Vegetation and settlement history of the past 9000 years as recorded by lake deposits from Großer Eutiner See (Northern Germany)

Abstract

Pollen analyses of a 24m long sediment core from Großer Eutiner See, a lake located in the lakeland area of the young moraine landscape of Ostholstein, Northern Germany, reveals over 9000years of vegetation and settlement history. The record is time controlled by 12AMS 14C dates of terrestrial plant remains. First human impact is evident already in the late Mesolithic between 5120 and 4900BC (7070–6850cal. yr BP). Simultaneously with the elm decline at about 3940BC (5890cal. yr BP), first agricultural activity is registered in the early Neolithic. The strongest Neolithic opening of the landscape occurred during the Single Grave culture at around 2450BC (4400calyr BP). The early Bronze Age (3770–3060cal. yr BP) is characterized by low settlement activity. During the late Bronze Age large scale expansion of arable farming and pasture land is documented from c. 990 to 490BC (2940–2440cal. yr BP). Between 350BC and AD 170 (2300–1780cal. yr BP), massive increase of heather indicates advanced deterioration of soils by continuous exploitation during the pre-Roman and to a somewhat lesser extent during the late Roman Iron Age. About AD 530 to 670 (1420–1280cal. yr BP) a distinctive settlement gap occurred, followed by three phases of intensive Slavic settlement until AD 1140 (810cal. yr BP). In the further course of the Middle Ages areas under cultivation increased strongly at the expanse of woodland. At this time new crops were introduced like hemp, buckwheat and walnut. The area of Großer Eutiner See largely remains untouched by the late medieval crisis in the 14th century. Forest degeneration continued during the Modern Period. During the 18th and 19th centuries agricultural impact reached its maximum. A gradual recovery of the forest is observed only in the recent decades.