- Leipzig University
Institute of Geography
Chair of Physical Geography
Johannisallee 19a
D-04103 Leipzig
Germany - +49 341 97 32965
Christoph Zielhofer
Leipzig University (Universität Leipzig), Geography, Faculty Member
- Geoarchaeology and Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions, Geoarchaeology, Holocene, Boundaries (Archaeology), Planetary Boundaries, Fluvial Geomorphology, and 13 moreAeolian Geomorphology, Environmental Hazards and Disasters, Medierranean Archaeology, Mediterranean and North Africa, Drylands, Climate Change, Eurasia, Central and Eastern Europe, Palaeoclimatology, Human-Environment Interactions, Charlemagne, Anthropocene, and Quaternary geochronologyedit
In this editorial, we give a short state of the art of geoarchaeology, including recent advancements and challenges, and shortly present the seven contributions to our special issue "Geoarchaeology and past human–environment interactions"... more
In this editorial, we give a short state of the art of geoarchaeology, including recent advancements and challenges, and shortly present the seven contributions to our special issue "Geoarchaeology and past human–environment interactions" that was published in January 2020 in E & G - Quaternary Science Journal.
Research Interests:
Mit großer Verwunderung haben wir den Beitrag von Wolf D. Pecher zur Kenntnis genommen. Der Text missachtet aus unserer Sicht grundlegende wissenschaftliche und journalistische Standards.
Research Interests:
Lemma on the "Fossa Carolina" in the Historical Encyclopedia of Bavaria Online.
Research Interests:
The Early Medieval Fossa Carolina is the first hydro-engineering construction that bridges the Central European Watershed. The canal was built in 792/793 AD on order of Charlemagne and should connect the drainage systems of the Rhine-Main... more
The Early Medieval Fossa Carolina is the first hydro-engineering construction that bridges the Central European Watershed. The canal was built in 792/793 AD on order of Charlemagne and should connect the drainage systems of the Rhine-Main catchment and the Danube catchment. In this study, we show for the first time, the integration of Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geoarchaeological subsurface datasets with the aim to create a 3D-model of Charlemagne's summit canal. We used a purged Digital Terrain Model that reflects the pre-modern topography. The geometries of buried canal cross-sections are derived from three archaeological excavations and four high-resolution direct push sensing transects. By means of extensive core data, we interpolate the trench bottom and adjacent edges along the entire canal course. As a result, we are able to create a 3D-model that reflects the maximum construction depth of the Carolingian canal and calculate an excavation volume of approx. 297,000 m 3. Additionally, we compute the volume of the present dam remnants by Airborne LiDAR data. Surprisingly, the volume of the dam remnants reveals only 120,000 m 3 and is much smaller than the computed Carolingian excavation volume. The difference reflects the erosion and anthropogenic overprint since the 8th century AD.
Research Interests:
The full waveform inversion (FWI) of strongly dispersive Love wave data is a challenging task. Amplitude, phase and dispersion information not only depends on the density and shear modulus distribution in the subsurface, but also... more
The full waveform inversion (FWI) of strongly dispersive Love wave data is a challenging task. Amplitude, phase and dispersion information not only depends on the density and shear modulus distribution in the subsurface, but also significantly on intrinsic damping. This is especially a problem in near surface data applications with complex underground structures and low Qs values. Therefore, the FWI of a dispersive Love wavefield demands an accurate initial visco-elastic model and careful data pre-processing. Another key ingredient of a successful time-domain FWI is the sequential inversion of frequency filtered data in order to mitigate the non-linearity of the inverse problem. Common FWI strategies are based solely on either low-or bandpass filtered data. In this study we develop an FWI workflow consisting of a combined low-and bandpass filter strategy to achieve an appropriate data fit of the low-frequency Love wave and high-frequency refracted SH-wavefield. The applicability of this FWI strategy and the importance of a visco-elastic medium description is demonstrated for SH field data from a transect over the Fossa Carolina, a silted medieval canal structure in southern Germany. The resolved canal shape and small scale structures in the inversion results are verified by an archaeological excavation.
Research Interests:
Charlemagne’s Canal. An Early Medieval Project of European Dimension by Christoph Zielhofer, Lukas Werther, Peter Dietrich, Stefanie Berg-Hobohm, Peter Ettel The Central European Watershed divides the Rhine catchment and the Danube... more
Charlemagne’s Canal. An Early Medieval Project of European Dimension
by Christoph Zielhofer, Lukas Werther, Peter Dietrich, Stefanie Berg-Hobohm, Peter Ettel
The Central European Watershed divides the
Rhine catchment and the Danube catchment.
In the Early Medieval period, when ships were
important means of transportation, Charlemagne
decided to link both catchments by the construction
of a canal. The Fossa Carolina would
have provided a continuous inland navigation
route from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Despite the important geostrategic relevance
of the construction it is not clarified whether
the canal was actually used as a navigation
waterway. 14C dating and sapropel layers reveal
evidence of Carolingian and post-Carolingian
ponds. Geoarchaeological drillings, high-resolution
direct-push-sensing equipment and
archaeological excavations indicate a conceptual
size of the canal, which allows a crossing
passage of Carolingian cargo scows with a
payload of several tons. Our results indicate an
extraordinarily advanced construction level of a
summit canal. We have evidence for the artificial
Carolingian dislocation of the watershed
and assume a sophisticated Early Medieval
hydrological engineering concept for supplying
the summit of the canal with adequate water.
by Christoph Zielhofer, Lukas Werther, Peter Dietrich, Stefanie Berg-Hobohm, Peter Ettel
The Central European Watershed divides the
Rhine catchment and the Danube catchment.
In the Early Medieval period, when ships were
important means of transportation, Charlemagne
decided to link both catchments by the construction
of a canal. The Fossa Carolina would
have provided a continuous inland navigation
route from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Despite the important geostrategic relevance
of the construction it is not clarified whether
the canal was actually used as a navigation
waterway. 14C dating and sapropel layers reveal
evidence of Carolingian and post-Carolingian
ponds. Geoarchaeological drillings, high-resolution
direct-push-sensing equipment and
archaeological excavations indicate a conceptual
size of the canal, which allows a crossing
passage of Carolingian cargo scows with a
payload of several tons. Our results indicate an
extraordinarily advanced construction level of a
summit canal. We have evidence for the artificial
Carolingian dislocation of the watershed
and assume a sophisticated Early Medieval
hydrological engineering concept for supplying
the summit of the canal with adequate water.
Research Interests:
The use of remote sensing techniques to identify (geo)archaeological features is wide spread. For archaeological prospection and geomorphological mapping, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) on based LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) are... more
The use of remote sensing techniques to identify (geo)archaeological features is wide spread. For archaeological prospection and geomorphological mapping, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) on based LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) are mainly used to detect surface and subsurface features. LiDAR is a remote sensing tool that scans the surface with high spatial resolution and allows for the removal of vegetation cover with special data filters. Archaeological publications with LiDAR data in issues have been rising exponentially since the mid-2000s. The methodology of DTM analyses within geoarchaeological contexts is usually based on ªbare-earthº LiDAR data, although the terrain is often significantly affected by human activities. However, ªbare-earthº LiDAR data analyses are very restricted in the case of historic hydro-engineering such as irrigation systems, mills, or canals because modern roads, railway tracks, buildings, and earth lynchets influence surface water flows and may dissect the terrain. Consequently, a "natural" pre-modern DTM with high depth accuracy is required for palaeohydrological analyses. In this study, we present a GIS-based modelling approach to generate a pre-modern and topographically purged DTM. The case study focuses on the landscape around the Early Medieval Fossa Carolina, a canal constructed by Charlemagne and one of the major medieval engineering projects in Europe. Our aim is to reconstruct the pre-modern relief around the Fossa Carolina for a better understanding and interpretation of the alignment of the Carolingian canal. Our input data are LiDAR-derived DTMs and a comprehensive vector layer of anthropogenic structures that affect the modern relief. We interpolated the residual points with a spline algorithm and smoothed the result with a low pass filter. The purged DTM reflects the pre-modern shape of the landscape. To validate and ground-truth the model, we used the levels of recovered pre-modern soils and surfaces that have been buried by floodplain deposits, colluvial layers, or dam material of the Carolingian canal. We compared pre-modern soil and surface levels with the modelled pre-modern terrain levels and calculated the overall error. The modelled pre-modern surface fits with the levels of the buried soils and surfaces. Furthermore, the pre-modern DTM allows us to model the most favourable course of the canal with minimal earth volume to dig out. This modelled pathway corresponds significantly with the alignment of the Carolingian canal. Our method offers various new opportunities for geoarchaeological terrain analysis, for which an undisturbed high-precision pre-modern surface is crucial.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Geomorphology, Geoarchaeology, Hydrology, Landscape Archaeology, and 8 moreArchaeological Method & Theory, Early Medieval Archaeology, Archaeological GIS, Archaeological Prospection, LiDAR for Landscape Archaeology, LiDAR for Archaeology, Canals, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Big navigable canals – fossata magna – are crucial parts of the European harbour network in the 1st millennium AD. By means of canals, site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network were artificially modified. Water... more
Big navigable canals – fossata magna – are crucial parts of the European harbour network in the 1st millennium AD. By means of canals, site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network were artificially modified. Water depths and fairway widths of canals reflect specific requirements regarding the accessibility of inland harbours and waterways in the adjacent transport zones. These requirements significantly depend on the size of ships. In our study we present a supraregional and diachronic comparative approach, integrating canal parameters and ship findings. Our pivotal point is the Fossa Carolina or fossatum magnum (Germany), constructed in 793 AD to bridge the main European watershed. The 8th-century Kanhave Canal was cut through an isthmus on Samsø island (Denmark) to avoid a lengthy detour and to offer direct access to a safe natural harbour. The Fossa Corbulonis, built around 50 AD by Roman military, bridged the watershed between the Rivers Waal and Maas (Netherlands) to avoid a dangerous coastal route.
Research Interests:
Fossata Magna – A Canal Contribution to Harbour Construction in the 1st Millennium AD Big navigable canals – fossata magna – are crucial parts of the European harbour network in the 1st millennium AD. By means of canals, site conditions... more
Fossata Magna – A Canal Contribution to Harbour Construction in the 1st Millennium AD
Big navigable canals – fossata magna – are crucial parts of the European harbour network in the 1st millennium AD. By means of canals, site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network have been artificially modified. Water depths and fairway width of canals reflect specific requirements regarding the accessibility of inland harbours and waterways in the adjacent transport zones. These requirements significantly depend on the size of ships. In our study, we present a supra-regional and diachronic comparative approach integrating canal parameters and ship findings. Our pivotal point is the Fossa Carolina or fossatum magnum (Germany), constructed in 793 AD to bridge the main European watershed. The 8th century Kanhave canal was cut through an isthmus on Samsø Island (Denmark) to avoid a lengthy detour and to offer direct access to a safe natural harbour. The Fossa Corbulonis, built around 50 AD by roman military, bridges the watershed between the rivers Waal and Maas (Netherlands) to avoid a dangerous coastal route.
Big navigable canals – fossata magna – are crucial parts of the European harbour network in the 1st millennium AD. By means of canals, site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network have been artificially modified. Water depths and fairway width of canals reflect specific requirements regarding the accessibility of inland harbours and waterways in the adjacent transport zones. These requirements significantly depend on the size of ships. In our study, we present a supra-regional and diachronic comparative approach integrating canal parameters and ship findings. Our pivotal point is the Fossa Carolina or fossatum magnum (Germany), constructed in 793 AD to bridge the main European watershed. The 8th century Kanhave canal was cut through an isthmus on Samsø Island (Denmark) to avoid a lengthy detour and to offer direct access to a safe natural harbour. The Fossa Corbulonis, built around 50 AD by roman military, bridges the watershed between the rivers Waal and Maas (Netherlands) to avoid a dangerous coastal route.
Research Interests:
Um Schiffe, Waren oder Personen von einem Gewässersystem in ein anderes zu überführen, müssen Wasserscheiden überwunden werden. Seit der römischen Kaiserzeit wurde versucht, die damit verbundenen Landpassagen durch Kanalbauten zu umgehen.... more
Um Schiffe, Waren oder Personen von einem Gewässersystem in ein anderes zu überführen, müssen Wasserscheiden
überwunden werden. Seit der römischen Kaiserzeit wurde versucht, die damit verbundenen Landpassagen durch
Kanalbauten zu umgehen. Im späten 8. Jahrhundert wurde mit der Fossa Carolina ein künstlicher Durchbruch der
europäischen Hauptwasserscheide in Angriff genommen, um die frühmittelalterlichen Hafennetzwerke an Rhein
und Donau zu verbinden. So einzigartig dieser Bau ist, steht er dennoch nicht isoliert: Schriftquellen liefern vielfältige
Hinweise zu Organisation und Ablauf größerer hydrotechnischer Bauprojekte und zeigen, dass künstliche
Wasserführungen im Frühmittelalter keine Seltenheit waren. Am Karlsgraben erlauben neben zeitgenössischen
Beschreibungen neue geoarchäologische, geophysikalische und archäologische Untersuchungen detaillierte Einblicke
in Bau und Unterhalt des Kanals. Diese werden für einzelne Bauabschnitte zwischen Altmühl und Rezat vorgestellt und
diskutiert. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt auf den Ergebnissen einer archäologischen Sondage nördlich des Kanalscheitels.
Neben der Sedimentstratigraphie und Chronologie wird die dendrochronologisch in das Jahr 793 datiert hölzerne
Böschungssicherung vorgestellt und konstruktiv eingeordnet. Die Bearbeitung der Bauhölzer und verschiedene dendroarchäologische Details ermöglichen abschließend die Entwicklung erster Modelle zum Bauablauf des Kanals.
In order to transfer ships, wares or persons from one water-system to another, watersheds had to be overcome. Since
the Roman Imperial period one had attempted to by-pass the respective land-routes by constructing canals. In the late
8th century the Fossa Carolina was initiated to create an artificial penetration of the main European watershed, in
order to join the early mediaeval harbour networks on the Rhine and on the Danube. As unique as this construction
is, nevertheless it does not stand in isolation. Literary sources provide manifold indications of the organisation and
process of larger, hydro-technical construction projects and demonstrate that artificial water-courses during the early Middle Ages were not rare. As far as the Karlsgraben is concerned, apart from contemporary descriptions new geoarchaeological,
geophysical and archaeological investigations allow detailed insights into the building and maintenance
of the canal. These insights will be presented and discussed for individual constructional sections between Altmühl and
Rezat. A particular focus lies on the results of an archaeological trench north of the canal’s watershed. As well as the
stratigraphy of the sediments and chronology the timber protected embankment dendrochronologically dated to the
year 793 will be presented and structurally classified. The working of the timbers and various dendroarchaeological
details finally renders possible the development of the first models of the canal’s constructional history.
überwunden werden. Seit der römischen Kaiserzeit wurde versucht, die damit verbundenen Landpassagen durch
Kanalbauten zu umgehen. Im späten 8. Jahrhundert wurde mit der Fossa Carolina ein künstlicher Durchbruch der
europäischen Hauptwasserscheide in Angriff genommen, um die frühmittelalterlichen Hafennetzwerke an Rhein
und Donau zu verbinden. So einzigartig dieser Bau ist, steht er dennoch nicht isoliert: Schriftquellen liefern vielfältige
Hinweise zu Organisation und Ablauf größerer hydrotechnischer Bauprojekte und zeigen, dass künstliche
Wasserführungen im Frühmittelalter keine Seltenheit waren. Am Karlsgraben erlauben neben zeitgenössischen
Beschreibungen neue geoarchäologische, geophysikalische und archäologische Untersuchungen detaillierte Einblicke
in Bau und Unterhalt des Kanals. Diese werden für einzelne Bauabschnitte zwischen Altmühl und Rezat vorgestellt und
diskutiert. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt auf den Ergebnissen einer archäologischen Sondage nördlich des Kanalscheitels.
Neben der Sedimentstratigraphie und Chronologie wird die dendrochronologisch in das Jahr 793 datiert hölzerne
Böschungssicherung vorgestellt und konstruktiv eingeordnet. Die Bearbeitung der Bauhölzer und verschiedene dendroarchäologische Details ermöglichen abschließend die Entwicklung erster Modelle zum Bauablauf des Kanals.
In order to transfer ships, wares or persons from one water-system to another, watersheds had to be overcome. Since
the Roman Imperial period one had attempted to by-pass the respective land-routes by constructing canals. In the late
8th century the Fossa Carolina was initiated to create an artificial penetration of the main European watershed, in
order to join the early mediaeval harbour networks on the Rhine and on the Danube. As unique as this construction
is, nevertheless it does not stand in isolation. Literary sources provide manifold indications of the organisation and
process of larger, hydro-technical construction projects and demonstrate that artificial water-courses during the early Middle Ages were not rare. As far as the Karlsgraben is concerned, apart from contemporary descriptions new geoarchaeological,
geophysical and archaeological investigations allow detailed insights into the building and maintenance
of the canal. These insights will be presented and discussed for individual constructional sections between Altmühl and
Rezat. A particular focus lies on the results of an archaeological trench north of the canal’s watershed. As well as the
stratigraphy of the sediments and chronology the timber protected embankment dendrochronologically dated to the
year 793 will be presented and structurally classified. The working of the timbers and various dendroarchaeological
details finally renders possible the development of the first models of the canal’s constructional history.
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Aerial Archaeology, Maritime History, Early Medieval Archaeology, and 18 moreEarly Medieval History, Dendrochronology, Archaeology of Buildings, Carolingian Studies, Fluvial Geomorphology, Archaeological Prospection, Underwater Archaeology, Ports and Harbours, Wood (Archaeology), Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, Merovingian and Carolingian, Bavarian History, Harbour Archaeology, Dendroarchaeology, Carolingian art and architecture, Early Medieval Harbours, Ancient Ports and Harbours, and Canals
Navigable canals are a rare exception in the Early Middle Ages, although ships were important means of transport. The Fossa Carolina is the most important exception and an outstanding example of Early Medieval hydrological engineering. It... more
Navigable canals are a rare exception in the Early Middle Ages, although ships were important means of transport. The Fossa Carolina is the most important exception and an outstanding example of Early Medieval hydrological engineering. It is located at the Central European Watershed between Rhine and Danube. Charlemagne decided to link both river systems in 793 AD. Despite the importance of the project it is not clarified if it was finished. The paper presents selected aspects and new results of a current research project towards the Fossa Carolina.
Research Interests: Geoarchaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Carolingian Studies, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), and 9 moreSettlement archaeology, Bavarian History, Canal history, Carolingian Economy, Carolingian art and architecture, Carolingian History, Early Medieval Harbours, Canals, and Medieval Hydraulics
Research Interests:
The Lower Moulouya Basin in northeast Morocco is characterised by Mediterranean arid to semiarid environmental conditions of a North African desert margin. In geomorphological research, desert margins reveal a high potential for... more
The Lower Moulouya Basin in northeast Morocco is characterised by Mediterranean arid to semiarid environmental conditions of a
North African desert margin. In geomorphological research, desert margins reveal a high potential for palaeoenvironmental studies,
as they react very sensitive to past and future climatic changes. The alluvial deposits of the Lower Moulouya can be divided in three
sedimentation series: the Series I is dated between 9.9 and 6.5 ka cal. BP and shows silty to sandy layers with hydromorphic features
and intercalated initial alluvial soils. The Series II is dated between 4.2 and 3.2 ka cal. BP and indicates clayey to silty fine laminae
with hydromorphic features and an onset of charcoal-rich layers. The Series III is dated between 3.2 and 1.4 ka cal. BP and features
clayey to silty fine laminae with greyish to reddish colouring. Series III reveals charcoal-rich layers and gypsum crystals in clay-rich
reddish sediments. The dating of the archaeological findings (silex, ceramics, bones) of the buried open air sites indicate an human
occupation at the Lower Moulouya during the Epipalaeolithics, Neolithics, Protohistoric and Middle Ages. The phases correspond
chronologically with already known archaeological archives from eastern Rif rock-shelters and caves. The maximum of archaeological
findings at the Lower Moulouya corresponds to the Early Neolithics, a period which comes along with the Mid-Holocene climatic
optimum.
North African desert margin. In geomorphological research, desert margins reveal a high potential for palaeoenvironmental studies,
as they react very sensitive to past and future climatic changes. The alluvial deposits of the Lower Moulouya can be divided in three
sedimentation series: the Series I is dated between 9.9 and 6.5 ka cal. BP and shows silty to sandy layers with hydromorphic features
and intercalated initial alluvial soils. The Series II is dated between 4.2 and 3.2 ka cal. BP and indicates clayey to silty fine laminae
with hydromorphic features and an onset of charcoal-rich layers. The Series III is dated between 3.2 and 1.4 ka cal. BP and features
clayey to silty fine laminae with greyish to reddish colouring. Series III reveals charcoal-rich layers and gypsum crystals in clay-rich
reddish sediments. The dating of the archaeological findings (silex, ceramics, bones) of the buried open air sites indicate an human
occupation at the Lower Moulouya during the Epipalaeolithics, Neolithics, Protohistoric and Middle Ages. The phases correspond
chronologically with already known archaeological archives from eastern Rif rock-shelters and caves. The maximum of archaeological
findings at the Lower Moulouya corresponds to the Early Neolithics, a period which comes along with the Mid-Holocene climatic
optimum.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Archaeological sites in northern Africa provide a rich record of increasing importance for the origins of modern human behaviour and for understanding human dispersal out of Africa. However, the timing and nature of Palaeolithic human... more
Archaeological sites in northern Africa provide a rich record of increasing importance for the origins of modern human behaviour and for understanding human dispersal out of Africa. However, the timing and nature of Palaeolithic human behaviour and dispersal across northwestern Africa (the Maghreb), and their relationship to local environmental conditions, remain poorly understood. The cave of Rhafas (northeast Morocco) provides valuable chronological information about cultural changes in the Maghreb during the Palaeolithic due to its long stratified archaeological sequence comprising Middle Stone Age (MSA), Later Stone Age (LSA) and Neolithic occupation layers. In this study, we apply optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating on sand-sized quartz grains to the cave deposits of Rha-fas, as well as to a recently excavated section on the terrace in front of the cave entrance. We hereby provide a revised chronostratigraphy for the archaeological sequence at the site. We combine these results with geological and sedimentological multi-proxy investigations to gain insights into site formation processes and the palaeoenvironmental record of the region. The older sedimentological units at Rhafas were deposited between 135 ka and 57 ka (MIS 6-MIS 3) and are associated with the MSA technocomplex. Tanged pieces start to occur in the archaeological layers around 109 ka, which is consistent with previously published chronological data from the Maghreb. A well indurated duricrust indicates favourable climatic conditions for the pedogenic cementation by carbonates of sediment layers at the site after 57 ka. Overlying deposits attributed to the LSA technocomplex yield ages of ~21 ka and ~15 ka, corresponding to the last glacial period, and fall well within the previously established occupation phase in the Maghreb. The last occupation phase at Rhafas took place during the Neolithic and is dated to ~7.8 ka.
Research Interests:
(Geo)archaeological trenching techniques in floodplain and wetland environments are challenging due to the impact of groundwater inflow and highly unstable trench edges. Alternatively, classical driving core techniques often correspond... more
(Geo)archaeological trenching techniques in floodplain and wetland environments are challenging due to the impact of groundwater inflow and highly unstable trench edges. Alternatively, classical driving core techniques often correspond with the contraction of organic layers and bias in height accuracies. Here, we present the application of direct push sensing techniques for minimal-invasive (geo)archaeo-logical surveys in zones affected by a high groundwater table, especially when high-resolution param-eterization of buried (geo)archaeological structures is required. Two of these direct push applications are electrical conductivity logging and the measurement of colorimetric proxies in unconsolidated sediments. The tools provide multi-proxy information about layer structure, texture, and organic parameters. The high sensing speed allows recording a large data set with high vertical and lateral resolution. In this study we exemplary provide results of a buried canal structure within a valley in SW Germany. We present a high-resolution cross-section from a zone of high groundwater table. The canal is part of Charlemagne's summit canal (Fossa Carolina), an Early Medieval hydro-engineering project bridging the Central European Watershed. We compare the direct push sensing data with driving core samples and discuss prediction and generation options of parameter transfer from multiple one-dimensional logs to a two-dimensional canal cross-section of high-resolution. In this context, we use in situ-obtained colorimetric data and electrical conductivity as proxies for (geo)archaeological site characterization. We model organic fills of the canal by direct push logs and robust sediment data. Given the cost and time effectiveness of such tools, (geo) archaeological site information of high-depth accuracy was grown rapidly, compared to less densely performed drillings that require an additional high effort in laboratory analyses. The Carolingian excavation depth is 6 m below current surface. There is evidence for multiple organic layers in the trench fills, which reveal aquatic to semi-terrestrial stillwater deposition and, therefore, evidence of multiple Carolingian and post-Carolingian ponds. We have evidence for a conceptual width of the deep-buried artificial water course of at least 3e4 m. This allows a passage of Carolingian cargo scows with a payload of several tons in this central zone of the canal.
Research Interests:
The Sahara is the world's largest dust source with significant impacts on trans-Atlantic terrestrial and large-scale marine ecosystems. Contested views about a gradual or abrupt onset of Saharan aridity at the end of the African Humid... more
The Sahara is the world's largest dust source with significant impacts on trans-Atlantic terrestrial and large-scale marine ecosystems. Contested views about a gradual or abrupt onset of Saharan aridity at the end of the African Humid Period dominate the current scientific debate about the Holocene Saharan desiccation. In this study, we present a 19.63 m sediment core sequence from Lake Sidi Ali (Middle Atlas, Morocco) at the North African desert margin. We reconstruct the interaction between Saharan dust supply andWestern Mediterranean hydro-climatic variability during the last 12,000 yr based on analyses of lithogenic grain-sizes, XRF geochemistry and stable isotopes of ostracod shells. A robust chronological model based on AMS 14C dated pollen concentrates supports our multi-proxy study. At orbital-scale there is an overall increase in southern dust supply from the Early Holocene to the Late Holocene, but our Northern Saharan dust record indicates that a gradual Saharan desiccation was interrupted by multiple abrupt dust increases before the ‘southern dust mode‘ was finally established at 4.7 cal ka BP. The Sidi Ali record features millennial peaks in Saharan dust increase at about 11.1, 10.2, 9.4, 8.2, 7.3, 6.6, 6.0, and 5.0 cal ka BP. Early Holocene Saharan dust peaks coincide with Western Mediterranean winter rain minima and North Atlantic cooling events. In contrast, Late Holocene dust peaks correspond mostly with prevailing positive phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation. By comparing with other North African records, we suggest that increases in Northern Saharan dust supply do not solely indicate sub-regional to regional aridity in Mediterranean Northwest Africa but might reflect aridity at a trans-Saharan scale. In
particular, our findings support major bimillennial phases of trans-Saharan aridity at 10.2, 8.2, 6.0 and 4.2 cal ka BP. These phases coincide with North Atlantic cooling and a weak African monsoon.
particular, our findings support major bimillennial phases of trans-Saharan aridity at 10.2, 8.2, 6.0 and 4.2 cal ka BP. These phases coincide with North Atlantic cooling and a weak African monsoon.
Research Interests:
The limited availability of high-resolution continuous archives, insufficient chronological control, and complex hydro-climatic forcing mechanisms lead to many uncertainties in palaeo-hydrological reconstructions for the Western... more
The limited availability of high-resolution continuous archives, insufficient chronological control, and complex hydro-climatic forcing mechanisms lead to many uncertainties in palaeo-hydrological reconstructions for the Western Mediterranean. In this study we present a newly recovered 19.63 m long core from Lake Sidi Ali in the North African Middle Atlas, a transition zone of Atlantic, Western Mediterranean
and Saharan air mass trajectories. With a multi-proxy approach based on magnetic susceptibility, carbonate and total organic C content, core-scanning and quantitative XRF, stable isotopes of ostracod shells, charcoal counts, Cedrus pollen abundance, and a first set of diatom data, we reconstruct Western Mediterranean hydro-climatic variability, seasonality and forcing mechanisms during the last 12,000 yr. A robust chronological model based on AMS 14C dated pollen concentrates supports our highresolution multi-proxy study. Long-term trends reveal low lake levels at the end of the Younger Dryas, during the mid-Holocene interval 6.6 to 5.4 cal ka BP, and during the last 3000 years. In contrast, lake levels are mostly high during the Early and Mid-Holocene. The record also shows sub-millennial- to centennial-scale decreases in Western Mediterranean winter rain at 11.4, 10.3, 9.2, 8.2, 7.2, 6.6, 6.0, 5.4, 5.0, 4.4, 3.5, 2.9, 2.2, 1.9, 1.7, 1.5, 1.0, 0.7, and 0.2 cal ka BP. Early Holocene winter rain minima are in phase with cooling events and millennial-scale meltwater discharges in the sub-polar North Atlantic. Our proxy parameters do not show so far a clear impact of Saharan air masses on Mediterranean hydro-climate in North Africa. However, a significant hydro-climatic shift at the end of the African Humid Period (~5 ka)
indicates a change in climate forcing mechanisms. The Late Holocene climate variability in the Middle Atlas features a multi-centennial-scale NAO-type pattern, with Atlantic cooling and Western Mediterranean winter rain maxima generally associated with solar minima.
and Saharan air mass trajectories. With a multi-proxy approach based on magnetic susceptibility, carbonate and total organic C content, core-scanning and quantitative XRF, stable isotopes of ostracod shells, charcoal counts, Cedrus pollen abundance, and a first set of diatom data, we reconstruct Western Mediterranean hydro-climatic variability, seasonality and forcing mechanisms during the last 12,000 yr. A robust chronological model based on AMS 14C dated pollen concentrates supports our highresolution multi-proxy study. Long-term trends reveal low lake levels at the end of the Younger Dryas, during the mid-Holocene interval 6.6 to 5.4 cal ka BP, and during the last 3000 years. In contrast, lake levels are mostly high during the Early and Mid-Holocene. The record also shows sub-millennial- to centennial-scale decreases in Western Mediterranean winter rain at 11.4, 10.3, 9.2, 8.2, 7.2, 6.6, 6.0, 5.4, 5.0, 4.4, 3.5, 2.9, 2.2, 1.9, 1.7, 1.5, 1.0, 0.7, and 0.2 cal ka BP. Early Holocene winter rain minima are in phase with cooling events and millennial-scale meltwater discharges in the sub-polar North Atlantic. Our proxy parameters do not show so far a clear impact of Saharan air masses on Mediterranean hydro-climate in North Africa. However, a significant hydro-climatic shift at the end of the African Humid Period (~5 ka)
indicates a change in climate forcing mechanisms. The Late Holocene climate variability in the Middle Atlas features a multi-centennial-scale NAO-type pattern, with Atlantic cooling and Western Mediterranean winter rain maxima generally associated with solar minima.
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Millennial- and multi-centennial scale climate variability during the Holocene has been well documented, but its impact on the distribution and timing of extreme river floods has yet to be established. Here we present a meta-analysis of... more
Millennial- and multi-centennial scale climate variability during the Holocene has been well documented, but its impact on the distribution and timing of extreme river floods has yet to be established. Here we present a meta-analysis of more than 2000 radiometrically dated flood units to reconstruct centennial-scale Holocene flood episodes in Europe and North Africa. Our data analysis shows a general increase in flood frequency after 5000 cal. yr BP consistent with a weakening in zonal circulation over the second half of the Holocene, and with an increase in winter insolation. Multicentennial length phases of flooding in UK and central Europe correspond with periods of minimum solar irradiance, with a clear trend of increasing flood frequency over the last 1000 years. Western Mediterranean regions show synchrony of flood episodes associated with negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation that are out-of-phase with those evident within the eastern Mediterranean.
This long-term flood record reveals complex but geographically highly interconnected climate-flood relationships, and provides a new framework to understand likely future spatial changes of flood frequency.
This long-term flood record reveals complex but geographically highly interconnected climate-flood relationships, and provides a new framework to understand likely future spatial changes of flood frequency.
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The Lower Moulouya Basin in northeast Morocco is characterised by Mediterranean arid to semiarid environmental conditions of a North African desert margin. In geomorphological research, desert margins reveal a high potential for... more
The Lower Moulouya Basin in northeast Morocco is characterised by Mediterranean arid to semiarid environmental conditions of a North African desert margin. In geomorphological research, desert margins reveal a high potential for palaeoenvironmental studies, as they react very sensitive to past and future climatic changes. The alluvial deposits of the Lower Moulouya can be divided in three
sedimentation series: the Series I is dated between 9.9 and 6.5 ka cal. BP and shows silty to sandy layers with hydromorphic features and intercalated initial alluvial soils. The Series II is dated between 4.2 and 3.2 ka cal. BP and indicates clayey to silty fine laminae with hydromorphic features and an onset of charcoal-rich layers. The Series III is dated between 3.2 and 1.4 ka cal. BP and features clayey to silty fine laminae with greyish to reddish colouring. Series III reveals charcoal-rich layers and gypsum crystals in clay-rich reddish sediments. The dating of the archaeological findings (silex, ceramics, bones) of the buried open air sites indicate an human occupation at the Lower Moulouya during the Epipalaeolithics, Neolithics, Protohistoric and Middle Ages. The phases correspond chronologically with already known archaeological archives from eastern Rif rock-shelters and caves. The maximum of archaeological
findings at the Lower Moulouya corresponds to the Early Neolithics, a period which comes along with the Mid-Holocene climatic optimum.
sedimentation series: the Series I is dated between 9.9 and 6.5 ka cal. BP and shows silty to sandy layers with hydromorphic features and intercalated initial alluvial soils. The Series II is dated between 4.2 and 3.2 ka cal. BP and indicates clayey to silty fine laminae with hydromorphic features and an onset of charcoal-rich layers. The Series III is dated between 3.2 and 1.4 ka cal. BP and features clayey to silty fine laminae with greyish to reddish colouring. Series III reveals charcoal-rich layers and gypsum crystals in clay-rich reddish sediments. The dating of the archaeological findings (silex, ceramics, bones) of the buried open air sites indicate an human occupation at the Lower Moulouya during the Epipalaeolithics, Neolithics, Protohistoric and Middle Ages. The phases correspond chronologically with already known archaeological archives from eastern Rif rock-shelters and caves. The maximum of archaeological
findings at the Lower Moulouya corresponds to the Early Neolithics, a period which comes along with the Mid-Holocene climatic optimum.
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ABSTRACT Mediterranean fluvial hydrology is characterised by decadal-to-multi-centennial length wet and dry episodes with abrupt transitions related to changes in atmospheric circulation. Since the mid-1990s site-based flood chronologies... more
ABSTRACT Mediterranean fluvial hydrology is characterised by decadal-to-multi-centennial length wet and dry episodes with abrupt transitions related to changes in atmospheric circulation. Since the mid-1990s site-based flood chronologies from slackwater deposits in bedrock rivers and regionally aggregated flood histories from alluvial deposits have developed increasingly higher resolution chronological frameworks, although regional coverage is still uneven. This paper analyses the spatial and temporal distribution of extreme Holocene hydrological events recorded in fluvial stratigraphy in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), southern France, southern Italy, Northern Africa (Morocco and Tunisia) and eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Crete, Turkey, Cyprus and Israel). This study constitutes the most comprehensive investigation of Holocene river flooding ever undertaken in the Mediterranean and is based on the analysis of 515 14C and 53 OSL dates. It reveals that flood periods in different regions cluster into distinct time intervals, although region-wide flooding episodes can be identified at 7400–7150, 4800–4600, 4100–3700, 3300–3200, 2850–2750, 2300–2100, 1700–1600, 1500–1400, 950–800, ca. 300, 200–100 cal. BP. Periods with more frequent floods in the western Iberian region coincide with transitions to cool and wetter conditions and persistent negative NAO mode. In Northern Africa increased flood frequency coincides with periods of generally drier climate, while in the eastern Mediterranean there is a higher incidence of extreme flood events under wetter conditions. Our meta-data analysis identifies an out-of-phase pattern of extreme events across the Mediterranean over multi-centennial timescales, which is particularly evident between the western Iberian and eastern Mediterranean regions. This centennial-to-multi-centennial see-saw pattern in flooding indicates that bipolar hydroclimatic conditions existed in the Mediterranean during the Holocene.
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ABSTRACT The interpretation of the Holocene sediment dynamics at Mount Kalkriese in the Wiehengebirge mountains (northwestern Germany) shows that the onset and the extent of human land use corresponds well with most colluvial archives in... more
ABSTRACT The interpretation of the Holocene sediment dynamics at Mount Kalkriese in the Wiehengebirge mountains (northwestern Germany) shows that the onset and the extent of human land use corresponds well with most colluvial archives in Central European loess regions: The onset of soil erosion in the Wiehengebirge mountains started during the Early Neolithic period. For the Bronze Age, erosion and colluviation are documented as well. A considerable increase of soil erosion with correlated reworking of colluvial sediments was found since Roman times, indicated by the burial of Germanic artifacts of Roman Age at the toe-slopes. Unfortunately, no absolute ages exist for the post roman period. However, in analogy to other sites it can be assumed that highest erosion rates occurred during the Middle Ages. This study also shows typical problems when using the soilscape model for calculating the sediment budget: since truncated soil profiles are used to model eroded volumes, only minimum soil erosion is mapped. This can lead to a considerable discrepancy between eroded and accumulated volumes. Therefore, we have to assume that soil erosion at the plateau and in upslope areas at Mount Kalkriese was much higher than predicted by the soilscape model. In addition, extensive anthropogenic accumulation soils (Plaggen soils) were deposited in the downslope areas, thereby increasing the discrepancy between erosion and accumulation volumes. The combination of mapping erosion and accumulation with augerings and trenches, calculation of the mass balance by GIS, relative and absolute dating and geophysical evidence provides a powerful tool in landscape interpretation. Due to the small number of numerical ages, the landscape model at Mount Kalkriese has to be considered preliminary.
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In Northern Tunisia the late Holocene alluvial record of Medjerda floodplain sediments indicates geomorphic changes due to fluctuations of past climate, superimposed by the effects of human activity. Geomorphic activity occurred several... more
In Northern Tunisia the late Holocene alluvial record of Medjerda floodplain sediments indicates geomorphic changes due to fluctuations of past climate, superimposed by the effects of human activity. Geomorphic activity occurred several times, interrupting stable conditions. Enhanced fluvial dynamics occurred around 4.7, 3.0, 1.7, 1.0 and 0.7kacal BP. A peak of activity took place about 0.4kacal BP. Some periods of
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'Ain Ghazal is among the earliest large population centers known in the Middle East. A total of four major stratigraphic cultural units have been identified: 1) The oldest Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (MPPNB) unit (10.2 to 9.5 cal ka... more
'Ain Ghazal is among the earliest large population centers known in the Middle East. A total of four major stratigraphic cultural units have been identified: 1) The oldest Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (MPPNB) unit (10.2 to 9.5 cal ka BP) clearly corresponds with the early Holocene maximum Dead Sea levels. 2) The second unit consists of Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (LPPNB) in situ walls and hearths. 3) In the subsequent PPNC (8.9 to 8.6 cal ka BP) the population density at the settlement drops dramatically, which corresponds with a significant drop in the Dead Sea level. 4) The 4th stratigraphic unit is characterized by the “Yarmoukian rubble layer”. Additionally, there is evidence for a previously unrecognized use of the site by Chalcolithic pastoralists. Sedimentological analyses reveal a constant increase in dust from a remote source during the entire human occupation period, which correlates well with the detectable drops in climatic humidity from the Dead Sea. As the major focus of this study, we can now rule out previous notions that the “Yarmoukian” rubble layer could have been produced by (catastrophic) slope-scale gravitational movements.
To this point, it appears that the Neolithic mega-site was abandoned due to a climatic aridification.
To this point, it appears that the Neolithic mega-site was abandoned due to a climatic aridification.
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Together with J. Schmidt, S. Berg, P. Ettel, C. Zielhofer, S. Linzen
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Together with J. Schmidt, J. Völlmer, U. Werban, P. Dietrich, S. Berg, P. Ettel, C. Zielhofer
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Together with S. Linzen, M. Schneider, S. Berg, P. Ettel, C. Zielhofer, D. Wilken, J. Schmidt, A. Wunschel, R. Stolz
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Together with C. Zielhofer, J. Völlmer, A. Köhler, J. Schmidt, U. Werban, P. Dietrich, S. Linzen, S. Berg, P. Ettel
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Together with F. Herzig, J. Schmidt, S. Berg, P. Ettel, C. Zielhofer,
S. Linzen, D. Wilken
S. Linzen, D. Wilken
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In the last years, Lake Sidi Ali has been object to fundamental palaeoenvironmental research. The analysis of a 20 m sediment core from the lake points to a strong anthropogenic impact in the last 2000 years, whereas the anthropogenic... more
In the last years, Lake Sidi Ali has been object to fundamental palaeoenvironmental research. The analysis of a 20 m sediment core from the lake points to a strong anthropogenic impact in the last 2000 years, whereas the anthropogenic impact in earlier periods of the Holocene seems to be significantly weaker. Nevertheless, until recently there has been no on-site archaeological data to shed light on the anthropogenic use of the lake catchment and to contrast it with the core data. In our paper, we present first insights in the archaeological record in the lake catchment, which has been documented in 2016 during a survey campaign. There is a remarkable density of archaeological sites with a high quantity of lithic material at the surface, mostly dating to the Palaeolithic. Nevertheless, we also found archaeological features such as a fireplace in a gully at the northern lakeside presumably dating to the Neolithic which are covered by sediments. This feature dates to a period with almost no archaeological record in the Middle Atlas region. As the fireplace superimposes older lake sediments and is covered by younger colluvial layers, it does not only document the anthropogenic use of the lakeside, but also the environmental change in the lake catchment. Topmost, the modern land use and herding is documented by a surface find scatter as well as stone constructions of campgrounds and enclosures. We will present this archaeological data, compare the documented periods of use with the sediment core results and discuss perspectives for future research.
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Navigable canals are an exception in the 1st millennium AD – but not as rare as often thought. In certain periods and regions, they form important parts of the European harbour network. By means of canals, local and regional site... more
Navigable canals are an exception in the 1st millennium AD – but not as rare as often thought. In certain periods and regions, they form important parts of the European harbour network. By means of canals, local and regional site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network have been artificially modified. The construction of canals, especially their water depths and fairway width, reflects the specific requirements regarding the accessibility of inland ports and waterways in the adjacent transport zones. These requirements significantly depend on the size of ships, which themselves are determinate by the site conditions of the transport zone they were made for. Canals could thus enlighten unknown parameters of close-by harbours, waterways
and shipbuilding traditions, because these parameters determined the hydro engineers decisions for the specific shape of each canal. In our study, we present a supra-regional and diachronic comparative approach to selected artificial waterways and their contribution to harbour construction. Our case studies cover different transport zones (fluvial and maritime) and periods (roman and medieval). We will compare selected parameters of the canals and contrast them with ship findings of the correspondent transport zones and periods.
and shipbuilding traditions, because these parameters determined the hydro engineers decisions for the specific shape of each canal. In our study, we present a supra-regional and diachronic comparative approach to selected artificial waterways and their contribution to harbour construction. Our case studies cover different transport zones (fluvial and maritime) and periods (roman and medieval). We will compare selected parameters of the canals and contrast them with ship findings of the correspondent transport zones and periods.
Research Interests: Naval Architecture, Economic History, Maritime Archaeology, Transport History, Early Medieval Archaeology, and 13 moreEarly Medieval History, Viking Age Archaeology, Carolingian Studies, Roman Army, Watershed Hydrology, Ports and Harbours, Ancient Shipwrecks, Harbour Archaeology, Early Medieval Harbours, Ancient Ports and Harbours, Roman Archaeology, Canals, and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Navigable canals are an exception in the 1st millennium AD – but not as rare as often thought. In certain periods and regions, they form important parts of the European harbour network. By means of canals, local and regional site... more
Navigable canals are an exception in the 1st millennium AD – but not as rare as often thought. In certain periods and regions, they form important parts of the European harbour network. By means of canals, local and regional site conditions at transition zones of the transportation network have been artificially modified. Canals could integrate different transport zones, they could facilitate the transport inside a certain transport zone, they could enlarge a transport zone on a local scale or they could circumvent a specific part of a transport zone. The construction of the canals, especially their water depths and fairway width, reflects the requirements regarding the accessibility of inland ports and waterways in the adjacent transport zones. These requirements significantly depend on the size of ships, which themselves are determinate by the site conditions of the transport zone they were made for. Canals could thus enlighten unknown parameters of close-by harbours, waterways and shipbuilding traditions, because these parameters determined the hydro engineers decisions for the specific shape of each canal. In our study, we present a supra-regional and diachronic comparative approach to site conditions and development models of selected artificial waterways. Our case studies cover different transport zones and periods. The oldest and longest example is the Fossa Corbulonis, which was built around 50 AD by roman military to bridge the watershed between the rivers Waal and Maas (Netherlands). In the mid-2nd century a branch canal was trenched to connect the Lake Morat/Murtensee (Switzerland) and the nearby harbour, which is silted up today because of significant changes of the lake level, with a roman brickyard connected with a huge villa suburbana. In the early 8th century, the Kanhave canal was cut through the bottleneck of Samsø Island (Denmark) to avoid the lengthy detour around the island by ship. The youngest example of the study is the Fossa Carolina, which was constructed in 793 AD on royal initiative to bridge the main European watershed between the rivers Rhine/Main and Altmühl/Danube. We will compare selected parameters of these four canals and contrast them with ship findings of the correspondent transport zones and periods.
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Comparative History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Carolingian Studies, and 10 moreFluvial Geomorphology, Roman Army, Harbour Archaeology, Archaeology in Switzerland, Early Medieval Harbours, Ancient Ports and Harbours, Roman Archaeology, Ancient and Medieval Shipbuilding, Canals, and Viking Age Denmark
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According to Web of Science, the number of publications with LiDAR data in environmental science has grown exponentially since the mid-2000s as the availability of these datasets is increasing. From the archaeological point of view,... more
According to Web of Science, the number of publications with LiDAR data in environmental science has grown exponentially since the mid-2000s as the availability of these datasets is increasing. From the archaeological point of view, remote sensing (images and elevation models) is a fast and nondestructive prospection tool to gain information about the location and extent of features. However, from the geomorphological point of view high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTM) can be used to calculate flow directions and sediment connectivities. Though, anthropogenic structures like streets, buildings or archaeological features disrupt the natural terrain shape. Hence, hydrological modelling and geomorphological mapping with this depth of detail is impossible. To perform such analysis an improved purged DTM is generated using the modern DTM and a comprehensive layer of anthropogenic structures is used as mask. A Spline-interpolation is conducted with the residual points and afterwards smoothed by a low
pass filter. Despite planar changes, the purged DTM reflects the “quasi-natural” landscape shape. Validation is made by buried soils under the dug-out material from channel construction 793 AD. The modeled surface fits quite well to the truncated soil under the ramparts. In the case of Charlemagne's summit canal it is an important issue to reconstruct the hydrological system as well as the pathway of the Early Medieval canal). We want to present the method to generate topographically-correct Digital Terrain Models, which can used to
perform spatial, GIS-based terrain analysis with high resolution.
pass filter. Despite planar changes, the purged DTM reflects the “quasi-natural” landscape shape. Validation is made by buried soils under the dug-out material from channel construction 793 AD. The modeled surface fits quite well to the truncated soil under the ramparts. In the case of Charlemagne's summit canal it is an important issue to reconstruct the hydrological system as well as the pathway of the Early Medieval canal). We want to present the method to generate topographically-correct Digital Terrain Models, which can used to
perform spatial, GIS-based terrain analysis with high resolution.
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Research Interests: Medieval History, Geoarchaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, and 11 moreCarolingian Studies, Archaeological Prospection, Archaeological Geophysics, Ports and Harbours, Wetland Archaeology, Bavarian History, Harbour Archaeology, Dendroarchaeology, Early Medieval Harbours, Danube navigation, and Canals
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Der Karlsgraben wurde im Jahr 793 auf Initiative Karls des Großen zur Überwindung der europäischen Hauptwasserscheide errichtet. Der Kanal zählt zu den bedeutendsten wasserbaulichen Großprojekten des Frühmittelalters und sollte die... more
Der Karlsgraben wurde im Jahr 793 auf Initiative Karls des Großen zur Überwindung der europäischen Hauptwasserscheide errichtet. Der Kanal zählt zu den bedeutendsten wasserbaulichen Großprojekten des Frühmittelalters und sollte die Hafennetzwerke des Donau- und Rheinsystems auf schiffbarem Wege verbinden. Seit 2012 untersucht eine interdisziplinäre Forschergruppe aus Archäologen, Geographen, Physikern und Historikern das außergewöhnliche Bauwerk. Der Begleitband der Ausstellung „Großbaustelle 793. Das Kanalprojekt Karls des Großen zwischen Rhein und Donau“ bietet nach eineinhalb Jahren intensiver Forschung einen Überblick über laufende Arbeiten und neueste Ergebnisse. Über 25 Einzelbeiträge präsentieren verschiedene Facetten des Bauwerkes und beleuchten zugleich unterschiedliche Perspektiven, Fragestellungen und Methoden der Forschenden.