Palaeoenvironmental conditions and human activity in the vicinity of the Grodzisko fortified settlement (central Europe, Poland) from the late‐Neolithic to the Roman period

We present results from a palaeoecological analysis conducted on deposits accumulated in an oxbow lake of the Prosna River (Poland), next to the Grodzisko fortified settlement. Palaeobotanical and geochemical analyses—supported by radiocarbon dating—were performed to (i) reconstruct palaeoenvironmen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geoarchaeology 2022-03, Vol.37 (2), p.385-399
Main Authors: Gałka, Mariusz, Kołaczek, Piotr, Sim, Thomas G., Knorr, Klaus‐Holger, Niedzielski, Przemysław, Lewandowska, Agnieszka, Szczurek, Grzegorz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
climate change
Human populations
ICP‐OES
Indicators
Neolithic
Oxbow lakes
plant macrofossils
plant succession
Pollen
Radiocarbon dating
Rivers
stronghold
Water levels
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Summary:We present results from a palaeoecological analysis conducted on deposits accumulated in an oxbow lake of the Prosna River (Poland), next to the Grodzisko fortified settlement. Palaeobotanical and geochemical analyses—supported by radiocarbon dating—were performed to (i) reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions of the oxbow lake and its surrounding area; (ii) determine the beginning of the human activity in the fortified settlement vicinity; and (iii) assess the impact of human pressure on the environment. The Grodzisko fortified settlement was originally located on a river island, encircled by a wetland, improving its defensive value. Increases in the water level (1800–1300 BC and 700–200 BC) created a small lake/moat around the fortified settlement. Indicators for human activity from pollen records suggest the presence of human populations from the late Neolithic, ca. 2800 BC, with a clear intensification ca. 1700 BC. From ca. 1600 BC, a decrease in some decidous trees suggests forest clearance. Low levels of human activity indicator pollen ca. 2000 BC suggest a reduction of human pressure (possible depopulation). The regular presence of macrocharcoal pieces and an increase in human activity indicator pollen from ca. 1300 to 200 BC provide evidence for renewed human habitation around the sampling site.
ISSN:0883-6353
1520-6548
DOI:10.1002/gea.21896