Poland's landscape is a testament to its deep-rooted agricultural history, characterized by ancient field systems echoing the spatial layouts in Celtic fields throughout Europe. These intricate and expansive layouts pose a significant challenge for archaeologists and researchers dedicated to uncovering the secrets of the past. The focus of this study is to meticulously explore and analyze these extensive field systems, which often cover large areas and require a detailed and systematic approach. To navigate this complex task, researchers employed cutting-edge deep learning neural networks (DLNN), particularly the U-Net model. This approach involved semantic segmentation of data derived from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) to automate the identification of these significant archaeological sites. The team successfully identified hundreds of ancient sites across Poland by harnessing the power of ALS data combined with thorough desk-based analysis.

The research concentrated on specific sites in southern Poland, namely in the areas around Trzebinia and Jaworzno. Various geophysical methods were utilised here, including Magnetometry and the Slingram Electromagnetic Induction Method. These techniques aimed to confirm the existence of preliminary archaeological features in the region. The researchers conducted Magnetic Gradiometry and Electromagnetic Measurements across different terrains, including cultivated fields and forests. They specifically targeted relict embankments that once delineated old fields. The findings from these investigations were striking. The geophysical profiles of the two studied areas revealed significant differences. In the first area in a current crop field, researchers observed point-like, strong anomalies in both vertical magnetic gradient and electrical conductivity. In contrast, the wooded study area exhibited weaker but continuous anomalies, suggesting the presence of buried burnt clay formations. A key aspect of this research was integrating Ground Conductivity assessments with vertical magnetic gradient evaluations. This approach was crucial in correlating data from both methods. At the first site, variations in conductivity at different depths hinted at geological transitions or man-made structures beneath the surface. Meanwhile, at the second site, resistivity patterns suggested an anthropogenic alteration of water conditions, possibly resembling an artificial fault.

Integrating a machine learning system into this research process marked a significant advancement. It facilitated the automated segmentation of ALS data, greatly enhancing the efficiency of detecting and mapping cultural resources over large areas. Combined with traditional geophysical methodologies, this innovative approach provided a non-invasive means of identifying potential archaeological objects. This was crucial for the effective management and preservation of heritage sites. In summary, this comprehensive interdisciplinary study represents a fusion of advanced technological solutions with traditional geophysical methods. It offers valuable new insights into detecting and interpreting archaeological features, potentially revolutionizing the field of archaeological exploration and heritage conservation. The research highlights the importance of integrating diverse methodologies to uncover the intricacies of our past, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of human history and its impact on the landscape.

How to cite: Oryński, S., Marciniak, A., Berezowski, P., Banasiak, P., and Cader, J.: Application of shallow geophysical methods and machine learning for detecting remains of early medieval settlements in south-eastern Poland., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8532, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8532, 2024.

Up to several meters thick fine-grained Holocene overbank deposits are ubiquitously found in most Western and Central European lowland floodplains. However, the interplay of different possible causes for their formation are not well understood yet. Most authors suggest human-induced deforestation as the main precondition for sediment mobilisation and transport from the slopes to the floodplain, generally regarding overbank sediments as human-derived ‘legacy sediments’. In contrast, others suggest a stronger influence of climatic factors. This current research gap is caused by often missing well-resolved fluvial chronostratigraphies and spatio-temporal information about former human activity within the studied catchments. To fill this gap we exemplarily studied Holocene overbank sedimentation and possible human or natural drivers in the meso-scale Weiße Elster catchment in Central Germany by using a comprehensive geoarchaeological approach: On the one hand, we applied numerical dating as well as sedimentological and micromorphological analyses to Holocene overbank sediments along three floodplain transects. On the other hand, we built up an unprecedented systematic spatio-temporal database of former human activity within the catchment from the Neolithic until the Early Modern Ages. Together with published paleoclimatic data, this database allowed an unprecedented, systematic comparison of Holocene overbank sedimentation phases with possible human and natural external controls. Our data show that some overbank sedimentation phases were directly linked with human activities in the affected site sub-catchments, whereas others were not. Instead, all phases were clearly linked with natural factors, i.e. hydroclimatic fluctuations. This difference with most former studies could possibly be explained by previously often limited numerical dating of the fluvial sediments and by largely missing spatio-temporally well-resolved regional settlement records, hindering a precise temporal link of fluvial sedimentation with former human settlement. Furthermore, this difference could possibly also be explained by a relatively high natural sensitivity of the landscape dynamics in the Central German lowlands, showing a subcontinental climate, towards external controls.

How to cite: von Suchodoletz, H., Khosravichenar, A., Fütterer, P., Zielhofer, C., Schneider, B., Sprafke, T., Tinapp, C., Fülling, A., Werther, L., Stäuble, H., Hein, M., Veit, U., Ettel, P., Werban, U., and Miera, J.: Holocene overbank sedimentation in Central Europe between natural and human drivers – the Weiße Elster River (Central Germany), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4080, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4080, 2024.

After the retreat of the Weichselian glaciers, Northern Europe was populated by highly mobile hunter-gatherer groups. Traces of these societies are difficult to find, hampering our understanding of their life. Some remote basins of the western Baltic Sea, however, only drowned in the Holocene, and it has recently been postulated, that they preserve architectures from the Stone Age, that did not survive on land. In 2021 we documented the Blinkerwall, a stonewall megastructure located in 21 m water depth in the Bay of Mecklenburg, Germany. Shipborne and autonomous underwater vehicle hydroacoustic data as well as optical images show that the wall is composed of about 1700 stones, predominantly less than 1 m in height, placed side by side over 971 m in a way that argues against a natural origin by glacial transport or ice push ridges. Combining this information with sedimentological samples, radiocarbon dates, and a geophysical reconstruction of the paleo-landscape, we suggest that the wall was likely used as a drive lane for hunting during the late Pleistocene or earliest Holocene. Ranging among the oldest hunting structures on Earth and the largest Stone Age structures in Europe, the Blinkerwall will become important for understanding subsistence strategies, mobility patterns, and inspire discussions concerning the territorial development in the Western Baltic Sea region.

How to cite: Geersen, J., Bradtmöller, M., Schneider von Deimling, J., Feldens, P., Auer, J., Held, P., Lohrberg, A., Supka, R., Hoffmann, J., Eriksen, B. V., Rabbel, W., Karlsen, H.-J., Krastel, S., Heuskin, D., Brandt, D., and Lübke, H.: A submerged Late Pleistocene hunting structure in the Western Baltic Sea, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-15442, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-15442, 2024.

The interdisciplinary project, titled 'Living together or apart? Unravelling the development, internal organization, and social structure of a complex Bronze Age tell settlement at Toboliu, western Romania,' seeks to analyse Bronze Age settlement activity in Toboliu, located in the easternmost Carpathian Basin. Key aspects of the study include associated land-use and landscape evolution, making the reconstruction of the tell's surroundings a focal point. The study area is dominated by loess and significantly influenced by both modern and prehistoric agricultural practices. Thus, it is a major challenge to differentiate between landscape features caused by natural soil-landscape formation processes and human activity especially for the investigated period. Within this context we focussed our research on closed depressions surrounding the tell and investigated two hypotheses regarding their formation: i) closed depressions result from human activities (such as daub extraction pits) and ii) formed through natural soil-geomorphological processes (like loess dolines or periglacial relicts). Based on core drillings, we made use of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), radiocarbon-supported, and palynological chronostratigraphical analyses. In addition, we took advantage of spatial analysis involving a high-resolution LIDAR elevation model, multispectral WorldView-3 imagery, and magnetographic data to thoroughly testing both hypotheses. Our results suggest that the examined closed depressions exhibit characteristics reminiscent of specific periglacial relict forms, more commonly known from northern European landscapes. Details will be discussed within the presentation.

How to cite: Zickel, M., Nett, J. J., Röpke, A., and Reimann, T.: Unraveling Geomorphological Processes and Anthropogenic Activity at the Eastern Border of the Carpathian Basin: Insights from the Bronze Age Tell site Toboliu, Romania, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1638, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1638, 2024.

The surroundings of the Strait of Gibraltar in southern Iberia are well known as a crossroads for population movements, cultural exchange and trade from Late Prehistory to Modern Times. However, questions remain about how this historical development has impacted the environment. The settlement of La Silla del Papa, an important hillfort located in the Sierra de la Plata in southern Andalusia (Cádiz), and its territory represent an ideal location for long-term studies of human-environment interactions. It was occupied throughout the entire Iron Age, replaced by the coastal town of Baelo Claudia during Roman times, and reoccupied in the early Middle Ages. Therefore, the geoarchaeological investigations in the surroundings of La Silla del Papa within the framework of the interdisciplinary project “Archeostraits” aimed at constraining the ecological conditions and human-environment interactions during the Mid- and Late Holocene and during the most important human occupation phases. Our investigations included sedimentological, geochemical, chronological (OSL, ¹⁴C-AMS, diagnostic pottery), microfaunal and palynological analyses of nine sediment profiles as well as nine vibracores from the catchment of the Río del Cachón, a small river originating in the Sierra de la Plata, just below La Silla del Papa. Our results document an early Mid-Holocene open marine embayment in what is now the lower floodplain, which rapidly transformed into a coastal lagoon and later into freshwater-dominated wetlands. After ~2100 BP, fluvial and alluvial deposition considerably increased, suggesting high anthropogenic impact on the local landscape during the Roman or post-Roman times. Palynological results reveal fluctuating agricultural and pastoral activities and suggest two distinct periods of landscape opening between 7000-6000 BP and during the Phoenician and Iron Age period.

How to cite: Brill, D., May, S. M., Norpoth, M., Pint, A., Shumilovskikh, L., Raith, K., Rixhon, G., Moret, P., Jiménez-Vialás, H., Grau-Mira, I., García-Jiménez, I., Marzoli, D., León-Martín, C., Reicherter, K., and Brückner, H.: Palaeoenvironmental changes and human-environment interactions in the surroundings of La Silla del Papa, SW Spain, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10076, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10076, 2024.

Understanding the historical changes in Relative Sea Level (RSL) and coastal responses in stable regions is crucial for unraveling the intricate relationship between natural dynamics and human adaptation. This interdisciplinary study seeks to explore the Holocene sea-level fluctuations in the stable area of Southern Latium, shedding light on how past societies adapted to coastal changes.
The study area, located in the historical Sinus Formianus, between the Fondi and Garigliano coastal plains, played a key role in ancient times. Formia, a strategic monitoring point for the Tyrrhenian Sea, was a thriving commercial hub during Roman occupation. During this period, the coastal stretch 
from Formia to Gaeta witnessed substantial urbanization, leaving behind well-preserved remnants visible today in submerged or semi-submerged coastal structures along the present shoreline.

This study reconstructs the Holocene morpho-evolution and RSL changes in the study area by creating a geodatabase following international guidelines for sea-level markers (SLMs). A comprehensive dataset of 52 SLMs was compiled from direct geoarchaeological measurements, stratigraphic and palaeoecological interpretations of new borehole data, and reinterpreting bibliographic information. Archaeological site selection involved analyzing bibliographic, cartographic, and video materials for ruins' details and dating. Additionally, public institutions provided access to an unpublished stratigraphic dataset from five deep boreholes drilled between Fondi and Formia plains in 2023. 
Three samples were collected from the stratigraphic columns of the analyzed boreholes in Formia Plain and dated using the radiocarbon dating technique. One sample, derived from a lagoonal deposit, presented an age exceeding the dating technique's accuracy range and older than 54 ka BCE. Despite this, the dating provided valuable information on the initiation of backshore formation. The other two dated samples, derived from a second drilling and collected inside layers of peat deposits, were interpreted as Terrestrial Limiting Points (TLPs) defining an upper limit of -4.20 m MSL for the RSL position at about 7.5 ka BP.
Accordingly, based on the collected data, between 8.0 and 7.5 ka BP, the sea level in the study area rose from -23 to -5 m at a rate of 25 mm/yr. Subsequently, the rate slowed to less than 5 mm/yr, stabilizing at its current position. In particular, the results coming from the geoarchaeological surveys suggest that the local sea level during the Roman period (I century BCE) was no higher than - 0.55 ± 0.29 m MSL. 
Overall, the RSL data included in the geodatabase highlights the tectonic stability of this sector during the last 2.0 ka, testified by the position of the SLMs in accordance with the GIA models and supported by the determination of average vertical ground movements rates of -0.017 ± 0.23 mm/yr.

Finally, the interplay between new data from geoarchaeological surveys, bibliographic sources, and LiDAR-based geomorphological analysis allowed the creation of a paleogeographic scenario for the study area in the 1st century CE. This highlights the significant landscape modifications induced by anthropic activities during that period.

How to cite: Caporizzo, C., Aiello, G., Amato, V., Aucelli, P. P. C., Barra, D., Gionta, A., Corrado, G., Mattei, G., Pappone, G., Parisi, R., Petrosino, P., Schiattarella, M., and Vacchi, M.: Holocene relative sea-level changes and coastal dynamics in Southern Latium, Italy: an interdisciplinary investigation , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-21345, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21345, 2024.

As archeological sites are not isolated islands, they exert horizontal and vertical influence on their surrounding area. Therefore understanding the impact of these sites on their periphery becomes crucial.  Soil and sediments, as reliable historical archives, provide a unique opportunity to investigate these processes. Recent research has demonstrated that not all markers of human activity are visible, and a combination of physical and chemical methods, including pOSL and pXRF analysis, can provide insights into hidden past human signatures.

Core drills conducted at the footslope of Tel Burna In Israel's archaeological site revealed an anthropogenic unit buried within the valley. This unit also contains a layer indicative of heightened anthropogenic activity, which could either signify the remnants of an ancient field's surface or the site's abandonment, followed by rapid site erosion. Given that these drills spanned from the slope of the Tell to the valley below, we were able to track the sediment's properties from the top of the site down to the valley. It was shown that the anthropogenic influence reduced with distance from the site, resulting in increasingly intricate patterns, suggesting multiple sources of sedimentation—both natural and anthropogenic. Furthermore, the study revealed a cycle of deposits that were transported to the site from the adjacent valley through human material transport activities to be subsequently eroded back into the valley due to natural processes. In summary, the ancient archeological site during its occupation and abandonment is still a physical feature that has been contributing to the landscape cycling processes.

How to cite: Ackermann, O., Janovský, M., Nikolskaia, P., Fišer, J., Anker, Y., Anker, Y., Ben-Gedalya, T., Friedman, A., Hejcman, M., and Shai, I.: Deciphering Hidden Ancient Human Physical and Chemical Markers through pOSL and  pXRF Analysis: A Case Study at Tel Burna, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-14063, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-14063, 2024.

In antiquity, the development of techniques to collect and store water was fundamental to sustain life in arid regions. One way to overcome the problem of water supply in the desert was to construct water reservoirs and cisterns which collect surface runoff during rare rain events. Indeed, open reservoirs and rock-cut cisterns are widely spread over the arid zone of the Negev Highlands / Israel. They were an important component of human activity in the area. Today, they can serve as sedimentary archives for archaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Here we provide the final assessment of a large-scale optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating project of water installations in the arid Negev Highlands. By sampling spoil piles, feeding channels, and accumulation of sediments within reservoirs and cisterns, the construction, the phases of maintenance and abandonment were dated. The significance of these results for reconstructing the history of human activity in the region is discussed.

How to cite: Fuchs, M., Junge, A., and Lomax, J.: Chronology of ancient water installations and the history of human activity in the Negev Highlands, Israel , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2124, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2124, 2024.

The Austronesian population, which consists of approximately 0.4 billion people, is widely spread across the Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. Extensive research over several decades has led to an academic consensus that the Austronesian population originated from Taiwan and the southeastern coast of mainland China. However, the exact manner in which the Austronesian ancestors arrived in Taiwan and subsequently dispersed to other oceanic regions remains a mystery. By analyzing the last deglacial sea-level rise, neotectonic activities, and resulting ancient environmental changes, as well as comparing the characteristics of middle Neolithic remains (dating back approximately 7.4-4ka) between the Taiwan Strait, we have proposed the existence of a “proto-Austronesian culture” in the early Holocene (around 11.7ka~7.4ka). This culture was centered around the nearshore area of the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan Shoal region. As sea levels gradually rose, the Austronesian ancestors’ habitat became increasingly submerged, compelling them to retreat to the inshore highlands on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Austronesian relics discovered on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, such as Dabenken, Keqiutou, and Fuguodun, among others, are actually branches of the Austronesian ancestors, inheriting their marine ecological characteristics. The scarcity of Neolithic artifacts older than 7.4ka on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can be attributed to a “survivor bias” phenomenon. It is plausible that numerous early Holocene relics of the “proto-Austronesian culture” remain submerged in the nearshore area of the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan Shoal, eagerly awaiting discovery through submarine archaeological exploration.

How to cite: Zhang, K. and Zhang, S.: Unraveling the Origins and Dispersal of Austronesian Culture by the last deglacial sea-level rises and paleoenvironmental changes: Insights from the Taiwan Strait, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4518, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4518, 2024.

Climate variability, especially monsoonal rainfall, has significantly shaped habitable areas for human populations in South Asia in the past just as it does today. Instances of climate-driven social disruptions and population movements are evident worldwide, as evidenced for example in the Classic Maya and the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). However, climate change can manifest in very different ways in terms of vegetation and fire regimes, with important implications for regional environmental histories as well as socio-political patterns. As such, it is essential to develop a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between climate, vegetation, fire, and archaeological evidence relating to changes in settlement patterns and continuities. Insights derived from such studies offer a foundation to explore and comprehend present and future human-environment interactions.

Here we present multi-proxy time-series datasets derived from a 2.25-meter geological trench known as ‘Jankipura,’ located within the semi-arid Thar Desert. Jankipura, located near Didwana Lake, holds prehistoric importance, being surrounded by major archaeological sites in the Thar Desert. It is also a part of the Didwana Palaeolithic Complex, surrounded by the IVC, Jodhpura-Ganeshwar, and Ahar-Banas cultural regions. The chronology of the Jankipura trench is constructed based on four ¹⁴C AMS dates ranging from 183 to 4656 cal yr. BP, aligning with the Mature phase of the IVC – a period characterized by population migration and a severe reduction in settlement density. Our analysis encompasses measurements of sediment total organic and bulk carbon isotope (d¹³C_bulk) composition, alongside examinations of plant-wax molecular distributions (n-alkanes and fatty acids). Additionally, we analyzed the δ¹³C and δ²H values of long-chain n-alkanes (C₂₇, C₂₉, C₃₁, and C₃₃) and fatty acids (C₂₆, C₂₈, C₃₀, and C₃₂) extracted from the sediment samples.

Our study also involved the assessment of macro-charcoal concentrations (>125 µm, differentiating grass from wood) to reconstruct the climate-vegetation-fire relationships during and after a major period of disruption of the IVC. The findings highlight an dry phase between 4656 and 2932 cal yr. BP, characterized by a mixed C₃-C₄ vegetational landscape with limited fire episodes. A significant fire episode took place during the period from 2932 to 1960 cal yr. BP, suggesting dry conditions supported by abundant C₄ vegetation. Between 1960 and 183 cal yr. BP, three minor fire events occurred amid fluctuating rainfall conditions and a landscape dominated by mixed C₃-C₄ vegetation. The identified macro-charcoal predominantly comprised woody fragments over grass fragments. Notably, an increasing trend in isotope values, reaching its peak in macro-charcoal, is observed between 183 cal yr. BP and the present, signifying increased aridity compared to the mature phase of the IVC.

Although the study is based on a single trench, our observation of a weak relationship between vegetation and fire suggests that the reconstructed fire events may have originated from anthropogenic activities. This sheds light on the significance of vegetation, especially the utilization of wood, during the Mature phase of the IVC. We recommend generating more records from this region to better comprehend the spatio-temporal interaction of the IVC population with the environment.

How to cite: Jha, D., Blinkhorn, J., Schwab-Lavric, V., Zuccarelli Freire, V., Ilgner, J., Achyuthan, H., Boivin, N., Devra, R., Maezumi, S. Y., Gleixner, G., Roberts, P., and Petraglia, M.: Plant-wax biomarkers and their isotopes reveal complex relationships between climate, vegetation and fire during collapse of Indus Valley Civilization, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20312, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20312, 2024.

An impressive relic of the scale of human-environment interaction and land modification in prehispanic South America are agricultural terraces, covering slopes across the Andes and of which only a fraction is still in use nowadays. Despite the ubiquity of agricultural terraces in the Andes, there is a lack of systematic studies that combine the investigation of farming terraces, land use history, and settlement patterns, preventing a comprehensive understanding of prehispanic socio-economic-ecological systems and human-environmental interactions. Our project develops and applies an integrative and interdisciplinary methodological approach to the study of prehispanic Andean terrace agricultural systems and associated settlements, providing reliable data on the dynamics of land use-settlement systems through time and space. Our methodological approach consists of the application of a variety of archaeological and geoscientific methods, including archaeological and geomorphological surveys, archaeological excavations, drone surveys, mapping using satellite imagery and high-resolution digital elevation models, geographic information system applications, soil testing, phytolith and starch analysis, numerical dating, and calculations of food supply capacity and labour requirements.

We apply these to the prehispanic site of Cutamalla (3,300 m asl) in the southern Peruvian Andes, which serves as an ideal and pioneering case study. Previous research has focused primarily on the settlement of Cutamalla, particularly through large-scale archaeological excavations, but less attention has been paid to the extensive farming terraces surrounding the settlement and the close relationship between agricultural and settlement activities. By analyzing both the terrace and settlement levels, we take a new perspective and introduce the term agricultural terrace-settlement system for such complexes. Our results show that the residential occupation of Cutamalla and the use of the surrounding farming terraces coincided: the agricultural terrace-settlement system was intensively used for a relatively short period of about 200 years (~250–40 BCE) during the Formative Late Paracas and transitional Initial Nasca periods. There is no evidence of reoccupation of the site and subsequent reuse of the agricultural system. Our data also document the large extent of agricultural terraces around Cutamalla (221 ha) and that maize was likely a major crop grown there. Finally, we place these findings in their broader socio-economic and ecological context. Cutamalla was an important regional center and economic hub during a very dynamic period characterized by significant population growth and increased violence. Not only a more humid climate, but probably also forced collective labor were cornerstones of substantial agricultural production in Cutamalla and the region.

How to cite: Meister, J., Binder, C., Dietrich, L., Godde, P., Leceta, F., Lyons, M., Marsh, E., Reindel, M., and Mader, C.: Prehispanic agricultural terrace-settlement systems: an integrative approach to study land use and settlement dynamics in the southern Peruvian Andes, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12670, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12670, 2024.