Towards a reverse image. Botanical research into the landscape history of the eastern Netherlands (1100 B.C.—A.D. 1500)
Bert J. Groenewoudt|H. van Haaster|R. van Beek|Otto Brinkkemper
ABSTRACT Analysis of a large number pollen samples from pools and wells has led to more detailed understanding the vegetation development in eastern Netherlands between c. 1100 B.c. A.D. 1500. During Neolithic Bronze Age settlements were islands within forest landscape, with natural clearings as obvious starting points for further exploitation. Especially during Iron higher grounds became rapidly deforested. A semi-open landscape was formed relatively quickly, case northern Dutch sandy areas. The Roman period seems have been almost open it would be Middle Ages, something which also established south-east England. Deforestation proceeded at slower pace lower wetter parts but here too effects human presence are already visible late prehistory, least proximity settlements. sharp increase heath can observed, result deforestation soil exhaustion. Sometimes is grasses that rather than heather, probably on fertile degradation-resistant types. prehistoric mosaic still characterised by high degree spatial dynamics. On other hand, many medieval younger essen (open fields) likely areas continuous use agriculture until present day. These had apparently become stable elements an otherwise dynamic long before Ages.
Landscape History