10. December 2010 Waddenacademy Leeuwarden

Towards a trilateral Research Agenda 8.-10. December 2010 Waddenacademy Leeuwarden

Dr. habil. Dirk Meier, Universität KIel

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Geoarchaeological Investigations

www.kuestenarchaeologie.de

Dirk Meier www.kuestenarchaeologie.de

The settlement history of the North-Sea coast was influenced for long time by nature, more particular by the changing impact of the sea.

The coastal landscape was partly formed by the geomorphology of the Ice Ages, the Holocene rise of the sea-level, and human interventions in the environment such as dike building and drainage since Medieval time.

The landscape development and the coastal history are closely connected.

This have been often pointed out by geoarchaeological research projects.

Geoarchaeological Projects Trialteral Projects

Geoarchaeological Projects Frisian Project Power and Elite Coastal Archaeology (Dithmarschen, Eiderstedt) Norderhever-Project (North-Frisian Wadden Sea)

EU mapping and management Projects Terp Excvations LANCEWAD, LANCEWADPLAN Wijnaldum, Peins, Leens, Ezinge, Middelstum Terps in the Ems estuary Terps in the Wangerland Norderhever Project Terps in Butjadingen University Kiel Feddersen Wierde, Wursten Terps in Dithmarschen Coastal Terps and dikes in Eiderstedt Archaeology Frisian Project University Kiel Terps and dikes in North-Frisia Power and Elite Terps in Denmark Groningen Wangerland

Trilateral mapping programs Wursten Butjadingen Lancewad Lancewadplan Ems Estuary Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Sea Level rise

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Developement of the coastal Landscape

Geological investigations in Lower Saxony:

Stratigraphy of the coastal Holocene Analysis of sequences of peat and sediments

The sea level rise is the dominant factor affecting sediment accumulation.

Cross section of the coastal Holocene with sedimentary sequences and peat formations

build up under the influence of about 25 m sea level rise during the last 7,500 years BP. Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Landscape

6500 years ago the North-Sea reached the today coastal area in Schleswig-Holstein.

In Dithmarschen and North-Frisia as well as in Lower Saxony the North-Sea boarders at the Pleistonce cores, since 3000 BC beach ridges were formed.

The coastal resources were used by hunter and gatherers.

3000 BC

North-Sea area of Schleswig- Holstein Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The early coastal Landscape of Dithmarschen

2500 BC

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Roman written sources

One of the first descriptions of the tidal flats and the storm surges are mentioned by Roman historians, such as:

Cassisus Dio (*AD 155/163/164, †229),

Publius Cornelius Tacitus (*AD 56, †117)

and C. Plinius Secundus (*AD 23, †79)

during the Roman fleet expeditions between 12 BC and AD 16 by Drusus, Tiberius and Germanicus along the North-Sea coast. Tacitus described „poor people on teprs“.

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The rural economy of the first settlers

Paleobotanical and geoarchaeological investigations show a close relationship between coastal environment and settlement.

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The rural economy of the first settlers Domestic animals Wild animals Horse 9,7% Pig 9,4% Wild boar Dog 1,3% Red deer 67,3% 12,3% Wild cat

Süderbusenwurth AD 50 – 300 European otter

Dugs Horse 5,3% Pig 11,3% Common raven 65,8% 15,4% Cat 0,1% Greylag goose Grey Heron Seaeagle Wellinghusen AD 700 – 1000

Acipenser Horse 3,5% Harbour Pig 11,5% porpoise 48,3% 39,3% Dog 0,46% Atlantic cod Cat 0,10% Wale

Hassenbüttel AD 1000 – 1150 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The coastal development in the Northern Netherlands

Geoarchaeological Investigations in the northern Netherlands allowed a reconstruction of the former coastal landscape

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The coastal development in the Northern Netherlands

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Pre Roman and Roman Wierde in Groningen: The example of Ezinge

Ezinge in 't Westerkwartier van Groeningen, aquarel uit 1772 door Aar Schouman (1710- 1792)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Ezinge

Albert Egges van Giffen 1884-1973

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Ezinge

Pre Roman Roman Late Roman

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Feddersen Wierde, a Roman period terp in the Land Wursten

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Schleswig-Holstein

Geo-Archaelogical Investigations at the North-Sea Coast of Schleswig-Holstein

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Settlement of Roman Period in Dithmarschen

AD 50

Main tidal water

Terpen

Archive of the Landscape

Medieval Warft

salt marsch

sediments

peat

Phragmites

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Süderbusenwurth, a Roman period terp in Dithmarschen (AD 50-200)

Süderbusenwurth, a Roman period terp in Dithmarschen (AD 50-200)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Süderbusenwurth, a Roman period terp in Dithmarschen (AD 50-200)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Tiebensee, a Roman period ground level settlement AD – AD 50

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Settlement of Roman Period in Dithmarschen

Haferwisch Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Settlement of Roman Period in Dithmarschen and Eiderstedt

Tofting, Eiderstedt a central terp AD 100 - 500 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Early Medieval time: Frisian trade and migration

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Frisian Project: Wijnaldum in Westergo

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Hogebeintum in Oostergo

Hogebeintum, a partly destroyed terp by dismantling of dung layers.

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Lower Saxony Reconstruction of the lanscape around AD 800

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Oldorf, Wangerland

Oldorf

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Settlement of Early Medieval time in Schleswig-Holstein

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Settlement of Early Medieval time in Dithmarschen

AD 700

AD 700-1000 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Wellinghusen, Dithmarschen

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Wellinghusen, Dithmarschen

Wellinghusen AD 690 - 1400

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Wellinghusen, Dithmarschen

Phase 5 AD 1400 / +6 m Phase 4 AD 1200 / +5 m

Phase 3 AD 1000 / +4 m

Phase 2 AD 800 / +3 m

Phase 1 AD 691 / +2 m AD 555-660

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Early medieval Settlement in Dithmarschen

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Hassenbüttel, Dithmarschen

1050 AD

900 AD 950 AD

Hassenbüttel (AD 900 – 1150)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Elisenhof, Dithmarschen

Elisenhof, Eiderstedt AD 800-1000

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast High- and late Medieval time

AD 1200

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Dithmarschen and Eiderstedt

AD ca. 1400

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Eiderstedt

Hundorf, Eiderstedt AD 1200-1400

AD 1400 AD 1200

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Dike invesitgations

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Landscape Development of North Frisia

AD 200

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Landscape Development of North Frisia

AD 800

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Landscape Development of North Frisia before 1362

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast The Landscape Development of North Frisia

before 1634

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (Spieghel der zeevaerdt 1584)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Marcellus flood 1362

14.01.1362 England storm 15.01.1362 England Buildings damaged by storm Churches damaged by storm Heavy storm S / SW wind C. Pfister, M. Burri, U. Dietrich (Ed.), Datenbank Euro-Climhist. Oeschger Zentrum für Klimaforschung, Universität Bern. Version 2008. registry of the chapter of the cathedral of Schleswig of 1352 (copy 1407)

List of drowned churches of Nicolaus Brun, Bishop of Schleswig (1350/51-1369)

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Marcellus flood 1362

15.-16.1.1362 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Marcellus flood 1362

16.1.1362 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Marcellus flood 1362

17.1.1362 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Rungholt, North-Frisia

Clades Rungholtina Johannes Mejer 1636

Portus Edomsharde 14th century

Testament 1345: Rungeholte Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Stormsurge 1634

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Stormsurge 1634

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Cultural traces in the Wadden-Sea

Cultural traces in the North-Frisian tidal flats Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Cultural traces in the Wadden-Sea

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Cultural traces in the Wadden-Sea

Tidal channel

Pleistocene

The magnitude of landlosses in North-Frisia was mostly the effect of the geology, the landscpape development and partly the landuse (drainage, salt peat digging).

The tidal channels followed glacial smeltwater-valleys

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Islands of West Frisia

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Dike Museum Büsum

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Dike building

Deus mare, Friso litora fecit!

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Storm surges 1717 and 1825

Christmas flood 1717 Hallig-flood 1825 Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Ballum Marsh, Denmark

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Maritime Archaeology

Interactions between Landscape and Settlement at the North-Sea coast Maritime Archaeology: CIMBRIA-1883