DOI Artikel:
Willerding, Ulrich: On the utilisation of the plant resources of the Upper Harz Mountains by the mining and smelting industries during medieval times
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56859#0112
82
pioneer lichens build up the Acarosporetum sinopicae followed by the
Cladonietum mitis. On older slag heaps with a higher content of humous particles
of soil the easily recognizable heavy metal Armerietum halleri is well developed.
This community is characterized by the name-giving Armeria maritima ssp.
halleri with a pink inflorescence and also white flowering species such as
Minuartia verna ssp. harcynica, Cardaminopsis halleri and Silene vulgaris ssp.
humilis (HAEUPLER 1978).
On the more recent history of vegetation and on mining in the Upper Harz
Mountains
The analysis of pollen frequently shows contrary trends in the pollen curves of
beech {Fagus sylvaticd) and spruce {Picea abies) in the more recent parts of
pollen diagrams from the Harz Mountains. This peculiar trend was already noted
by FlRBAS, Losert, Broihan (1939), who associated it with the utilization of
forests by the mining and smelting industries since the Middle Ages. During the
times of declining Fagws-values those of Picea increase and frequently also those
of birch {Betula) and heather {Calluna vulgaris). The two earliest periods of
declining beech-values in the older part of the Subatlantikum (part IX of
vegetation history) coincide with a certain increase of the birch-values while the
spruce remains practically constant during that period {Fig. 3).
These phases might correspond to the earliest established periods of mining
activity in the Harz Mountains, which lasted from the Early Middle Ages until the
High Middle Ages (10th—11th century). Beech-values reached a secondary
maximum at the start of the younger part of the Subatlantic (phase Xa), which
was followed by a sharp decline (phase Xß), accompanied by a first distinct
spreading of spruce. Firbas, Losert and Broihan (1939) are quite right in
associating this with the flourishing of the mining industry during the 13th century
(compare also: Willutzki 1962). In the following phase Xy Fagus-values
increase once again while spruce-values decline. Beech spread and occupied its
old territory once more during this period for which historical records show a
decline of mining. The final increase of spruce-values during phase X5 shows that
this recovery of the beech was only of short duration. Even though the spreading
of spruce was interrupted once more during phase Xe there is hardly a positive
reaction of the beech to be found during this time. The final dramatic increase in
the spruce-values takes place in phase X^; it is supported by modem forest
management.
pioneer lichens build up the Acarosporetum sinopicae followed by the
Cladonietum mitis. On older slag heaps with a higher content of humous particles
of soil the easily recognizable heavy metal Armerietum halleri is well developed.
This community is characterized by the name-giving Armeria maritima ssp.
halleri with a pink inflorescence and also white flowering species such as
Minuartia verna ssp. harcynica, Cardaminopsis halleri and Silene vulgaris ssp.
humilis (HAEUPLER 1978).
On the more recent history of vegetation and on mining in the Upper Harz
Mountains
The analysis of pollen frequently shows contrary trends in the pollen curves of
beech {Fagus sylvaticd) and spruce {Picea abies) in the more recent parts of
pollen diagrams from the Harz Mountains. This peculiar trend was already noted
by FlRBAS, Losert, Broihan (1939), who associated it with the utilization of
forests by the mining and smelting industries since the Middle Ages. During the
times of declining Fagws-values those of Picea increase and frequently also those
of birch {Betula) and heather {Calluna vulgaris). The two earliest periods of
declining beech-values in the older part of the Subatlantikum (part IX of
vegetation history) coincide with a certain increase of the birch-values while the
spruce remains practically constant during that period {Fig. 3).
These phases might correspond to the earliest established periods of mining
activity in the Harz Mountains, which lasted from the Early Middle Ages until the
High Middle Ages (10th—11th century). Beech-values reached a secondary
maximum at the start of the younger part of the Subatlantic (phase Xa), which
was followed by a sharp decline (phase Xß), accompanied by a first distinct
spreading of spruce. Firbas, Losert and Broihan (1939) are quite right in
associating this with the flourishing of the mining industry during the 13th century
(compare also: Willutzki 1962). In the following phase Xy Fagus-values
increase once again while spruce-values decline. Beech spread and occupied its
old territory once more during this period for which historical records show a
decline of mining. The final increase of spruce-values during phase X5 shows that
this recovery of the beech was only of short duration. Even though the spreading
of spruce was interrupted once more during phase Xe there is hardly a positive
reaction of the beech to be found during this time. The final dramatic increase in
the spruce-values takes place in phase X^; it is supported by modem forest
management.