61. A pollen record from Lake Öagöl (south-Swedish Uplands): 1500 years of land-use history

Lake Öagöl (57° 12′ 34″; 14° 48′ 03″) is situated in the central part of the province of Småland, southern Sweden, a region characterised by mixed woodlands and small-scale agriculture. The investigated lake has a circular to squarish shape and covers 1.8 ha. A minor road runs through the catchment area (which is 22 ha) on the western side of the lake (approximately 100 m from the lake shore). The nearest village is situated about 2 km away. Historical maps from the nineteenth century show that cultivated fields and hay meadows were situated close to the village. The maps also show that the immediate area around the lake was part of the land, which was mainly used for grazing and wood resources, and that the nearest hay meadow was approximately 500 m away. Today, the land-cover around the lake is mixed woodland, dominated by spruce plantations. On the western side of the lake catchment is a local nature reserve (Kråketorpsskogen, 200 ha), which is protected from modern forestry.publishedVersio

Inferring Long-term Landuse Development Through On-site Botanical Analyses at Øvre Øksnevad, Southwestern Norway

This study analysed pollen and plant macrofossils from mainly Bronze Age and Iron Age funerary, agricultural and settlement remains, to infer local plant exploitation and long-term land-use development at Øvre Øksnevad in southwestern Norway. The results showed that deciduous woodland covered the site prior to c. 2100 BC. After this, until c. 500 BC, the vegetation became dominated by grasses/herbs, while several phases of land clearance and cultivation were identified. The main human activity on the site was c. 600-300 BC, when a settlement was established and most of the 103 cairns registered at the site were constructed. Grazing on heathland was the main land-use from 300 BC, until another short-lived settlement was established c. AD 1-200, while regular burning of the heathland occurred from c. AD 1300. The relatively short-lived settlement at Øvre Øksnevad suggests it was marginal and only used during times of high population pressure, a conclusion which is supported by the botanical evidence. This study demonstrates how comprehensive sampling for botanical remains can contribute to the understanding of complex archaeological sites, including local land-use development and human-plant interactions.publishedVersio

Landscape Dynamics in the Sømmevågen Area, with Focus on the Last 8000 Years

This study is based on stratigraphical descriptions, radiocarbon dates and pollen records obtained in connection with three archaeological excavations ( Sømme III, Einargården and Sola Airport ). The combined data are used to infer local sediment distributions in a transect between the study sites ( approx. -5 to 10 m. a. s. l. ) and subsequently to infer landscape dynamics over the last 8000 years in the Sømmevågen area, southwestern Norway. The stratigraphy and the analyses show that natural processes dominated the environmental impact until c. 500 BC, after which, human activities related to an expanding agrarian society seemingly became a more important factor. The inferred landscape development provides an example on how human/ nature interactions can change over time and how on-site stratigraphical analyses can contribute to the understanding of archaeological sites and their surroundings.publishedVersio

Stratigrafiske og botaniske undersøkelser av id 150773, id 150775, id 150776 på Sømme (Sømme III). Sømme gnr. 15, bnr. 161 m.fl. i Sola kommune, Rogaland fylke

Oppdragsgiver: Statens VegvesenI denne rapport presenteres resultatene fra pollen-, makrofossil- og glødetapsanalysene, samt den stratigrafiske dokumentasjonen, som ble gjort i forbindelse med utgravingen på Sømme III. De stratigrafiske analysene gav informasjon om landskapets utvikling over lang tid, bland annet havnivå, utbredelsen av våtmarker og åkermark. Pollenanalysene fra profilene viser til en utvikling fra blandet skog til åpent jordbruk/kulturlandskap. To ulike dyrkingsfaser (med et avbrekk imellom) ble identifisert i profilene, og begge er datert til førromersk jernalder. Uforkullet materiale (Ranunculus acris-type) ble datert til samme periode som de forkullete makrofossilene fra dyrkingslagene (førromersk jernalder), hvilket viser at uforkullet materiale kan bli bevart i denne typen kontekst. Innholdet i makrofossilprøvene er dominert av fragmenter av brente/ubrente pattedyrbein, hasselnøttskall, trekull og fiskebein. Rotknoller fra vårkål (Ranunculus ficaria) var den vanligste forkullete makrofossilen fra kulturlaget (steinaldersboplassene) og har sannsynligvis blitt spist. Hassel har vokst i nærheten av lokalitetene og hasselnøtter har sannsynligvis vært en vanlig matkilde. Systematisk prøvetaking fra tuftene har fanget opp spredningen av hasselnøttskall og mikroskopisk trekull, noe som kan brukes for å tolke aktivitetsflater

Makrofossil- och pollenanalys av långhus, profil och dyrkningslager på Einargården : gnr. 33, bnr. 8, Sola kommun, Rogaland

Oppdragsgiver: Sømmevågen I ASI denna rapport presenteras naturvetenskapliga analyser från Einargården. Resultatet från makrofossilanalysen visar att man har odlat agnekledd bygg (Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare) på Einargården. De flesta Cerealia från stolphål daterades till folkvandringstid, vilket stämmer överens med hustyp och fynd. Förkolnad makrofossil hittades i de flesta stolphål i huset vilket tyder på att huset har brunnit. Det höga antal Cerealia i norra delen av huset tyder på ett rum för förvaring av korn. Knollhestehavre (Arrhenatherum elatius subsp. bulbosum) identifierades från stolphål, grop och eldstad. En dyrkningsprofil i närheten av långhuset innehöll pollen som tyder på öppen, kulturpåverkad mark, som troligen representerar förhistorisk dyrkning och modern matjord. En gyttjeprofil i norra delen av utgrävningsområdet representerar senare delen av mesolitikum (ca. 7000-6000 cal. BP) och innehöll pollen som tyder på att landskapet dominerades av blandskog. Vid Einargården finns sediment som representerar miljön i området de sista ca 30 000 åren. Långhuset vid Einargården daterades till folkvandringstid då havsnivån låg ca 2-3 meter högre än idag

Inferring Long-term Landuse Development Through On-site Botanical Analyses at Øvre Øksnevad, Southwestern Norway

This study analysed pollen and plant macrofossils from mainly Bronze Age and Iron Age funerary, agricultural and settlement remains, to infer local plant exploitation and long-term land-use development at Øvre Øksnevad in southwestern Norway. The results showed that deciduous woodland covered the site prior to c. 2100 BC. After this, until c. 500 BC, the vegetation became dominated by grasses/herbs, while several phases of land clearance and cultivation were identified. The main human activity on the site was c. 600-300 BC, when a settlement was established and most of the 103 cairns registered at the site were constructed. Grazing on heathland was the main land-use from 300 BC, until another short-lived settlement was established c. AD 1-200, while regular burning of the heathland occurred from c. AD 1300. The relatively short-lived settlement at Øvre Øksnevad suggests it was marginal and only used during times of high population pressure, a conclusion which is supported by the botanical evidence. This study demonstrates how comprehensive sampling for botanical remains can contribute to the understanding of complex archaeological sites, including local land-use development and human-plant interactions

Land cover and exploitation of upland resources on the Høg-Jæren Plateau, southwestern Norway, over the last 6500 years

This study explores the use of upland resources on the Høg-Jæren Plateau (360 m asl) in southwestern Norway during the last 6500 years. Human activities and land-use variations were reconstructed using a compilation of data from pollen analysis of six sediment cores retrieved along an altitudinal transect belonging to the present day farm Aniksdal (approx. 31 km2), with archaeological finds and historical records. Vegetation modelling was also used to quantify land-cover at regional (REVEALS model) and local (LOVE model) scales. The combined records show that humans were active in the area during the last 6500 years, and they created increasingly more open land in the region (from 60 to 90% cover). Locally, the land-use in the uplands varied substantially, but with generally increased cover of heath- and/or grassland through time, accompanied by greater burning as indicated by the rise in microscopic charcoal. These vegetation changes suggest active clearance and probable management using fire throughout the period studied. Hunter-gatherers dominated the land-use in the early part of the record (c. 4500–2400 BCE). They possibly kept livestock sometime after 3950 BCE, though management favouring wild animals and certain plants is also a reasonable explanation for the increased open land during this period. After 2400 BCE, an agricultural society was established and grazing activities dominated the land-use at Høg-Jæren (c. 2400–500 BCE), followed by establishment of the infield/outfield system (c. 500 BCE–1000 CE), with permanent fields and settlements in the valley, and a mixed use of the uplands. Hay-production became increasingly important, and shielings were established in the uplands during the last 1000 years, probably used as bases for a combination of grazing, hay-production and dairy farming. The study shows the importance of combining data from several disciplines to provide a relatively detailed spatial and temporal reconstruction of human activity

Arkeologisk og naturvitenskapelig undersøkelse av dyrkingslag og kokegroper på Kleppevarden vest : gnr. 1, bnr. 6, Klepp kommune, Rogaland

Oppdragsgiver: Klepp prosjektering ASI denne rapporten presenteres resultatene fra den arkeologiske utgravningen (inklusive de naturvitenskapelige analysene) gjord av arkeologisk museum, Universitetet i Stavanger (AM) ved kleppevarden (gnr. 1, bnr. 6) i klepp kommune. Utgravningen skylles at det daværende jordbruksområde skulle omreguleres til boligfelt på vestsiden av Kleppevarden, i tilknytning til et allerede eksisterende byggefelt. Utgravningen ble gjennomført 04.11.13 til 15.11.13 med et arbeidslag bestående av 3 feltarkeologer og en botaniker. Det ble brukt 225 timer i felt for feltarkeologene, 61 timer botanikeren og 30 timer med gravemaskin. I tillegg kommer timer for etterarbeid. Vi åpnet til sammen fem sjakter med gravemaskinen og utvidet den ene sjakten slik at vi fikk avdekket et større åpent område. Av arkeologisk interesse fant vi noen områder med ardspor og noen kokegroper, der flesteparten av kokegropene kommer fra den utvidede sjakten. Det ble tatt makro og pollenprøver fra profilveggene i tre av sjaktene med antatte dyrkingslag. Dyrkingslagene og ardsporene tyder på at området ble brukt til jordbruksaktivitet. Dette bekreftes av resultatene fra de naturvitenskapelige analysene som viser et åpent landskap som ble brukt til åker, eng og beitemark. Dyrkingslagene ble datert til førromersk jernalder, romersk jernalder og vikingtid. Vi kan også anta at dette er et sted man har drevet med matlaging på grunn av alle kokegropene vi har funnet. Kokegropene ble datert til romersk jernalder og yngre bronsealder. Fra kokegropene ble noen Cerealia funnet og i øvrig lignet frøinnholdet på dyrkingslagene

Agricultural Resilience during the 6th Century Crisis: Exploring Strategies and Adaptations Using Plant-Macrofossil Data from Hove-Sørbø and Forsandmoen in Southwestern Norway

Major changes in the archaeological material in Rogaland, southwestern Norway, from the mid-6th century AD have been interpreted as a population decline and an economic recession connected to the 6th century crisis. This event is known from historical and archaeological sources in continental Europe and has recently gained much attention in the Scandinavian archaeological debate. Sudden climate change, pandemic and collapsed trading networks likely induced new conditions, which would have had a major impact on the society in southwestern Norway. This paper uses plant-macrofossil data, supplemented by zooarchaeological data, and radiocarbon dates, from two archaeological sites with different prerequisites and trajectories, to reconstruct agricultural development. Based on this reconstruction, it explores agricultural resilience in connection with the 6th century crisis and investigates the merits of various agricultural strategies and adaptations. The macrofossil data reveals a change in crop composition, with a temporary introduction of rye at one of the sites, suggesting an adjustment to new circumstances. The studied sites display different subsistence strategies based on local conditions, and the data suggests complete abandonment of the site that probably depended on trade, while the people living at the more self-sufficient site were able to adapt their agriculture and survive the crisis.publishedVersio

Farm establishment, abandonment and agricultural practices during the last 1,300 years: a case study from southern Sweden based on pollen records and the LOVE model

International audienc