term carbon storage, has changed. In contrast to many other regions around the globe, temperate Europe has known a long history of human impact. In the northwest European lowlands, peat growth occurs mostly in floodplains under the form of alluvial peatlands. In central Belgian river valleys, alluvial peatlands developed since the Early Holocene, with a typical peat thickness between 1.5 and 2.5 metres, but reaching values of more than 6 metres at some locations.</p><p>Alluvial peatlands therefore are an important store of soil organic carbon reaching values of up to 2754 t ha<sup>-1</sup>, thus providing an important ecosystem service. However, the fate of this carbon reservoir is challenged through many different types of human actions since at least the Middle Ages including peat cutting for fuel, drainage for land reclamation and changes in catchment hydrology through land use change. For instance, a comparison of field-based peatland carbon budgets for different river valleys indicates that floodplains where cutting of topsoil peat has been important in the Late Holocene, store significantly less carbon (729 ± 397 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) than floodplains where Early to Mid-Holocene peat has been buried by mineral sediments originating from agricultural erosion on hillslopes (1991 ± 877 t ha<sup>-1</sup>). Adequate modelling can provide a powerful tool to study peatland dynamics and the interaction between internal and external processes in peatlands, but unfortunately, there are currently no available modelling tools to study the long-term dynamics of alluvial peatlands.</p><p>A long-term peatland model (Digibog) was adapted to be applicable to the context of alluvial peatlands. Changes were made to both the hydrological and biological modules to include variations in the river water level, flooding, anthropogenic peat cutting and a wide variety of vegetation types, ranging from open meadows to carr forests. In a first step, the Holocene evolution of an alluvial peatland was simulated under the conditions which were typical for lowland Belgium to provide a Holocene peat sequence with an annual resolution. In a second step, this peatland was subjected to a wide set of alternative management scenarios that have been in place since the Middle Ages. The simulations allow to estimate the effect of these scenarios on the peatland dynamics in terms of peatland hydrology, productivity and carbon storage. Based on this modelling study, the sensitivity of these systems to human activities can be quantified. The resultant magnitudes and rates of change under different scenarios can provide useful information for future management of alluvial peatlands and a better understanding of long-term peatland dynamics in general.</p>

PREHISTORIC CHARCOAL GRAFFITI DISCOVERED IN KATEŘINSKÁ CAVE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Radiocarbon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Martin Golec ◽  
Petr Zajicek ◽  
Ivo Svetlik ◽  
Katerina Pachnerova Brabcova ◽  
Lucie Marikova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
13Th Century ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Moravian Karst ◽  
Hallstatt Period ◽  
The Middle Ages

ABSTRACT The article reports on a new sampling method and the archaeological context of cave drawings, which include the oldest currently known graffiti in the Czech Republic. Between 2016 and 2020, samples with a small amount of charcoal were taken from drawings found in Kateřinská Cave (Catherine’s Cave) of the Moravian Karst in the Czech Republic. A new gentle method of sampling charcoal from the cave walls was developed for the purpose of radiocarbon (14C) dating cave drawings of unknown age, while preserving the contours of the drawings. 14C analysis has provided data from four periods of prehistory and history: from the Neolithic around 5000 BC, the turn of the Neolithic and Eneolithic around 4300 BC, the Hallstatt Period from 800–450 BC, and also from the Middle Ages (13th century). The radiocarbon dates of the graffiti correspond to the dates of the pottery finds from the entrance portal of Kateřinská Cave, thus validating the dates and the sampling method.

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