To analyse precisely chronologically resolved sedimentary records (e.g. pollen, spores, macrofossils) in annually laminated sediments and cross correlate them with occupation periods as dated by dendrochronology and AMS-radiocarbon chronology during periods of significant palaeoclimatic oscillations.
To expand research into the ‘hinterland’ of large pre-alpine lakes to examine an extended range of human land-use activities using a combination of archaeological and palaeoecological methods so as to identify and understand the nature of agricultural systems, fire management regimes, wildfires, and woodland cycles.
To gauge population mobility and establish patterns demographic change.
To identify agents of economic and cultural processes in relation to physical-geographical conditions and human economic adaptions at a time of significant climatic/environmental change.
Modelling possible scenarios across three similar cultural and natural environments in the northern pre-alpine zone as facilitated by a shared development of archaeological and palaeoecological methodologies between the partner institutions.
Through the integration of wetland archaeology and palaeoecology, we expect to generate new data and models relevant to understanding the variability of human impact on landscapes, especially the environmental interactions of Neolithic societies, with relevance to the entire peri-Alpine region.
Management:
Prof. Dr. Albert Hafner (University of Bern), Prof. Dr. Willy Tinner (University of Bern, IPS), Dr. Helmut Schlichtherle (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Stuttgart), Prof. Dr. Tim Taylor (University of Vienna)
Project members (Switzerland):
Dr. Othmar Wey (IAW),
Fabian Rey MA (IPS)
M. Sc. Julian Laabs (IAW)
Duration:
2015-2018
Funding:
Swiss National Science Foundation, Interdisciplinary Project No CR20I1L_152862
