High-Resolution Direct Push Sensing in Wetland Geoarchaeology—First Traces of Off-Site Construction Activities at the Fossa Carolina
Johannes Rabiger‐Völlmer|Johannes Schmidt|Ulrike Werban|Peter Dietrich|Lukas Werther|Stefanie Berg|Andreas Stele|Birgit Schneider|Hans von Suchodoletz|Susanne Lindauer|S. Linzen|R. Stolz|Dennis Wilken|Peter Ettel|Christoph Zielhofer
Wetland environments, with their excellent conservation conditions, provide geoarchaeological archives of past human activities. However, the subsurface soil is difficult to access due high groundwater tables, unstable sediments, and cost excavation. In this study, we present a ground-based non- minimal-invasive prospection concept adapted conditions wetlands. We investigated Fossa Carolina in South Germany, canal that was intended 792/793 AD by Charlemagne bridge Central European Watershed. Although resulting Carolingian banks fairway wooden revetments are very imposing, archaeological traces off-site construction activities have not been identified hitherto. Based on geophysically surveyed intensive linear magnetic anomaly parallel canal, aimed prove potential context, built up high-resolution cross-section using highly depth-accurate direct push sensing ground-truthing. Our results showed exact geometry former banks. Thus, mass could be clearly located between buried organic-rich topsoil The thermoluminescence dating position reflected during phases, specifically heat exposure. Moreover, found hints supply 5-metre wide navigable fairway.
Remote Sensing|DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)|MACAU (Kiel University)