Blown sand movement at Kiskunhalas on the Danube-Tisza interfluve, Hungary

The largest blown-sand area of Hungary is located on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. Here the most significant aeolian activity took place during the Pleistocene, however the aeolian transformation of the landscape occurred also in the Holocene and even in historical times. The aims of the study were (1) to reconstruct the relief at different historical periods; (2) to determine the periods of sand remobilisation during historical times; (3) to identify the changing of climatic conditions and possible types of human activities enabling aeolian activity and (4) to specify the spatial extension of sand movements. To reconstruct the spatial characteristic of sand and palaeosoil layers a 3Dmodel of the deposits at the archaeological site was created using total station measurements and Surfer 8.0 software. In order to determine the exact time of blown-sand movement optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements (6) were applied. Based on the results, the lowermost sandy-loess layer had a late Pleistocene age, on which sequences of palaeosoils and blown-sand layers were formed during the Holocene. The spatial extension of the palaeosoils and sandy layers suggest that the relief has changed significantly over historical times. The former Pleistocene blowout depression has altered because of both the climatic conditions and the human impact on the environment. Blown-sand movements in historical times filled up the blowout depression. The sand sheets reshaped the original morphology and soil properties. Today the surface is more elevated and even, the site is covered by dry and slightly humic sandy soils

Environmental Changes in Historical Times Near Apostag on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary: A Complex Research Based on Archaeological Excavation and Geomorphological Investigations

The sensitive, partly fixed dune areas are good indicators of alteration, since they react rapidly to changing environmental conditions. Due to the climate changes, especially the increased aridity during the Holocene, many blown sand areas became active. Later, humanity had increasing impact of on its environment, thus sand movements occurred due to anthropogenic activities. Aeolian activities were identified not only in the historical times but also a few decades ago, when the moving sand caused significant problems on surfaces becoming bare. The present work will provide good evidence on sand movement in historical times caused by human impact on the environment with the help of OSL dating and archaeological research in the vicinity of the town of Apostag, which is located on the largest blown-sand area of Hungary on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. The aims of the research were to identify the ethnical groups and their possible activities; to map the geomorphology of the study area; to determine the periods of aeolian activity; to assign the possible types of human activities in connection with climatic changes enabling aeolian activity

Homokmozgások vizsgálata a történelmi időkben Csengele területén = Blown sand movement in historical times in the territory of Csengele

On the Danube-Tisza Interfluve the most significant aeolian activity took place in the Pleistocene, however, sand movement also took place in the Holocene. The aims of the research were to determine how many times eolian activity started during historical times and to clarify what types of human activity were responsible for it. In order to determine the exact time of blown sand movement OSL measurements and archeological findings and descriptions were applied. The results of the study show that the investigated sand dune area was occupied by groups who kept large livestock on the pastures of the dunes. They probably had great populations, therefore, over-grazing was common, thus eolian activity re-started several times: at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (1200-1500 y B.C.), during the reign of Sarmatians (3-4. century A.D.) and Avars (6-8. century A.D.) and when the Kuns settled down (14. century A.D.)

Environmental changes in historical times near Apostag on the Danube-Tisza interfluve, Hungary (a complex research based on archaeological excavation and geomorphological investigations)

The sensitive, partly fixed dune areas are good indicators of alteration, since they react rapidly to changing environmental conditions. Due to the climate changes, especially the increased aridity during the Holocene, many blown sand areas became active. Later, humanity had increasing impact of on its environment, thus sand movements occurred due to anthropogenic activities. Aeolian activities were identified not only in the historical times but also a few decades ago, when the moving sand caused significant problems on surfaces becoming bare. The present work will provide good evidence on sand movement in historical times caused by human impact on the environment with the help of OSL dating and archaeological research in the vicinity of the town of Apostag, which is located on the largest blown-sand area of Hungary on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. The aims of the research were to identify the ethnical groups and their possible activities; to map the geomorphology of the study area; to determine the periods of aeolian activity; to assign the possible types of human activities in connection with climatic changes enabling aeolian activity