Schmidt Gerlach
Fakultäten » Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät » Geographisches Institut » Physische Geographie » Prof. Dr. Michael W. I. Schmidt » Schmidt Gerlach
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Detecting prehistoric fire-based farming along the Rhine valley using biogeochemical markers | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | The formation of Chernozems in Central Europe traditionally is linked to climate. Recent evidence, however, indicates that also charred organic carbon from vegetation fires may form black soils. Phaeozems in the Southern part of the Lower Rhine Basin (Northwest Germany) presumably are relicts of prehistoric fire-based agricultural practices rather than relicts of former Chernozems. Here we try to i) detect the anthropogenic influences on soils by biogeochemical markers and ii) trace the input and transport of charred organic carbon in soils after fire, iii) investigating both archaeological excavations and experimental burning in field trials. | ||||||
| Publications / Publikationen | ECKMEIER E., RÖSCH M., EHRMANN O., SCHMIDT M. W. I., SCHIER W., GERLACH, R. 2007. Conversion of biomass to charcoal and the carbon mass balance from a slash-and-burn experiment in a temperate deciduous forest. Holocene 17, 539–542.ECKMEIER E., GERLACH R., GEHRT E., SCHMIDT M. W. I. 2007. Pedogenesis of Central European Chernozems. Geoderma 39, 288–299.GERLACH R., BAUMEWERD-SCHMIDT H., VAN DEN BORG K., ECKMEIER. E., SCHMIDT M.W.I. 2007. Prehistoric alteration of soil in the Lower Rhine Basin, Northwest Germany – archaeological, 14C and geochemical evidence. Geoderma, 136, 38-50.HAIJAS I., SCHLUMPF N., MINIKUS-STARY N., HAGEDORN F., ECKMEIER E., , SCHOCH. W., BURGA C., BONANI G., SCHMIDT M. W. I., CHERUBINI P. 2007. Radiocarbon ages of soil charcoals from the Southern Alps, Ticino, Switzerland, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 259, 398–402.ECKMEIER E. (2003): Gibt es Schwarzerden im Rheinland? Eine Spurensuche im Labor. Archäologie im Rheinland. 204-206.GEHRT, E., GESCHWINDE M., SCHMIDT M. W. I. (2002). Neolithikum, Feuer und Tschernosem – oder: Was haben die Linienbandkeramiker mit der Schwarzerde zu tun? Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 32, 21-30.ECKMEIER E. , GERLACH R., SKJEMSTAD J. O., EHRMANN O., SCHMIDT M. W. I.. 2007. Only small changes in soil organic carbon and charcoal concentrations found one year after experimental slash-and-burn in a temperate deciduous forest. Biogeoscience 4, 377-383.Weitere Informationen | ||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Chernozem, black carbon, biogeochemistry, fire, geoarchaeology | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Universität Zürich (position pursuing an academic career), Others |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | May 2003 to May 2007 |