Neolithic Agronomists shaped Chernozem in South-Eastern Bavaria

Up to today, the reason for the genesis of chernic horizons in Germany is a matter of discussion. Recent literature is strongly suggesting a purposeful anthropogenic soil management from neolithic times as an origin of these soils. Here we provide another example of neolithic activities meliorating the soil from a calcic Luvisol to a Chernozem with a dimension of several hectares. This is striking, since it is the first finding of a chernic horizon of this extensiveness in Bavaria, Germany.

The Chernozem has been discovered close to the city of Straubing (48°53′N, 12°34′O, MAP 757 mm, MAT 8,6°C), which is situated in the highly arable Danubian Gäuboden and part of the so called Altsiedelland. It has been home to human settlers ever since the first settlers belonging to the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture immigrated, among other things like the optimal climatic conditions due to its very favorable soil characteristics (luvisols) developed on Loess. The neolithic Chernozem is located directly next to a graveyard with graves dating in early neolithic times and later as well as neolithic settlements 500 m away. Collected ¹⁴C and OSL-data strongly suggest that part of the Chernozem was covered by a roman colluvium probably eroded from the former graveyard hill by roman ploughing activities. Our obtained ¹⁴C data places the chernic horizon itself into the early LBK and onwards. Nowadays the chernic horizon is mostly overprinted by the ongoing soil genesis as an argic horizon. Small charcoal flakes (< 0.5 mm) make the chernic horizon appear greyish-black up to today, with carbon-contents of around 1%. The colour intensifies in the center of the Chernozem area closely by the settlements and graveyard and fades out to a distinct grey shadow in the argic horizon of the calcic luvisol above around 2 km away.

These findings leave no room for doubt: The Chernozem has an anthropogenic origin and was created by the neolithic settlers, following a purpose in managing and meliorating the soil.