An integrated archaeo-palaeoenvironmental approach to the study of human-environment relationships in the Wierzchowo Lake microregion (Northern Poland) during the Mid- to Late Holocene

Abstract

The area surrounding Wierzchowo Lake, located in the central part of Pomerania (Northern Poland), is of particular interest from the point of view of the development of past settlements. Archaeological data have revealed human activity during various periods, ranging from the Palaeolithic through the Modern Period. This may suggest the relative and long-term attractiveness of this area. Among archaeological sites from this microregion, a monumental, well-preserved hillfort located in the Wierzchowo Lake peninsula stands out. Although limited excavations were carried out and numerous archaeological materials were collected, its origin remains unclear. Unfortunately, this hillfort could not be properly investigated during the excavations, due to the conservation conditions resulting in a high level of administrative protection. Having these limitations in mind, it was decided to conduct a palaeoenvironmental investigation in the vicinity of this hillfort and correlate its results with the extensive archaeological information available for this area. An investigation based on pollen, charcoal, and geochemical analysis of the lake sediments and their juxtaposition with the available archaeological record, a broad insight into the past of this region, and the nature of the relationship between people and the natural environment were revealed. The first traces of permanent settlement have been linked to the Funnel Beaker culture. A strong increase in human impact within the microregion and important changes in local vegetation (e.g., deforestation, the spread of ruderal habitats) have been associated with the activities of Lusatian culture groups at the end of the Late Bronze Age. A significant transformation of the natural environment and modification of farming practices has been recorded during the Roman Period (Wielbark culture communities) and Medieval Times (Slavic culture). Changes in vegetation composition have also been related to climatic fluctuations around 850 BCE, during the Migration Period and Little Ice Age, when temporary settlement regressions were observed.