Traces of "Forchtenberg" slash and burn system in the sediments of Komořany Lake, Czech Republic?

0383758 - ARÚ 2013 CZ eng A - Abstract
Dreslerová, Dagmar - Novák, J. - Bešta, T.
Traces of "Forchtenberg" slash and burn system in the sediments of Komořany Lake, Czech Republic?
-. 2012.
[Farming in the Forest /3./. 11.07.2012-15.07.2012, Kloster Schöntal]
Institutional support: RVO:67985912
Keywords : lake sediments * agriculture * Neolithic
Subject RIV: AC - Archeology, Anthropology, Ethnology

The profile PK-1-CH from the former Komořanské lake (Czech Republic) recording the interval of 7200 - 2100 cal B.C. was studied by means of microcharcoal, pollen, diatom and geochemical analyses. Enhanced concentration of microcharcoals with 4 peaks of ca 400 yrs amplitude was detected at ca 6500 - 4700/4400 cal B.C. Due to the regular character of burning and almost undetectable human impact (despite the numerous Neolithic sites around the lake) this was attributed to natural burning of the mixed-oak forest. The relatively high and steady microcharcoal concentration at ca 4400 - 2700 cal. B.C. corresponding to Eneolithic (e.g. Middle and Late Neolithic) is presumably a result of human activities even though archaeological evidence of the settlement is scarce in comparison to the Neolithic. One of the possible explanations might be the change in the land-use from the Neolithic intensive garden cultivation to a specific form of shifting cultivation with slash and burn. This production system is supposed for the late Neolithic in the Northern Pre-alpine lowlands and tested in the frame of the Forchtenberg project. The achieved course of the curve of microcharcoal from Komořany lake supports this hypothesis, however, more data must be obtained to prove it.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0218065