image/svg+xml
181
VI/2/2015
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA
NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
homepage: http://www.iansa.eu
Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
David Parma
a
, Lenka Vejrostová
b
, Lenka Lisá
c*
, Aleš Bajer
d
, Jan Pacina
e
, Zdeněk Gottvald
d
a
Archaeological Heritage Institute Brno, Kaloudova 30, 614 00 Brno, Czech Republic
b
Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic
c
Institute of Geology, The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Praha 6, Czech Republic
d
Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
e
Department of Informatics and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Králova výšina 7,
400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
1. Introduction
Paleopedology, including the study of buried soil horizons,
is a powerful way to understand the environmental record of
the past. Thanks to this environmental archive it is possible to
obtain various data about the environment and the pedogenic
processes at the time of a soil’s formation (Retallack 1988).
A soil’s development is infuenced by the climate, location,
time, parent material and topography, organisms (including
intensity of biological decomposition), and a consequential
variety of connected features, such as hydrological conditions
(Birkeland 1975). Humans may also play an important role
in prehistoric soil development as well (Retallack 2001).
The studies of Neolithic buried soils, for example, under
tumuli or ramparts, have already brought much interesting
information (Hejcman, Gojda 2013; Barczi
et al.
2006; 2009;
Breuning-Madsen
et al.
2009; Andrews, Fernandez-Jalvo
2012) about former landscapes. Comparison studies between
buried and recent soils may answer questions connected
with the past soil environment – as well as questions
connected with the intensity of the anthropogenic impact
(Wells 2000; Dreibrodt
et al.
2009; Elberling
et al.
2010;
Horák, Hejcman 2013). During the last few decades the term
“dark earth” has started to be commonly used. The term does
not correspond to a soil classifcation name (for example,
in soil taxonomy, FAO/WRB,
etc.
) nor should it imply a
univocal archaeological interpretation. This term is used in
Volume VI ● Issue 2/2015 ● Pages 181–193
*Corresponding author. E-mail: lisa@gli.cas.cz
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received: 23
rd
June 2015
Accepted: 20
th
November 2015
Key words:
Alluvial zone
buried soils
prehistoric occupation
dark earth
geoarchaeology
micromorphology
grain size analysis
magnetic proxies
ABSTRACT
The study of paleosols, including buried soil horizons, is one of the tools used for understanding the
environmental record of the past. Soil development is infuenced by climate, time of development,
background geology, hydrological conditions and intensity of biological decomposition. Construction
works undertaken from 2012 to 2013 in the locality of in Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic, situated in
the inundation zone of the Svratka River, had uncovered some interesting situations in the context of
the past occupation of this area. The more than 300-cm-thick section is mostly composed of alluvial
deposits of the Svratka River; the base of the section is composed of stagnosols. Fluvisols were
recorded in the upper part of the section and its uppermost part has signs of intensively-cultivated
soil. In between these two types of soils, approximately 200 cm below the surface, a dark horizon
representing “dark earth” was detected. The approximately 50-cm-thick dark horizon contains artefacts
dated to the Neolithic, Eneolithic (Copper Age) and the Bronze Age. The locality is important for two
main reasons. The frst is its position in the alluvial zone. This part of the inundation zone was not
fooded at least during the period between the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of the Bronze
Age. This fact documents the changes in alluvial aggradations similar to that which we know from the
Morava River. These changes are interpreted as being the consequence of human impact, or less likely
due to climatic change. The second reason making this locality important is the appearance of the dark
earth. The number and state of the archaeological remains preserved within this layer suggest the area’s
long-term occupation and agricultural use with fertilisation.
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IANSA 2015 ● VI/2 ● 181–193
David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
182
substitution for other terms present in older literature that
point to the “black coloured soil” of non-identifable origin.
The term “dark earth” indicates dark-coloured, humic, and
poorly stratifed units, often formed over several centuries,
and frequently rich in the anthropogenic remains (brick,
mortar, tile, charcoal, bone, pottery,
etc.
) that are observed in
urban contexts (Devos 2014).
The construction works in the locality of Brno-Přízřenice,
in South Moravia, that are discussed in this paper were
undertaken between 2012 and 2013. The locality of
Přízřenice is situated in the inundation zone of the Svratka
River. An interesting situation in the context of the area’s
past occupation was uncovered during the construction
work (Parma 2013). A dark horizon, about 50–60 cm thick,
containing Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Bronze Age artefacts,
was excavated below the approximately 190 cm thick
surface layer of alluvial deposits, in the centre of the recent
alluvial zone of the Svratka river. When anthropogenic
constituents of any size (artefacts or micro-artefacts) occur
in a sedimentary matrix that shows only a microstructure
created by natural processes, then the former existence of
human structured micro-facies can be envisioned (Gé 1993).
Micromorphological studies can then aim to determine
whether pedological or sedimentary transformations may
have caused the total destruction of the original structure of
human origin.
Therefore, the following aims of this paper are:
1
st
: to describe this quite unique situation from an
archaeological point of view (settlement strategies)
2
nd
: to discuss the context of past geomorphological and
climatic changes in this area
3
rd
: to estimate the possible impact of human activities on
the development of the dark horizon (possibly “dark earth”)
buried in the alluvial plain.
2. Geomorphological settings
The study site Brno–Přízřenice is located on the boundary
between two cadastral territories: Brno–Přízřenice and
Modřice. These locations, known as “Líchy” and “Na
lukách”, are situated in the fat alluvial plain of the Svratka
River, approximately 300 metres from the recently-regulated
riverbed (Figure 1). The terrain nowadays is rather different
from the prehistoric one: it has been elevated and levelled
since no later than the High Middle Ages. The study area is
situated approximately in the centre of the recent alluvial plain
(Figure 2). The position of the locality can be studied on maps
of the First, Second and Third Military Surveys (Figure 2),
which show changes in the extent of the alluvial plain. The
Third Military Survey (1870–1880) shows nearly the same
information as it is today, because at that time the riverbed of
the Svratka had already been regulated. The Second Military
Survey (1819–1858) shows a slight shift of the Svratka
riverbed towards the west. The maps also give information
about the different kinds of agricultural management at the
site; the changes in agricultural management are most likely
to be connected with the higher underground water level.
However, the most interesting is the First Military Survey
(1760–1780). Though the riverbed’s position remains
approximately the same as on the Second Military Survey
map, nevertheless signifcant differences can be seen. A
bridged former channel can be found in the western part of
the alluvial zone in the residential area of Přízřenice. The
site’s land cover is very different in the later map – during
the time of the First Military Survey mapping there was an
area of forest margin covered by trees. There is no reliable
evidence of a settlement older than Medieval in the fatland of
the Svratka and the Svitava river confuence, most likely due
to the super-imposed younger food sediments. Prehistoric
Figure 1.
Location of the study site in Brno-Přízřenice (overview map: Esri; detailed map: ČÚZK).
0 1,000 m
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IANSA 2015 ● VI/2 ● 181–193
David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
183
settlement has been concentrated on its elevated borders
since the Neolithic. Test pits and present-day building
activities have proved the existence of remnants of buried
soil and settlement layers in the foodplain (Parma 2013).
3. Methods
3.1 Archaeological excavation
The system of archaeological excavations followed the
progress of the construction work. A detailed study of the
sections was limited due to the construction technology
used and also because of the high underground water level.
The appearance of the dark horizon containing artefacts
was documented from the very beginning. After precise
inspection, the upper horizons composed of alluvial deposits
were mechanically removed. The mechanical removal of the
deposits was followed by hand digging and documentation in
three trenches. In the end, an area of about 4 by 4.5 metres
(16.32 m
2
) was exposed and archaeologically excavated.
Investigations into the way ceramic pieces had been destroyed
was crucial for our study: the appearance of more or less
rounded edges or artefacts might suggest the intensity of
agricultural processes. The black layer, together with contact
horizons above and below, were divided into 5 equal parts, each
20 cm thick, such that the main bulk of the artefact-rich layer
was more comprehensively studied in more detailed analyses.
All the ceramic fragments, as well as all the fragments of daub,
from the entire excavated volume were recovered by sieving
and quantifed by number of pieces and weight.
3.2 Sedimentology and micromorphology
It was possible to trace the study section throughout the
entire construction area (minimally 50 square metres.)
Because the described horizons were continuous, only
one section (the best preserved) was chosen for sampling.
After documentation, the 60 bulk samples were taken for
chemical analyses (sampling interval of 5 cm) as well as
8 micro-morphological samples 3×4 cm in dimension. All
samples were placed in small paper Kubiena boxes, dried
and impregnated by Polyllite 2000 resin and then thin-
sectioned in the laboratory of the Institute of Geology ASCR
in Prague. The standard protocol after Stoops (2003) and
Bullock (1985) was used for the description.
Figure 2.
The historical Military Surveys (after http://oldmaps.geolab.cz). A – the 1
st
Military Survey; B – the 2
nd
Military Survey; C – the 3
rd
Military
Survey; D – geological map of the study area (after www.geology.cz); The study area is represented by the black dot.
0 1,000 m
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David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
184
3.3 Grain size distribution, magnetic proxies
and C
ox
measurements
Particle size distribution was determined using a laser
granulometer CILAS 1190 LD, which provides a
measurement range from 0.04 to 2500 µm. The frst
measurement was made after a sample was boiled for 10
minutes in KOH solution to provide suffcient dispersion.
The second measurement of the sample was made after
carbonates were removed by boiling in 40% concentrated
HCl for 10 minutes and any organic matter removed by the
reaction with H
2
O
2
(Łomotowski
et al.
2008). The data in
this paper are reported in three fractions: clay (up to 2 µm),
silt (2–63 µm) and sand (63–2000 µm) (Wentworth 1922).
Magnetic susceptibility was measured using an Agico MFK1-
FA Kappabridge at two different operating frequencies,
f1=976 Hz and f3=15,616 Hz, and AC feld amplitude was
200 A/m (peak value). Readings of unconsolidated samples
were taken in plastic bags. The measured susceptibility
values were normalized by the mass of each sample and
expressed as mass susceptibility [m
3
/kg]. Frequency-
dependent magnetic susceptibility, kFD, is characterized by
the following commonly accepted parameter (Dearing
et al.
1996): kFD=100×(kf1–kf3)/kf1 [%], where kf1 and kf3 are
the susceptibilities at frequency f1 (976 Hz) and frequency
f3 (15,616 Hz), respectively. The content of soil organic
carbon (C
ox
) was determined by rapid controlled oxidation
and IR-spectrophotometry (Zbíral
et al.
2004).
3.4 Visualisation
The visualization of the site on historical maps is presented
in Figure 2. Several old maps were used in conjunction to
identify the river-bank development in the past. The oldest
map used was the First Military Survey of the Habsburg
Empire from 1764–1768 (Figure 2A). This map was not based
on any geodetic background and thus the spatial accuracy of
the map is low compared to current maps. On the other hand,
it provides a very unique data source as it represents the
landscape more than 250 years ago. The landscape and the
Figure 3.
Representative collection of
artefacts found at the site; pieces dated to
the Moravian Painted Ware Culture from
the end of the Neolithic (Figure 3:1–9),
Early Bronze Age (Figure 3:10, 11) and Late
Bronze Age (Figure 3:12–13).
0 5 cm
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IANSA 2015 ● VI/2 ● 181–193
David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
185
river bank development is further presented on the maps of
the Second (1836–1852) and Third Military Surveys (1876–
1878) presented as Figures 2B and 2C. A very important part
of the workfow was the processing of these old maps: all
the maps had to be georeferenced. Several methods were
used for map georeferencing as each map required different
handling. The Czech national S-JTSK coordinate system
was used for all the maps mentioned. The most diffcult was
georeferencing the First Military Survey maps, as these maps
were created using the ‘a la vue’ method (the mapper draws
what he sees). An algorithm introduced by (Cajthaml 2012)
was used for processing these map sheets. Maps of the
Second and Third Military Survey were processed using the
spline transformation implemented in ArcGIS (ESRI corp).
The spline transformation is a true rubber sheeting method
and is optimized for local accuracy, but not global accuracy;
based on a spline function – it is a piecewise polynomial
that maintains continuity and smoothness between adjacent
polynomials (ESRI 2015). This method has been tested
many times (Brůna
et al.
2014; Pacina
et al.
2014, Pacina
et al.
2012) and it is considered suitable for this data type.
4. Results of the of site research
4.1 Archaeological record
The buried soil and archaeological fndings were all found
during excavations. The site itself is most likely located
on a presumed elevation of unknown extent that has been
gradually levelled by alluvial sediments. The excavations
uncovered the fndings and, according to the typological
dating of ceramics, have been interpreted as Late Neolithic,
the Early Eneolithic, and the Bronze Age. Most of the fnds
come from the dark layer at a depth of 190–250 cm under the
recent surface. Within the layer below only a few fndings
(6 ceramic shards and 2 pieces of daub) were recorded, which
might be regarded as secondary infltration, for example, due
to bioturbation.
During the salvage excavations a set of 544 artefacts
and ecofacts (according to Neustupný terminology, without
the stone fndings) was excavated. The hand-made part of
these excavations, covering an area of 16.32 m
2
, provided
388 pieces of artefacts identifed as Moravian Painted Ware
Culture from the end of the Neolithic, Early Bronze Age and
Late Bronze Age artefacts (see Figure 3). The dark layer
rich with fnds was circa 65–80 cm thick depending on site
morphology. For a more detailed stratifcation, the horizon
was artifcially divided into fve parts (Table 1, Figure 4),
each about 20 cm thick. The set of shards found at the site was
quite fragmented and only 8.3% of the fndings (35 pieces)
were able to be archeologically dated (Table 1).
There were excavated ceramic pieces belonging to the
Moravian Painted Ware Culture from the end of the Neolithic
(Figure 3. 1–9), the Early Bronze Age (Figure 3:10)
and from the late Bronze Age (Figure 3. 11–13). The
total archaeological interval of this period is therefore
approximately 4500–1000 BC. A few shards may be dated
Table 1.
Archaeological dating of shards found and the number of pieces found together with their weight.
CeramicsDaubBonesChipped industryDated artefacts
LevelTotal
pieces
Total
weight
Av/weight of
fragment
g/m3Large (K2)
fragments
presence
Total
pieces
Total
weight
Av/weight of
fragment
Total
pieces
Total
weight
Total
pieces
Total
weight
Late
Neolithic
Bronze
Age
unspec.
Early
Bronze
Age
Late
Bronze
Age
U2 21
118
5.6 36.20 3 5 1.7 0 0
1
29
1
000
U3 66 487 7.4149.20
18
57 3.2 626229
11
0
1
U41411,44610.3443.0
1
15 68 4.52957
1
80
1
42
1
U5 52 327 6.3100.202527911.2 2 5
1
2
1
40
1
U6 2 4020.0 12.30 3 16 5.3 0 00 00000
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David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
186
as Eneolithic and also a few of them probably also into the
La Tène Period. Two shards were dated as possibly Early
Medieval, but this identifcation is not clear. Some individual
shards were not found in an appropriate stratigraphical order
(see Table 1); all these shards were mixed up together, which
suggests an homogenisation of the studied horizon.
Most of the ceramic fnds are heavily fragmented.
Surprisingly, the older ones are the less fragmented. Exactly
421 pieces of ceramic totalling 3313 g in weight are included
in the detailed description. The average weight of a single
ceramic piece is 7.9 g. The average weight of a single piece
of daub is 5.6 g and of a single bone fragment 3.3 g. The
second size category contains only 8 pieces of total weight
440 g (size division according to Šabatová, Vitula 2002); the
average weight of a single piece in this category is thus 55 g.
From each of the mechanically-divided horizons, 3.26 m
3
of
material was excavated; hence we were able to determine
the average intensity of saturation by ceramic shards to be
148g/m
3
with high variability (ranging from 12 to 443 g/
m
3
). This number is quite low in comparison with similar
sites, such as the Prehistorical site Záběhlice (Ernée 2008,
106), but data for older periods are as yet not available. An
interesting comparison can be found in Figure 4, where the
weight of the main types of fnds (ceramic shards, daub,
bones) are pictured depending on the depth at which they
were found. The occurrence of ceramic shards and bone
fragments increases in horizon 4, whilst the occurrence of
daub fragments is higher within horizon 5. Even though the
layer seems to be nearly homogenous, mostly due to post-
depositional transformation, the changes and transitions
between particular horizons are visible thanks to the artefacts;
thus the change in activity at the site can be detected.
4.2. Sedimentological and micromorphological record
The sedimentological record was more or less continuous in
all the excavated parts (Figure 5) of the construction works
except the dark layer at the depth of 190–250 cm. Therefore
it was possible to trace this layer horizontally throughout the
whole excavated area (approximately 50 m
2
). The section
with the best information value is described below:
0–25 cm: silty sand loam, dark brown, sharp transition to
subsoil, bioturbation, ploughing;
25–70 cm: sandy loam, light brown, abrupt transition to
underlying unit;
70–190 cm: silty loam, light brown, frequent bioturbation,
worm channels, clay coatings, pseudomycelia,
abrupt and wavy transition to subsoil;
190–250 cm: silty loam, dark brown, gradual wavy
transition to subsoil, c. 10 cm thick
transitional layer, worm and root textural
Figure 4.
The frequency of the main
categories of fnds (weight in g) within
the layer rich with fnds; this layer was
divided into 5 horizons (U1–U5) at steps
of 20 cm, according to man-made horizons;
a logarithmic scale has been used for
better comparison. U1 and U6 layers were
taken from the upper and lower horizon
surrounding the artefact-rich layer (horizons
U2–U5); 1 – ceramics (total weight in g),
2 – daub (total weight in g), 3 – bones (total
weight in g).
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IANSA 2015 ● VI/2 ● 181–193
David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
187
features with illuviation of Fe and Mn
oxides and clay, Fe concretions;
250–300 cm: silty loam, grey brown, bioturbation by
worms and roots, mixing of material
from overlaying and underlying layers,
1–2 mm large concentrations of Mn (up to
5%), greying in direction to subsoil, gley
processes.
Micromorphological observations were made for each
of the macroscopically-different horizons; the results are
described below and photodocumentation of the main features
can be found in Figure 6. The most interesting observations
include the increase of the coarse fraction in the uppermost
part of the section, the intensive bioturbation within the dark
horizon, and the presence of Fe nodules together with Mn
nodules in the lowermost part of the studied section.
Sample 1:
Vughy microstructure, prevailing pore
vughs (20%), channels (up to 3%). C/F
(200 mm)
=5:95;
C/F
(50 mm)
= 40:60. Silty loam. Prevailing provenance –
subangular to angular quartz and feldspar. Microcharcoal
(up to 1%), organic matter decomposed black and brown (up
to 3%). Bf (birefridgence) crystallitic, light brown colour
of matrix. No phytoliths, no calcium carbonates, no FeOH
nodules. Interpretation: Mhorizon of ploughed soil.
Sample 2:
Channel microstructure, prevailing pore
channels (30%), chambers (up to 3%). C/F
(200 mm)
=5:95;
C/F
(50 mm)
= 30:70. Silty loam. Prevailing coarse fraction is
composed of subangular to angular quartz and feldspar. Bf
crystalline, brown colour of matrix. Organic matter mainly
as decomposed black dots. Dirty clay coating, FeOH nodules
(rare but present). CaCO
3
pseudomorphoses after the root
cells inside channels. Interpretation: M horizon.
Sample 3:
Channel microstructure, prevailing pore channels
(30%), vughs (up to 3%). C/F
(200 mm)
=3:97; C/F
(50 mm)
= 40:60.
Silty loam. Prevailing provenance – subangular to angular quartz
and feldspar. Bf crystalline to stipple speckled, brown colour
of matrix. Organic matter mainly as decomposed black dots
(10%), presence of microcharcoal. Presence of FeOH nodules –
rare, but present. Interpretation: highly bioturbated Mg horizon.
Sample 3 was taken from the border of two different layers, but
unfortunately this fact is not refected in the micromorphology.
Sample 4:
Channel to vughy microstructure, prevailing
pore channels (20%), vughs (10%). C/F
(200 mm)
=10:90;
C/F
(50 mm)
= 50:50. Silty to sandy loam. Prevailing provenance
– subangular to angular quartz and feldspar. Bf – crystalline,
light brown to grey brown colour, Organic matter mainly
as decomposed black dots. FeOH nodules rare but present.
Interpretation: Illuviated silty to sandy Mg horizon,
mechanically-infuenced and gleyed.
Figure 5.
Sedimenthological record of the locality Brno-Přízřenice with the buried black soil at the base.
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IANSA 2015 ● VI/2 ● 181–193
David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
188
Sample 5:
Vughy microstructure, prevailing pore vughs
(30%), channels (10%). C/F
(200 mm)
=10:90; C/F
(50 mm)
= 40:60.
Silty to sandy loam. Prevaling provenance – subangular to
angular quartz and feldspar. Bf – crystalline, light brown to
grey brown colour, Organic matter mainly as decomposed
black dots. FeOH nodules, rare but present, the presence of
clayey and striated matrix. Parts of matrix are more silty,
other parts are more sandy and therefore went under more
intensive illuviation. Dirty clay coating. Interpretation:
Illuviated silty to sandy Mg horizon with appearance of
redeposited soil material. Mechanically turbated and gleyed.
Sample 6:
Subangular blocky microstructure, prevailing
pore cracks (20%), channels and vughs (up to 3%).
C/F
(200mm)
=5:95; C/F
(50mm)
= 50:50. Silty loam. Prevailing
provenance – subangular to angular quartz and feldspar. Bf
– crystalline to stipple speckled, brown to red brown colour.
Organic matter mainly as decomposed black and brown
dots. FeOH nodules, rare but present; presence of clayey and
striated matrix. Parts of matrix show a different grain size
and Bf. Interpretation: Illuviated silty material of different
provenance turbated by human action.
Sample 7:
Vughy microstructure, prevailing pore vughs
(30%). C/F
(200 mm)
=3:95; C/F
(50 mm)
= 30:70. Silty loam.
Prevaling provenance – subangular to angular quartz and
feldspar. Bf – crystalline, light brown to grey brown colour.
Organic matter mainly as decomposed black dots. FeOH
and Mn nodules present. Interpretation: Gleyed Mg horizon.
Sample 7 was taken from the border of two horizons, but
the differences refected in the micromorphology are very
unclear.
Sample 8:
Vughy microstructure, prevailing pore vughs
(30%). C/F
(200 mm)
=3:95; C/F
(50 mm)
= 30:70. Silty loam.
Prevailing provenance – subangular to angular quartz and
feldspar. Bf – crystalline, light grey colour. Organic matter
mainly as decomposed black dots. Mn nodules present, Mn
coating. Interpretation: Illuviated and gleyed Mg horizon.
4.3 Grain size distribution, magnetic proxies and C
org
The grain size distribution was measured in different types
of dispersions with the aim of trying to obtain the most
appropriate information concerning formation processes;
the results are shown in Figure 7. The most signifcant
differences concern the distribution of the clay fraction.
A signifcant increase of clay-fraction content was found
in samples treated by KOH and taken from a depth of
50–80 cm, while the same set of samples treated by HCl and
H
2
O
2
showed a signifcant increase of clay fraction at a depth
of 190–300 cm. The distribution of the sand fraction was
also interesting. While the samples treated by KOH showed
increased values of the sand-fraction content between the
depth 70–190 cm and the lowermost values within the dark
layer (depth 190–250 cm), the same samples treated by HCl
and H
2
O
2
showed the highest values from the surface down
to a depth of 70 cm. Another two peaks with higher values
of the sand fraction were detected at the depths of 190 and
250 cm. These peaks are probably connected with iluviation
or human infuence.
The values of magnetic susceptibility (Figure 7) are quite
homogenous, with a slight enhancement in the uppermost
layers of the studied section (depth 0–30 cm). The values
of frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility show more
signifcant differences between the studied horizons; these
values usually refect more intensive pedogenetic processes.
The values within the dark horizon, mainly at the depths of
Figure 6.
Photodocumentation of the
micromorphological observation. Photographs
connected with the sample 1 (from left to
right) – vughy to channel microstructure
o homogenous silty loam (frst picture
taken in PPL – plane polarised light;
second photograph taken in XPL – cross
polarised light); photographs connected
with the sample 2 (from left to right) –
channel microstructure of homogenous
silty loam (PPL); non symetrical vugh with
hypocoating (XPL); FeOH nodules in vughy
microstructure (PPL); photos connected
with the samples 3 to 7 – from left to right –
subangluar microstructure with iluviated and
alluviated parts (PPL); clay rich of FeOH
accumulations (XPL); clay accumulations
(XPL); photos connected with the sample 8
(from left to right) – vugh with Mn coating
(PPL); vugh with Mn inflling (PPL);
chamber and small vugh with Mn inflling
surrounded by illuviated matrix (PPL).
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Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
189
200–230 cm, are visibly enhanced, reaching nearly 11%.
Other enhanced values were found within the homogenous
central part of the studied section, but these values reach no
more than 8%. The lower values within the uppermost part
of the section are also of interest, because of their opposite
trend of a slight increase in most of the values towards the
recent surface.
The values of organic carbon (C
ox
) might suggest the
presence of organic matter connected with pedogenetical
processes, the values correlating with the values of frequency-
dependent magnetic susceptibility. The frst higher peak is
visible within the black horizon at the depth of 200–230 cm;
the second one, though not as signifcant, is visible in the
central part of a quite monotonous alluvial sedimentation
(c. 90–150 cm); and the third peak, or rather an increased
trend in these values, is visible within the uppermost part of
the studied section.
5. Discussion
5.1 Svratka alluvial plain as a part of the living space
The environment of the alluvial plain is a key source of
archaeological information with enormous interpretative
potential. The high sedimentation rates have allowed the
preservation of archaeological situations (
e.g.
buried soil
horizons or organic artefacts) to be preserved with little or no
change. On the other hand, these sites are not easy to fnd and
be investigated to a satisfactory extent. Besides the technical
predicaments, the research is frequently complicated by
diffculties with the site’s archaeological interpretation
and its chronology. Extreme caution in interpretation is
needed due to the presence of redeposited artefacts and their
absolute dating. The signifcance of well-dated situations is
therefore enormous, a critical approach to all data crucial,
and consideration of various interpretative alternatives
necessary.
The dark earth in Brno – Přízřence is defnitely neither of
wash-out origin nor of food origin, because of the unsorted
sedimentary material. The unsorted material might suggest
colluvial formation, but the layers are horizontal and the
fat geomorphology of the site exclude colluvial deposition.
Regarding the extent of the dark earth layer and long-
term stable development with no signs of fooding, it is
highly improbable that this layer be considered an inflling
by features of extensive origin. The provenance of the
dark layer’s material compares to that of the background
lithology, and the lobe-like transition of the dark earth and
its underlying layer strongly support the idea of it being an
in situ
layer that developed on food sediments thanks to
pedogenic processes.
The existence of this type of sediment
in situ
indicates
the close proximity of long-term inhabitation in the Late
Neolithic, Early Eneolithic, and Bronze Age (4500–1000 BC).
In general, prehistoric settlement is concentrated in the
surroundings of large rivers, because this environment
can allow several alternative farming strategies, such
as: different ways of fertilisation, irrigation or differing
crop production depending on water availability. On the
other hand, this way of thinking only works in certain
prehistoric periods (
cf.
in the Labe – Elbe Valley Dreslerová,
Pokorný 2004) and for certain regions. In the valley of
the Svratka River, south of Brno, for example, the known
prehistoric settlement is primarily concentrated on the edges
Figure 7.
Values of different proxies measured in study section.
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Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
190
of terraces (
cf.
the archaeological topography of the cadastral
territories of Brno-Chrlice and Brno-Horní Heršpice in
Procházka ed. 2011). A similar situation can be found in the
alluvial plains of the Morava and Dyje Rivers, where sand
dunes were systematically chosen for settlement (Dresler,
Macháček 2013, 690–698; Dresler 2014); the dunes can be
easily examined and basic trends in prehistoric settlement
can be described. The absence of a sandy background in the
study area excludes such a possibility in Brno-Přízřenice,
and there is insuffcient information about the lower course
of the Svratka River. However, the local alluvium was used
by human settlers, a fact proved by the existence of another
settlement and graveyard of Late Bronze Age origin; it was
discovered during construction work in 1953 in Brno-Chrlice
approximately 1.5 km from our locality. The prehistoric
cultural layer at that site was covered by a 1.4 m thick layer
of alluvial sediments (Staňa 1957).
5.2 Aggradation of the Svratka alluvial deposits in the
context of prehistoric occupation
The widespread assumption, supported by the latest
research results in the Morava river basin, is that the typical
silty alluvial sediments, such as these in the Svratka river
alluvial zone, did not aggradate until the last 1000 years
(Kadlec 2009; Grygar 2010). The hypothesis is based on the
fnding of several dendrochronologically-dated tree trunks at
the base of the recent foodplain/alluvial zone; the time span,
therefore, could be even shorter. However, sheet erosion (the
consequence of intensive human activity in a landscape)
is a phenomenon that has been traced to the Neolithic in
central Europe (Dreibrodt
et al.
2010). We do not have
direct evidence from the Svratka valley; nevertheless, we
assume that both the Morava and Svratka catchments are
comparable: being located in the same region and of similar
size of catchment.
The crucial dilemma is whether the aggradation was
caused by human activity, climate change, or both. This has
been much discussed over a long period (Kadlec
et al.
2009;
Grygar 2010; Opravil 1985) and it is generally accepted
that in the case of a signifcant part of a catchment being
part of an old settlement area, the changes in intensity and
methods of management have directly infuenced the alluvial
zone. The regional impact of human activity on food plain
evolution has already been recognized by several authors,
who have stated that an oak forest clearance in the vicinity
of a river causes changes in food activity and increases
deposition within the food plain (Prudič 1978; Opravil 1983;
Svobodová 1989; Havlíček 1991). Another hypothesis,
which is based more on natural processes, suggests that
the activity of rivers in Europe were probably developed in
cycles more closely linked to climate change than to local
anthropogenic activity (Starkel 2002; Macklin
et al.
2005;
Lewin
et al.
2005; Thorndycraft, Benito 2006; Starkel
et al.
2006; Kalicki 2006). Regarding the above-described
hypotheses, the question of global vs. regional climatic
trends and their impact has also been a topic for discussion,
as well as the possible decisive impact of singular events (
e.g.
Dreslerová in 2012 describes an increase in precipitation in
c. 2000 BC according to a statistical model).
The increase in aggradation of the foodplain has not yet
been synchronized precisely with the increased precipitation.
All things considered, there is the possibility that the
difference between precipitation and type of climate in
central Europe is not large enough to cause sheet erosion, and
the aggradation is of anthropogenic origin. The settlement is
more or less in the central part of the alluvial zone (Figure 2),
and the increased aggradation by alluvial sediment would
probably lead to a rapid covering of the site. On the other
hand, the studied site does not show any sign of occasional
fooding, which would indicate fooding after the settlement
had been abandoned.
Reliably-intact archaeological sites may be important
points of reference in the study of very dynamic
alluvial environments, where the shifting of channels is
commonplace and therefore redeposited sediments and
artefacts would be common as well. The described site, Brno-
Přízřenice, contains an
in situ
occupational level formation
that consequently represents evidence of long-term soil
development and use of the site for settlement purposes from
the Neolithic to Bronze Age (4500–1000 BC), and which
was subsequently covered by alluvial sediments. We have
not yet dated the foodplain deposits, but by comparing with
the Morava river foodplain it is possible to state that the
aggradation of the food plain in Přízřenice is not a question
of a single event.
5.3 Prehistoric dark earth and its formation processes
The dark horizon at the site evinces characteristic features
of dark earth. It is a widespread artefact-containing layer
of dark colour. Dark earth does not belong to any soil
classifcation or soil taxonomy, the term is of archaeological
origin. Considering the terrain’s morphology and the time
of development, a Chernozem or type of Molisol could be
considered the closest analogy. Chernozem soils under Late
Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows have also been discovered
by Barczi
et al.
(2006a; 2006b; 2009) in Hungary. According
to Hejcman (2013), Chernozem soils, which in Prehistory
had been quite extensive in central Europe, had probably
degraded due to the more intensive leaching, and were
replaced step by step with forest Luvisols and Albeluvisols
subsequent to the Bronze Age. This hypothesis is supported
by the climatic change around 2000 BC, characterised by an
increase in precipitation together with a decrease in mean
annual temperature in central Europe (Dreslerová 2012),
leading to the leaching of base cations from soils and thus
to the degradation of Chernozems. A similar result, the
replacement of steppe Chernozem soils by forest Luvisols
around 1000 BC, has also been recorded by Alexandrovskiy
(2000) in the North Caucasus
.
The very next question is: what does the dark earth represent
at this site? Is it the remnants of older settlement layers that
naturally homogenized into the form of a soil horizon?
Are those settlement layers homogenized into the form of
a soil at the end of their development, or is it a ploughed
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David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
191
or plaggen soil from the very beginning and which was
fertilized by the waste from the nearby settlement? The latter
idea is supported by the characteristics of the archaeological
fnds and their scattering: when small artefacts prevail it is
assumed that they were a part of the common waste that
was relocated together with the surrounding sediment in the
settlement area (Kuna, Němcová
et al.
2012). The increased
values of organic carbon, together with the enhanced
frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility signal, suggest
the presence of a former A horizon together with soil bacteria
producing superparamagnetic minerals (Dearing
et al.
1996).
On the other hand, the changes in grain size might refect the
inhomogeneity of the horizon that refects the presence of
fertiliser.
A collection of 421 fragments of total weight 3313 g have
been described in detail. The average weight of a single piece
is 7.87 g, which corresponds very well with the average weight
of a fragment from the Late Bronze Age layer formation in
Praha-Záběhlice (7.9 g; Ernée 2008, 106, Table 4). However,
this fgure is much lower than the values for collections
from infllings of sunken features from the Bronze Age
(
e.g.
17.9 g). Also, the average weight of a daub fragment
(5.59 g) and the average weight of a bone fragment (3.31 g)
unambiguously indicate an enormous level of fragmentation
during the post-depositional processes, probably caused by
trampling underfoot or otherwise shattered. Bioturbation,
which may be another factor, could not produce such strong
fragmentation. There are only eight ceramic fragments
of size category 2 (weight 440 g) and they represent the
oldest fragments found. All the fragments are Neolithic
and regarding the length of duration of the transformational
processes, the locality examined is probably the closest one
to the central part of the Neolithic settlement area. On the
other hand, the high fragmentation of younger fragments
suggests that the centres of the Bronze Age settlement areas
were farther away or the agricultural management was more
intensive. As a conclusion it may be stated that, at the very
least, during the frst stage of occupation the dark earth had
developed as a cultural horizon. According to Gé (1993),
non-constructed occupation surfaces most generally consist
of swept or dumped debris, or of construction materials
collapsed from perishable buildings. They are usually easily
recognized in the feld by the occurrence of two distinct
units overlying the debris or the collapsed infll. In many
cases, the lowermost one appears as a thin compact layer,
while the upper one has a weak cohesion. Moreover, the two
units can often be distinguished by differences in colour and
composition. But this is not the case for our studied locality;
on the other hand, the signs of relict structured micro-facies,
as well as possibly fragments of occupation surfaces in
a tertiary position (as defned by Butzer 1982), have been
identifed – mainly within the central part of the dark layer.
Residual structured micro-facies are characterized by the
occurrence of large aggregates detected in thin sections, with
a fabric similar to zones of structured micro-facies. These
are fnely mixed with sedimentary material, characterized by
a microstructure differing from the one induced by human
trampling. This microstructure is typifed by intergranular
pores and the chaotic distribution of its coarse fraction.
When intense bioturbation occurs, the material becomes
homogenised through various homogenization processes.
If the unit which contains fragments of occupation
surfaces consists of loosely-packed aggregates of various
anthropogenic origin, than the material was deposited either
by dumping or mechanically reworked after deposition, for
example, due to agricultural practices (ploughing, plugging)
(Butzer 1982). Because of the long-term deposition time
span detected at the Přízřenice site, we suggest that the
fragments of the occupation surfaces are in a tertiary position
(as defned by Butzer 1982) and have consequently lost their
original contextual signifcance – not because of dumping,
but because of agricultural practices. These may represent
something like midden material being used as a fertiliser.
Distinguishing a dump area from that of a patch of arable
land may sometimes be quite tricky. At Tofts Ness, the
cultivated Neolithic soils, and, at Old Scatness, the primary
soils, were nearly identical to the midden deposits found in
the settlements. The evidence suggests that the arable plots
were placed on top of the midden heaps, which means that
the midden heaps were transformed into cultivated plots
(Guttman 2004). Cultivation of a midden in the Neolithic
has also been suggested by Macphail (1990) at Hazleton
North, Gloucestershire, where small, shifting arable plots
were recorded beneath a long cairn, and one of the plots was
placed on top of a midden heap.
6. Conclusion
The studied site was continuously and for a long time
occupied during the Late Neolithic, the Early Eneolithic, and
the Bronze Age (4500–1000 BC), which implies that the site
was not fooded for more than 3500 years. This fact may
be more likely interpreted as a result of the limited source
of alluvial deposits rather than as a consequence of climatic
changes that resulted in lower precipitation for such a long
period.
The dark layer buried under the two metres of alluvial
deposits has been described as “dark soil/dark earth” and has
signs of a leached, intensely anthropogenically-infuenced,
Mollisol type of soil. The statistical distribution and type
of artefacts suggest that at least during the older part of the
occupation the area was a part of constructed site. During
the later occupation the material probably accumulated due
to dumping. In every case, the fragments of occupation
surfaces are in a tertiary position and homogenised. This
homogenisation is due to agricultural processes followed by
the intensive pedological processes which took place there.
Their presence has been confrmed by a range of methods,
i.e.
the microstructure of the studied deposits and also by
the enhanced values of frequency-dependent magnetic
susceptibility, increased values of organic carbon, and changes
in grain size distribution, as well as the homogenization of
the archaeological material within the studied horizon. The
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David Parma, Lenka Vejrostová, Lenka Lisá, Aleš Bajer, Jan Pacina, Zdeněk Gottvald: Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain;
Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic
192
accumulation of organic material within the “dark earth” is
connected not only with the decomposition of vegetation,
but also with the “manuring” processes connected with the
former agricultural practices.
Acknowledgement
This research was supported by the Internal program of the
Institute of Geology, ASCR, no. RVO 67985831, conducted
under the Project Platform for Landscape Formation (Reg.
No. CZ.1.07/2.4.00/31.0032) and fnanced by the project
“PAPAVER – Centre for human and plant studies in Europe
and Northern Africa in the postglacial period” project, reg.
No. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0289, co-fnanced by the European
Social Fund and by the state budget of the Czech Republic.
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