Végétation and land-use history in the surroundings of the Kirchenmoos (Central Bavaria, Germany) since the late neolithic period to the early middle ages

Paleoenvironmental studies were carried out in the South Bavarian Altsiedelland, where man induced soil erosion is documented throughout several periods of the agricultural history. Colluvial sediments and peat layers in the Kirchenmoos Fen, 10 km south of Regensburg and 3 km east of the Danube river close to Bad Abbach, are key archives for the landscape history. A 7 m long sediment core (7038-111) was recovered from the Kirchenmoos, showing a complex stratigraphy. The minerotrophic peat deposits, which are covered by a 170 cm thick colluvium, contain interbeddings of colluvial horizons from historic and prehistoric periods. Peat layers reflect periods without direct human impact or periods when human impact was too weak to result in colluvial deposition on the mire. The interbedded colluvial layers are related to anthropogenic soil erosion and provide proof of periods with deforestation and agriculture. Therefore, the alternating minerotrophic peat and colluvial layers reflect the changing land-use history. Pollen analyses were carried out on both peat and colluvial horizons from the sediment section between 170 and 277 cm sediment depth. According to radiocarbon dating, this section covers the late Neolithic Period to the early Middle Ages. The pollen diagram reflects the development from a natural to a cultural landscape. Changes in woodland composition, directly and indirectly supported by man, are documented. The beginning and expansion of agricultural practices is indicated by anthropogenic indicators. Furthermore, the results of the pollen analyses prove intensive agricultural use during periods when sedimentological evidence in the sediment sequence is lacking.