DOI Kapitel:
Grenzgänger, traders and the last hunter-gatherers of the North European Plain
DOI Kapitel:Bauerochse, Andreas; Leuschner, Hanns Hubert: Neolithic colonisation of the southwestern Dümmer basin (NW Germany) – evidence from palaeobotanical data
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0055
54
Neolithic colonisation of the southwestern Dummer basin (NW Germany) - evidence from palaeobotanical data
Fig. 9 Mesolithic and Neolithic
findings and find spots in the
southwestern Dummer basin (data
from ADABweb). Beside the sites
shown here, there are more archae-
ological sites in the area belonging
to the discussed period but which
have not been finally chronologi-
cally allocated so far. Some of them
may date to the period under con-
sideration (cf. Gerken 2003; Heumul-
ler et al. 2017). For a more differen-
tiated mapping, see Fig. 1 in
Heumuller et al., this volume (graph-
ics: A. Bauerochse, after Heumuel-
ler, this volume, modified).
different lake stages. Reinerth (in Kossian 2007, 21)
did the same for the Mesolithic, so one can infer how
the Dummer basin would be effected by changes in
water supply
In the context of changes in water level, beavers
(Castor fiber) and their activities also have to be taken
into account as potential causes of flooding (see Coles
2003). But as we have indications of synchronous
higher water levels from the surrounding peatlands,
it is not likely that these animals were responsible for
the event at Campemoor.
However, a changing water table, expanding
lakes, and proceeding paludification obviously did not
prevent humans from staying in the Dummer basin -
not even when the lake expanded, as the footbridge,
trackway Pr 35, demonstrates. As for Pr 34, there are
no concrete data on how long this construction was
used. But, from the occurence of water plant pollen,
it seems that the high water table lasted at least for
centuries (Fig. 2). Thus the situation in the Dummer
basin shows the consequences of wetter conditions
not only reported for northwest Germany for this
period, but also found in other regions of Europe at
this time.7 Probably the sea level rise of the North
Sea, reconstructed for the 4th millennium by Behre
(2013), may also have had an impact on the hydrologi-
7 Cf. compilation of Tipping et al. 2012,11-13; see also Magny
et al. 2009, 584; Borgmark/Wastegard 2008, fig. 7, graphs C
and E for south-central Sweden; Zurek et al. 2002 for eastern
Poland; cf. also compilation in Bauerochse/Metzler 2001,
122-123.
cal situation of the hinterland, due to the backing up
of groundwater.
For the second half of the 4th millennium BC, a
shift in site conditions is documented. The water table
sank and the lake retreated. At the end of this process
pines started to spread over the peatland, and large ar-
eas of Campemoor became forested (Leuschner et al.
2007). This expansion started from about 3050 BC. It
seems that during this time the peatland could be eas-
ily crossed for a period of nearly 100 years. Then con-
ditions became wetter again, so humans were forced
to built another corduroy road. This trackway, Pr 32,
was built within the forest, using pines from the site.
It was the time when increasing humidity favoured
the spread of peat mosses and the dying-off of most of
the bog forest. Even though it was only a short-term
deterioration at the beginning of the 29th century BC,
it had a strong influence on human activities in the
area. Trackway Pr 32 was man’s last attempt to come
to terms with the conditions at Campemoor (Fig. 7;
cf. Bauerochse 2003; Metzler 2003). When condi-
tions became drier again and the next tree generation
spread from about 2840 BC, people had already left
the area. Obviously humans didn’t withstand this dras-
tic environmental change, when mineral sites were
constricted by transgrading peat mosses and pastures
were narrowed. Pines growing on the trackway prove
that it had finally been abandoned (Fig. 7).
As well as the events described above, these envi-
ronmental changes were climate-triggered, as regional
processes from e. g. the Borsteler Moor (eastern Diim-
mer-Geest lowland, cf. Fig. 10: BOR) and supra-regional
Neolithic colonisation of the southwestern Dummer basin (NW Germany) - evidence from palaeobotanical data
Fig. 9 Mesolithic and Neolithic
findings and find spots in the
southwestern Dummer basin (data
from ADABweb). Beside the sites
shown here, there are more archae-
ological sites in the area belonging
to the discussed period but which
have not been finally chronologi-
cally allocated so far. Some of them
may date to the period under con-
sideration (cf. Gerken 2003; Heumul-
ler et al. 2017). For a more differen-
tiated mapping, see Fig. 1 in
Heumuller et al., this volume (graph-
ics: A. Bauerochse, after Heumuel-
ler, this volume, modified).
different lake stages. Reinerth (in Kossian 2007, 21)
did the same for the Mesolithic, so one can infer how
the Dummer basin would be effected by changes in
water supply
In the context of changes in water level, beavers
(Castor fiber) and their activities also have to be taken
into account as potential causes of flooding (see Coles
2003). But as we have indications of synchronous
higher water levels from the surrounding peatlands,
it is not likely that these animals were responsible for
the event at Campemoor.
However, a changing water table, expanding
lakes, and proceeding paludification obviously did not
prevent humans from staying in the Dummer basin -
not even when the lake expanded, as the footbridge,
trackway Pr 35, demonstrates. As for Pr 34, there are
no concrete data on how long this construction was
used. But, from the occurence of water plant pollen,
it seems that the high water table lasted at least for
centuries (Fig. 2). Thus the situation in the Dummer
basin shows the consequences of wetter conditions
not only reported for northwest Germany for this
period, but also found in other regions of Europe at
this time.7 Probably the sea level rise of the North
Sea, reconstructed for the 4th millennium by Behre
(2013), may also have had an impact on the hydrologi-
7 Cf. compilation of Tipping et al. 2012,11-13; see also Magny
et al. 2009, 584; Borgmark/Wastegard 2008, fig. 7, graphs C
and E for south-central Sweden; Zurek et al. 2002 for eastern
Poland; cf. also compilation in Bauerochse/Metzler 2001,
122-123.
cal situation of the hinterland, due to the backing up
of groundwater.
For the second half of the 4th millennium BC, a
shift in site conditions is documented. The water table
sank and the lake retreated. At the end of this process
pines started to spread over the peatland, and large ar-
eas of Campemoor became forested (Leuschner et al.
2007). This expansion started from about 3050 BC. It
seems that during this time the peatland could be eas-
ily crossed for a period of nearly 100 years. Then con-
ditions became wetter again, so humans were forced
to built another corduroy road. This trackway, Pr 32,
was built within the forest, using pines from the site.
It was the time when increasing humidity favoured
the spread of peat mosses and the dying-off of most of
the bog forest. Even though it was only a short-term
deterioration at the beginning of the 29th century BC,
it had a strong influence on human activities in the
area. Trackway Pr 32 was man’s last attempt to come
to terms with the conditions at Campemoor (Fig. 7;
cf. Bauerochse 2003; Metzler 2003). When condi-
tions became drier again and the next tree generation
spread from about 2840 BC, people had already left
the area. Obviously humans didn’t withstand this dras-
tic environmental change, when mineral sites were
constricted by transgrading peat mosses and pastures
were narrowed. Pines growing on the trackway prove
that it had finally been abandoned (Fig. 7).
As well as the events described above, these envi-
ronmental changes were climate-triggered, as regional
processes from e. g. the Borsteler Moor (eastern Diim-
mer-Geest lowland, cf. Fig. 10: BOR) and supra-regional