A multidisciplinary investigation of historical charcoal production in the 18-19th centuries (Czech Republic)

0582342 - ÚVGZ 2024 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Rybníček, Michal - Adamec, Z. - Bajer, A. - Friedl, M. - Kadavý, J. - Kneifl, M. - Knott, R. - Kočár, Petr - Kučera, A. - Maráz, K. - Mikita, T. - Novák, J. - Sklenář, K. - Vavrčík, H. - Kolář, Tomáš
A multidisciplinary investigation of historical charcoal production in the 18-19th centuries (Czech Republic).
Quaternary International. Roč. 676, DEC (2023), s. 27-36. ISSN 1040-6182. E-ISSN 1873-4553
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS IV - 90248
Institutional support: RVO:86652079 ; RVO:67985912
Keywords : tree-rings * example * kilns * lidar * tool * Anthracology * Charcoal kiln * Culture heritage * Dating * Tree rings * Wood species
OECD category: Forestry; Archaeology (ARU-G)
Impact factor: 2.2, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618223002355?via%3Dihub

Starting in the Middle Ages, charcoal production was essential for industrial development, in the manufacture of metals, glass and gunpowder. However, the ancient craft of charcoal burning and other commercial forest activities remain little understood. In this study, we used data from aerial laser scanning (ALS) to identify relic charcoal kilns in deciduous and coniferous forests at three different sites in the Drahany Highlands of the Czech Republic. We applied anatomical, archaeological, dendrochronological and radiocarbon methods to describe and analyse six selected kilns (two from each site) in detail. The ALS method revealed 245 potential relic charcoal kilns, of which 116 were confirmed during a field survey. Five of the six selected kilns dated from the 18th and 19th centuries, which corresponds to the period of greatest charcoal consumption by the region's metallurgical industries. While oak and birch charcoal dominated at one of the three sites under study, fir, oak and beech prevailed at another, while only fir and beech were identified at the third. These results from the anatomical identification of charcoal samples reflect historical as well as potential forest species composition but do not match the current composition. The results of our multidisciplinary research coincide with the peak and decline of charcoal production in the region. Thanks to the clear identification and dating of relic charcoal kilns in this study, an appropriate degree of protection from forest management practices that contribute to their gradual disappearance can be proposed.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0350459