PICO
PICO: Mon, 28 Apr | PICO spot 2
Evidence of early modern humans and their technology in Europe were recovered from both loess/palaeosol sequences and – predominantly – caves. Both are valuable archaeological archives with often quite good organic preservation due to the naturally high carbonate content. While caves often contain high numbers of artefacts, their contextualization in terms of environmental conditions during the occupation phases is often difficult because of a general scarcity of proxies as well as palimpsest formation, bioturbation, and sometimes poor chronological resolution. Contrary, expanded loess/palaeosol sequences in south-astern Europe host archaeological sites to a lower extent, particularly those from before ca. 50 ka. Since such finds exist in Central and Eastern Asian loess/palaeosol sequences, a limited habitability of European loess areas seems unlikely. Instead, it seems that extensive loess covers negatively affects the detection and thus archaeological visibility of older sites. While the construction of roads, vineyards and brick making in more populated areas increased the number of archaeological finds, these constructions usually are in deposits from the last glacial cycle.
In any case, loess/palaeosol sequences can provide a rich paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic context for the time frame of human presence and absence. Therefore, where possible, archaeological sites in Europe are compared to relatively close-by long and extended loess/palaeosol geoarchives which are more suitable for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions (‘onsite-offsite approach’).
In this contribution, we review our understanding of European loess/palaeosol sequences as direct and indirect archaeological archives, and point to knowledge gaps in European loess geoarchaeology.
Literature:
Boemke, B., Maier, A., Schmidt, I., Römer, W., and Lehmkuhl, F.: Testing the representativity of Palaeolithic site distribution: The role of sampling bias in the european upper and Final Palaeolithic record, Quat. Sci. Rev., 316, 108220, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108220, 2023.
How to cite: Zeeden, C., Lehmkuhl, F., and Maier, A.: Loess/paleosol sequences are most widespread geoarchives for the environmental context of early humans in Europe and Eurasia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2778, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2778, 2025.
The aim of this project was to use overbank deposits in Mongolia for reconstructing the Holocene landscape development. More specifically, we aimed at finding out, when the sedimentation of the thick deposits started, and which factors triggered the onset of overbank sedimentation. Possible factors included mainly enhanced runoff and increased availability of sediment in the catchments - which led to the follow-up question, whether climatic or anthropogenic causes - or both - were the main drivers of those changes.
To tackle these questions, we described profiles in stratified overbank deposits, analysed them for particle size distribution and organic carbon content, and subjected suitable sediment samples to luminescence dating, and organic material to radiocarbon dating.
The sediment bodies were usually 50-200 cm thick in total, but sometimes reached more than 4 metres thickness. The profiles exhibited sequences of layers of alluvial and aeolian fine material, alternating with humic layers and palaeosols. The thickness of the layers ranged from centimetres to decimetres.
We interpret the alternation of alluvial and aeolian layers as follows: The alluvial sediments primarily accumulated during episodic flood events. After their deposition, the bare sediment surface often acted as a dust source, which led to deflation and aeolian redeposition of sediment, before reestablishment of a vegetation cover stabilised the surface.
The accumulation of the overbank deposits must have been triggered by a regime with increased surface runoff leading to enhanced flooding dynamics, and by accelerated soil erosion in the catchments. A decline in vegetation cover may provide an explanation for both processes: It would cause increased surface runoff because of reduced interception and transpiration. Enhanced surface runoff and reduced protection of the soil surface by vegetation would in turn result in accelerated erosion.
Most of the layers showed ages of less than 2 ka, and the ages of the lowermost layers of the sediment sequences ranged between 4.5 ka and 2 ka. Apparently, sediment deposition happened very rarely in the period between the end of the Late Glacial to the Late Holocene, and the main upbuilding of the sediment sequences started around 2000 years ago.
This change might have been caused by a climate change towards more heavy precipitation events and longer periods of drought, the latter leading to vegetation decline. In addition, anthropogenic logging of forests and the use of fire, as well as intensification of pasture most likely led to enhanced surface runoff and accelerated soil erosion.
Archaeological evidence of animal husbandry in Mongolia goes back to the Early Bronze Age. It started about 5000 years ago with the appearance of the Afanasievo, Okunev and Andronovo cultures. However, substantial human impact on the landscape only began 2000 years ago, with the Xiongnu culture, Turkmen, Uyghurs, Kyrgyz and Mongols, prevailing one after the other. This probably marks a turning point of enhanced socio-economic development and rapid increase in population, accompanied by an increase in livestock and grazing pressure. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which climate change also played a role in this transformation.
How to cite: Sauer, D., Klinge, M., Zhang, J., and Frechen, M.: When and why did overbank deposits in Mongolia start to accumulate?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15197, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15197, 2025.
The ancient city of Uruk, located in the Mesopotamian floodplain, represents a key site for understanding the interplay between urban development and waterways in early civilizations. This study investigates the unique archaeological discovery of the first completely preserved Mesopotamian boat, unearthed in 2022 from a paleochannel of the Euphrates River near Uruk (Iraq). The excavation revealed that the boat was embedded in sand layers, surrounded by fine-grained floodplain sediments that are rich in artifacts and faunal remains. While the 14C dating of the boat was impeded by bitumen contamination, the fluvial sediments, bone fragments and ceramic artefacts provide sufficient evidence to establish the chronology of this discovery and link it to its paleoenvironmental context.
We applied optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to fluvial sediments surrounding the boat and cross-verified the results using radiocarbon (14C) analysis of associated bones. Additionally, ceramic fragments provided significant insights into the archaeological timeline.
The OSL-dated sediments from within the boat, yielding an age estimate of 3.6 ± 0.6 ka BP, correspond closely with 14C ages and the site's archaeological context, spanning the Ur III period (2100–2000 BCE) to the Isin-Larsa period (2000–1800 BCE).
This research highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach for establishing the chronology of a remarkable archaeological artifact. The findings provide valuable insights into the utilization of Uruk's waterways, the evolution of its floodplain, and the broader processes that shaped early urbanization in Mesopotamia.
How to cite: Reize, F., Haibt, M., Brückner, H., Brill, D., Reimann, T., van Ess, M., and Kehl, M.: Timing of the First Mesopotamian Boat Unearthed in a Euphrates Paleochannel near Uruk (Iraq), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7112, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7112, 2025.
Bubastis, one of the most significant cities in the southeastern Nile Delta, was continuously inhabited from approximately 3200 B.C.E. until its decline around 200 C.E. Over the past century, archaeological research at Bubastis has uncovered temples, palaces, residences, and cemeteries in the western, northern, and central parts of the site. Despite these discoveries, detailed information about the living quarters of the city's inhabitants and their geomorphological context remains sparse. However, surface pottery discovered in the eastern part of the site, along with historical accounts such as those by Herodotus, indicate that the city’s center likely shifted to this area during its later phases, spanning the Late Period through the Roman Period.
To investigate the Holocene landscape evolution and occupation history of the region, geophysical and geomorphological surveys were carried out in 2023 and 2024. These included 76 drillings, 24 2D and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) measurements, 32 1D Direct Current Resistivity (DCR) soundings in the eastern and the northern part of ancient Bubastis. To reconstruct the land-use history, 110 samples from 12 drill cores were analyzed for phytolith content.
The findings revealed several sandy “Gezira” hills, dating from the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene, scattered across the northern, central, and eastern parts of the study area. These elevated landforms later became sites for various structures. Floodplain deposits associated with the Bilqas Formation suggest that the region was periodically inundated by Nile floods, likely originating from the nearby Pelusiac or Tanitic Nile branches during the Middle and Late Holocene.
Human activity in the region began with the occupation of Bubastis around 3250 B.C.E. Prominent Gezira mounds in the western and northern parts of ancient Bubastis were the sites for palaces, temples and cemeteries spanning from the Old Kingdom (c. 2570–2180 B.C.E.) to the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 B.C.E.). The Temple of Bastet was situated on the central Gezira mound, with evidence of its existence dating back to at least the Old Kingdom, while the eastern area was predominantly used for agricultural purposes. From the Late Period (c. 664–332 B.C.E.), eastward from the central Gezira, although the easternmost part of the area likely continued to be used for agriculture. During this time, the so-called Temple of Hermes was constructed atop a local Gezira mound at the eastern edge of the site. Settlement activity continued into the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods (c. 332 B.C.E.–200 C.E.), characterized by significant urban development in the central part of the study area. Here, anthropogenic layers up to ~950 cm thick were uncovered, reflecting the construction and reconstruction of multi-story clay brick houses. Meanwhile, agricultural zones likely shifted to the surrounding floodplain areas.
The modern landscape, characterized by gently undulating terrain and scattered vegetation, still preserves traces of Bubastis’ history, including the ruins of the Temple of Bastet and remnants of collapsed mud-brick walls on the southeastern Tell. In contrast, the Temple of Hermes and the original Gezira mounds have become indistinguishable in the current terrain.
How to cite: Meister, J., Garbe, P., Abd El-Raouf, A., Behl, M., Es-Senussi, A., and Lange-Athinodorou, E.: Paleoenvironmental and settlement history of ancient Bubastis, southeastern Nile Delta (Egypt), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7388, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7388, 2025.
The Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece is aiming to reconstruct the human occupation of the Sarandopotamos watershed (Euboea, Greece) through a prospection campaign (André et al., 2023). This region has been occupied almost without interruption since the Neolithic and was an extremely important religious centre during antiquity (Ducrey et al., 2007, Fachard et al., 2017). With such a rich historical context understanding human/environment interactions is crucial and a central goal is understanding when and how the environment has changed in the study area. The most sacred sites are located close to the land-sea interface such that they may have experienced the effects of both catchment-scale changes in runoff and sediment supply and rapid sea level rise during the Holocene. Thus, a primary goal of this study has been to quantify the rates and origins of sediment delivered to the coastal plain in the Sarandopotamos watershed at the scale of the Holocene.
In order to investigate these topics, one core drilled in the Amarynthos floodplain was extensively studied. We performed granulometry, X-ray diffraction, XRF, RockEval and CHNS analysis, in addition C14 dating was performed on six charcoals. The results allowed determination of deposition rates. A period with a very high deposition rate is identified between 7 kyrs BP and 4.8 kyrs BP, resulting in the accumulation of approximately six meters of sediments. After that the deposition rate dropped markedly, with only three meters deposited from 4.8 kyrs BP to the present day. The geochemical data allowed the core to be divided into distinct units, suggesting time-varying sediment sources as well as a link between the composition of the sediments and the deposition rate. Initial interpretations suggest that periods of enhanced sediment supply tend to have particular geochemical origins and may reflect different local sensitivities of the catchment to Holocene climate change; although an association between human land use changes and sediment erosion cannot be excluded.
How to cite: Talas, T., Bomou, B., Adatte, T., Reubi, O., Fachard, S., and Lane, S.: The paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Sarandopotamos river valley (Amarynthos, Evia Island, Greece): studying long term human- environment interactions., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3729, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3729, 2025.
The Mohács Plain, a gently terraced low-relief alluvial plain on the right bank of the Danube in southern Hungary, was the site of one of the most important battles in Hungarian history in 1526. There are only a few written accounts of the battle in which the Hungarian forces suffered a defeat against the Ottomans, therefore the exact location of the battle is still debated.
In addition to the numerous studies tackling this problem we introduce another aspect: the geomorphometric analysis that contributes to our understanding. As it is a flat area, the focus is primarily on examining microtopographic features and their relative age ordering, in order to construct a feasible 16th century drainage model of the area. The aim of our approach is to determine past and present channels of streams and watercourses that shaped the terrain. These features were analysed using a variety of software, including QGIS and our own sophisticated image processing tools.
The created runoff model helped us to identify dried-up streambeds and other avulsions. The elevated terrace encompasses incised channels that previously acted as alluvial ones. This observation may support the idea of effects of a more humid climate resulting in large discharge volumes relative to recent conditions. Image segmentation has yielded results that can be used to distinguish patterns in the terrain model including smaller subunits and patterns within them.
By applying these methods, we aim to create a reconstruction of the 16th century landscape. By comparing this reconstruction with historical descriptions and archaeological observations, we expect to assist historians and archaeologists in pinpointing the exact location of the actions of Battle of Mohács.
How to cite: Dávid, Z. J., Vitai, Á., Molnár, G., Bertók, G., Viczián, I., Szeberényi, J., Herczeg, B., and Székely, B.: Microtopographic analysis of the Mohács Plain based on Digital Terrain Models, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12097, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12097, 2025.
After centuries of investigation the past of human species remains unclear and provokes large discussions. The prehistory studies in Africa are commonly related to the East and South of African continent, which led to idea that our ancestors avoided rainforest environments and preferred savannas as their habitat. However, there are some findings in other regions, including the ones that were under rainforest vegetation even during Late Glacial. For example, such findings were described in Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast, places that according to palaeoecological reconstructions were such a refugium of pluviselva. We conducted our research in archaeological sites of Equatorial Guinea to determine (1) in what environmental conditions Middle Stone Age (MSA) Homo Sapiens lived and (2) how did they interact with the environment. Our research was conducted at the archaeological site Mabewele 1 in Equatorial Guinea. The results of phytolith analysis of the complete sequence have shown that the rainforest most probably had insignificant changes since the MSA, which means that an that period Homo Sapiens inhabited pluviselva. At the same time the complete sequence was composed of several layer of pedosediments of very similar composition. At the lower part of the sequence abundant artefacts were found buried almost in-situ, however since the flakes had a preferential orientation, we expect that they were slightly redeposited before they were buried. Even such shallow redeposition means an erosion which has occurred over exposed land surface with disturbed vegetation. This finding leads us to the question whether this erosion is a sign of human activity or was it related to some natural processes? At the same time, in the studied sequence the artifacts are deposited over the stone line horizon. The stone line in ferralitic soils may be explained by an intense bioturbation process.
How to cite: Pogosyan, L., Cruz-y-Cruz, T., Terrazas-Mata, A., Sedov, S., Belyaeva, E., Pi-Puig, T., Rivera-González, I., Cabadas Báez, H. V., Benavente, M., Menéndez-Iglesias, B., and Rodríguez-Rivas, J.: Homo Sapiens in Equatorial Guinea during the Middle Stone Age: a paleopedological approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20528, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20528, 2025.
Black-colored humus-rich Chernozems and closely related Phaeozems are among the most fertile soils of the world, and were often used for agriculture over several millennia. The westernmost continuous Chernozem/Phaeozem region of Eurasia is located in the in the eastern lee of the Harz Mountains in Central Germany with precipitation < 550 mm/a. Unlike in other regions of Central Europe with anthropogenic Chernozems/Phaeozems, their formation can be related to natural factors such as high carbonate contents of their loose parent material and a dry subcontinental climate, suggested to foster appropriate living conditions for anecic earthworms. Their formation started prior to regional Neolithic settlement at latest during the early Holocene, and lasted until about 6-5 ka when the regional climate became more humid. Since that time, Chernozems/Phaeozems were subject to decalcification, clay translocation, silicate weathering and clay formation processes. The Central German Chernozem/Phaeozem region was used for agriculture for several millennia, with a strong intensification since the end of the 19th century. Furthermore, this region has also intensively been industrialized since that time, including widespread lignite burning in large power plants. However, only one study investigated a Late Neolithic buried Chernozem in comparison with the neighboring surficial soil using a limited amount of laboratory analytics, so that natural and anthropogenic changes of Central German Chernozems/Phaeozems during the last millennia were not systematically studied so far.
To fill this gap, we systematically compared the properties of a Chernozem that was buried by the Early Bronze Age burial mound Bornhöck ca. 3.8 ka ago, and was consequently largely preserved from subsequent soil forming processes and human influence, with those of a neighboring Chernozem/Phaeozem that was continuously exposed to natural and human processes until today. The goal of our study was to systematically identify differences in the properties of the two soils, allowing an exemplary assessment of the property changes of Chernozems/Phaeozems due to soil alteration and human overprinting in an intensively agriculturally and industrially used region during the last 3.8 ka.
How to cite: von Suchodoletz, H., Schneider, B., Skokan, A., Glaser, B., Polivka, S., Wiedner, K., Schlütz, F., Schunke, T., and Kühn, P.: The evolution of Central German Chernozems/Phaeozems since the Early Bronze Age between natural soil alteration and human overprinting , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1737, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1737, 2025.
Lakes in the Middle Atlas of Morocco have been investigated for decades, mainly focusing on sedimentological and palynological analyses. They are great archives for paleoclimate and ‑environmental reconstruction, and Morocco is perfectly located to study past changes of the mid-latitude westerlies and the subtropical atmospheric circulation, respectively. Here we present first results from our study to explore the potential of lipid biomarkers preserved in Lake Harcha. The lake has a very small catchment (~0,6 km2), is only ~5000 m2 big, but ~13 m deep. Two sediment cores, ~150 and ~130 cm in length, were retrieved. Age control is not available yet.
n-Alkanes (n-C23 – n-C33) are well preserved with odd over even predominances >7. n-C29 and n-C31 are particularly abundant and likely reflect input from terrestrial plants, whereas the shorter-chain n-alkanes (n-C23 and n-C25) are generally attributed to aquatic organisms. The Paq index increases to values >0.4 in the upper ~50 cm, indicating high aquatic productivity. At the same time dD31 increases by 20-40‰, which we tentatively interpret as shift in atmospheric circulation and related changes in the isotopic composition of the precipitation (more Mediterranean-sourced waters?). dD25 and also dD27 are generally enriched compared to dD31 (up to 50‰), which we attribute to evaporative enrichment of the lake water, but the difference becomes much less in the upper ~50 cm. We also analyzed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biomarkers for fire, combustion, and soil erosion, as well as sterols, fecal biomarkers that are derived from humans and animals. They all reveal variable concentrations and thus past human impacts.
How to cite: Zech, R., Schmitz, O., Scholz, S., Wulf, J., Prochnow, M., Taut, S., and Zielhofer, C.: Multi-proxy lipid biomarker and compound-specific isotope analyses from Lake Harcha, Middle Atlas, Morocco, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19932, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19932, 2025.
Northeastern (NE) Germany is characterized by continental climate conditions and is modelled to become even drier due to global climate change. This will aggravate the ecological and socio-economic consequences observed already over the last few years, such as intense droughts and forest fires. Detailed knowledge of regional past climate and environmental changes, as well as their potential supra-regional drivers, is urgently needed to understand climate-environmental interactions and to better anticipate future changes.
Here we present preliminary results from a 95 cm long sediment core from Lake Stechlin that spans ~5,000 years. At ~50 cm depth, a distinct lead maximum is likely associated with medieval industries. At the same time, organic carbon drops, and increasing clay and potassium contents indicate mineral input, likely due to deforestation and massive erosion. The higher average chain length of the n-alkanes documents more input of grass- rather than tree-derived leaf waxes. Concentrations of n-alkanes are high throughout the record and allow for δ2H measurements on terrestrial and aquatic compounds. These are currently in progress to investigate past changes in lake water evaporation and thus drought. Moreover, we will present polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as paleofire and erosion proxies to further explore anthropogenic impacts.
How to cite: Wulf, J., Prochnow, M., Kasper, T., Taut, S., Daut, G., and Zech, R.: Preliminary Geochemical and Lipid Biomarker Results from Lake Stechlin, Northeastern Germany, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21508, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21508, 2025.
Phosphatic crusts found in archaeological sites are orangish deposits with hard texture composed of microlaminated plant fragments embedded in a cement of hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH), considered as indicators of animal penning. They generally derive from compacted dung and bedding material enriched in liquid animal waste that partially transforms organic matter and carbonates into Ca-phosphates. In this study, the phosphatic crusts collected at the Middle Bronze Age (1650-1300 BCE) site of La Muraiola di Povegliano (Verona, northeast Italy) were investigated by means of separation techniques coupled with mass spectrometry. The chemical analysis of biomarkers like faecal steroids from these crusts revealed high concentrations of 5β-phytostanols (5β-stigmastanol and epi-5β-stigmastanol) which are indicative of plant material digested by herbivores. 5β-phytostanols form, in fact, from the reduction of Δ5physterols (campesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol) mediated by enteric bacteria in the intestinal tracts of herbivore mammals, especially in ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The identification of these compounds, combined with field observations and data derived from soil micromorphology, as well as pollen and phytolith analyses, offers valuable insights into husbandry practices in Bronze Age settlements. Acting as archives for microbotanical assemblages and chemical compounds that are rarely preserved to such a high degree in other deposits, this study highlights phosphatic crusts as critical features for exploring the interactions between humans, domestic animals, and their surrounding environment.
This research is part of the DIANE project (DIrt ANd Excrements: Integrating high-resolution sediment analysis and advanced biomolecular archaeology, 2022-2027) and it is strictly correlated to the ERC GEODAP project (GEOarchaeology of DAily Practices: extracting Bronze Age lifeways from the domestic stratigraphic record, 2021-2026). Both the projects aim to reconstruct domestic activities of ancient communities with a multidisciplinary approach that involves geoarchaeology, archaeobotany and organic chemistry.
How to cite: Baldan, M., Polisca, F., Dal Corso, M., Piazzalunga, G., Bortolini, M., Battistel, D., and Nicosia, C.: Analysis of biomarkers for the characterization of phosphatic crusts of compacted herbivore dung from a Middle Bronze Age settlement in the northeast Italy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18638, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18638, 2025.
The Bat oasis is located in the valley of the Wadi al Hijr, in the western piedmont of the Hajar Mountains. Occupied since the Neolithic period, the Bat archaeological complex is well-known for its Bronze Age funerary and domestic structures related to the first oasis of Oman and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the central oasis of Bat is beginning to be well studied, there is scarce information on its network with peripheral sites as well as local-scale environmental change across mid- to late Holocene. The sediment-filled depression of Rakhat al Madrh, c. 7.5 km NE of the central oasis presents five remote Bronze Age dwellings associated with courtyards, represents a key site to fill this gap.
This circular depression filled with khabra-like deposits covers 1,600 m². It is surrounded by an outcrop of sandstone and quartzite to the east and calciturbidite to the west. The eastern part is topped by remnants of Pleistocene fluvial conglomerates. To the north-east, the depression is connected to the Wadi al Hijr by an alluvial fan. This depression has functioned as a sedimentary trap since at least the Upper Pleistocene (OSL dating: 46,400 ± 5600 BP).
Nine soundings were opened down to a depth of up to 310 cm and sampled for sedimentological (grain-size distribution), geochemical (X-ray fluorescence and photometric analyses), mineralogical (X-ray diffraction) and micromorphological analyses. The chronostratigraphy is based on radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) data. The upper part of the soundings concerns the Bronze Age period, enabling us to connect the evolution of the depression with the Early Bronze Age occupation of this specific micro-environment.
We follow a working hypothesis of two main types of sedimentary input, one mainly coming from the Wadi al Hijr through the alluvial fan (ex situ) characterized by pyroxenes, olivines, serpentines and poorer particle sorting, the other one from the immediate local sub-catchment of the depression (in situ) characterized by higher carbonate and quartz content as well as finer and better sorted particles. Whether the regional wadi and local sub-catchment inputs reflect more humid or arid phases, respectively, needs to be tested by further research.
On a regional scale, the occupation of Rakhat al Madrh by Early Bronze Age societies is remarkable due to its persistence up to the mid-Umm An Nar period, in spite of aridification. Adapting to the restrictive conditions of the arid environment meant exploiting the distinctive local features of the environment. Rakhat al Madrh could belong to a network of grazing area around the main oasis, which, in addition to a few groundwater sites, provided the water resources, thus justifying the designation of Rakhat al Madrh as an oasian peripheral site.
Keywords : geoarchaeology, geomorphology, sedimentology, Holocene, arid environment, Oman
How to cite: Prosperini, A., Engel, M., Le Callonnec, L., Beuzen-Waller, T., Cosandey, C., Desruelles, S., Buffington, A., Huot, S., Swerida, J., Dollarhide, E., and Fouache, É.: The Rakhat al Madrh sedimentary archive in the periphery of the Bat oasis, Oman: paleoenvironmental evolution and human occupation, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-465, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-465, 2025.
Mountains are one of the best environments for the observation of the interaction between geology, landscape, and human sustenance strategies. In the Western European Alps, many areas have the potential to provide useful information on the relationship between geological diversity and human history, offering unique insights into settlement and activity patterns. Bedrock lithology, geomorphological features, soil development, and the overlying hydrological systems, directly shaped settlement distribution, agricultural and pastoral practices, and trade networks. Even in such difficult conditions, the more fertile valley floors provided stable and exploitable soils, while upland areas supported pastures and timber industries, vital for the survival of medieval economies. This study is part of the DAHU project (Programme INTERREG VI-A France-Italia ALCOTRA 2021-2027, n. 20108) and integrates geomorphological and soil surveys, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and archaeological evidence to provide insights on how human frequentation throughout the Middle and Modern Age was influenced by landscape factors and the underlying geological setting.
The complex alpine communities within the closed area of the Vallone di San Grato (Valle d'Aosta region, NW Italian Alps) have been well established since the Middle Ages - at least since the colonisation of the Walser populations in the 13th-14th Centuries - and expanded over the centuries before their decline and disappearance, which became more and more evident from the 18th Century onwards. This frequentation left many traces in the form of built structures and settlements, as well as profound land modifications for cultivation, forestry, and pastoral activity.
Preliminary results allow to draw a first contextualization of the available archaeological and paleoenvironmental evidence inside their geological and geomorphological context. It is evident that medieval and modern communities were able to consume natural resources and deal with the many geological and landscape constraints on the territory, adapting settlement patterns, construction methods, and resource management accordingly. Above all, past glacial dynamics strongly dictated settlement choices, with most settlements located on moraine deposits and exploiting the soils in the less steep areas for cultivation, and leaving deep modifications in their morphology and chemical properties. Examples of land use are manifold and distributed throughout the valley, where only the steepest bare slopes were not utilized. Human impact also brought substantial land modifications through the centuries, especially on the higher slopes exploited for forestry, where the recent reactivation of slope processes hints at overexploitation-driven instability episodes.
This dynamic interaction offers insights into the resilience of medieval to modern alpine societies in responding to environmental challenges, with implications for cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development in similar landscapes.
How to cite: Mariani, G. S., Viani, C., Pintaldi, E., D'Amico, M. E., Garbarino, M., Domanico, M., Druscovic, N., Idone, A., Sartorio, G., and Freppaz, M.: Geology and landscape controls over Middle to Modern Age human frequentation in mountain environments: preliminary results from the Western European Alps. , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18105, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18105, 2025.
The Bronze Age marked an era of dense human settlement across the eastern Carpathian Basin, evidenced by numerous tell settlements. Many underwent erosion or have been overprinted by subsequent anthropogenic activities resulting in only a limited number of sites with well-preserved archaeological context. The remaining well-preserved sites provide critical opportunities to study prehistoric settlement strategies and activities. Among these, Tell Toboliu, situated in Romania, is characterised by multiple occupational phases, including diverse house floor constructions. A notable phenomenon is the variety of house floor units, which include for example silty, more clayey, or plant tempered substrate and different floor coverings such as wooden planks and plasters.
To characterise and identify these construction styles, this study explored a novel integrative multi-method approach in combining micromorphological thin-section analysis with µXRF measurements and image analysis. Thin-section scans (PPL, XPL, and OIL) were classified using Random Forest Algorithm. Micro-XRF mappings provided spatial data on elemental ratios and the distribution of micromorphological phenomena, while point measurements offered insights into microfacies composition and the identification of archaeological features. Geochemical signatures were further examined through transect measurements, allowing the detection of relative differences in microfacies based on elemental ratios.
The outcome reveals important findings regarding the materials and techniques used in floor construction. For example, floor preparation is predominantly composed of processed loess-like material sourced from the surrounding clayey loess deposits. Additionally, distinct geochemical characteristics were identified for different floors, distinguishing non-covered, plastered and wood-covered floors. These proxies could provide a useful tool for detecting poorly preserved floor remnants such as wood plank residues within archaeological contexts. This combined micromorphological and Micro-XRF approach not only refines the understanding of prehistoric construction techniques and material sourcing but also introduces a reproducible methodology for identifying and characterising archaeological features. Our findings underline the potential of integrating advanced imaging and geochemical analysis in the study of prehistoric settlements, paving the way for further application to sites with a less well-preserved archaeological context.
How to cite: Zickel, M., Röpke, A., Opitz, S., Lie, M., Kienlin, T., and Reimann, T.: Revealing Bronze Age Construction: Digital Micromorphology and Micro-XRF Analysis of Tell Toboliu Floors in Western Romania, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8999, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8999, 2025.
