Outline of the development of research on the impact of Neolithic settlements on the transformation on loess landscapes in southern Poland

During the last few decades, many case studies have focused on landscape transformations in response to water erosion, human impact, and climate changes. This article presents a review and comparison of the current state of knowledge on conducted research on the impact of the activities of early humans on the relief and forms of loess areas in Poland based on the results of a variety of dating methods (OSL, TL, C14, 137Cs, palynology, dendrochronology etc.). The influence of land-use activity since the first permanent settlements (8,000–5,200 BP) played a major role in the development of certain sand sediment terrain forms: gullies, river terraces, the filling of isolated depressions and alluvial fans in the loess areas. As a result, a simplified scheme of landscape evolution was created along with a map of the most investigated areas by authors. The main problem was to differentiate the influence of anthropogenic factors from natural ones occurring either simultaneously or alternatively. The developed deposits form a geo-archive which has recorded the history of environmental changes. A detailed analysis of the sedimentary structures provides the possibility to reconstruct and understand past functional responses in natural systems. It is important to consider the impact of climate change and human influence over the course of history on a specific geomorphological system. This can help to predict future land changes and likely hazards

Loess documentary sites and their potential for geotourism in Lower Silesia (Poland)

The presented article fits into the subject of using the geotourist potential in the development of tourism in the region on the example of Lower Silesia voivodship. The main purpose of the article is actually the presentation of the potential of documentary sites, one of the abiotic forms of nature protection functioning in Poland, in the context of geoprotection and as geotourist attraction. Using the method of sightseeing inventory, a review of forms of nature protection has been carried out. Although “Soft” Rock Geosites are not excessively popular and appreciated, they are significant element of Quaternary palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental archive and can provide interpretative facilities and services not only for geoscientists but also for constantly expanding group of conscious tourists. As a consequence of lithological and chronological research, two Late Pleistocene loess-soil sequences from Lower Silesia have been chosen: "Loess of Vine Mountain" - documentary site established in 2016 in Trzebnica and loess-soil sequence in Biały Kościół. After a detailed presentation of the sections, educational values were indicated, which should be promoted. Cultural values occurring in the vicinity of documentation sites are also presented. Taking into account the threats to the proper development of documentation sites, which were indicated in the article, solutions were proposed that would allow the sustainable development of geotourist resources of the loess