Publication details
LANDSCAPE HISTORY AND ECOLOGICAL CHANGE OF THE DRAHANY HIGHLANDS (CZECH REPUBLIC) IN THE MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIODS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Archeologia Technica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | Website of the journal |
| Keywords | geoarchaeology – human impact – Middle Ages – Moravian Karst – Drahany Highlands – mining |
| Description | This paper presents preliminary geoarchaeological research on human-environment interactions and land use in the Drahany Highlands (Czech Republic), focusing on the Zemanův žleb and Ostrov u Macochy sites in the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras). Previous studies have primarily linked settlement in these marginal Central European uplands to medieval colonization phases (11th–13th c. AD) driven by mining and non-agrarian activities like charcoal production, with little focus on earlier human impacts. The study utilized GIS analysis, LiDAR data, and sediment sampling to investigate past landscape dynamics. At Zemanův žleb, high sedimentation rates were observed, potentially linked to deforestation and mining. At Ostrov u Macochy, a probable medieval fishpond and Pleistocene/Holocene lake sediments were identified. The pollen record suggests Middle Holocene deciduous woodland with minor anthropogenic impacts. These findings highlight the potential of this region for further study on diachronic landscape changes and medieval land use strategies in low mountain ranges. Future work will involve geophysical surveys, dating, and detailed environmental analysis to better understand these dynamics. |
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