System Begin End
A 100 BC 100 AD B 100 AD 750 AD
Database
Manual edited input Integrated time series
of landscape reconstruction
Script making time slices
Channels Tidal flats Tidal marshes
A
B B
A B
T = 50 AD
A
T = 500 AD
B
T = 1000 AD
B
A
Landscape reconstruction
Integration of data
Selection of settlements per time slice
ARCHIS
Additional regional overview studiesSource data
Archaeological settlements
EMA-D EMA-C EMA-B EMA-A
RP-L RP-M
RP-E
temporal resolution
EMA
1050 AD
450 AD
RP
12 BC
Integrated time slices of settlement data
T = 1000 AD
T = 500 AD
T = 50 AD
COASTAL REGION
GIS and database development (Pierik) Database development (Van Lanen)
+
+
1050 AD
450 AD
12 BC
> High ( ) Intermediate ( ) <
Sea ingression dynamics and occupation patterns in the Dutch coastal area during the first millennium AD
H.J. Pierik
1), R.J. van Lanen
1,2)& E. Stouthamer
1)1) Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht 2) Cultural Heritage Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Smallepad 5, 3811 MG, Amersfoort
In many parts of the Netherlands the transition from the Roman period (RP) to the Early Middle Ages (EMA) coincided with declining population. This contribution explores landscape dynamics of the Dutch coastal area in the first millennium AD and its possible influences on occupation patterns.
To achieve this, we developed a GIS containing geological-geomorphological elements from tidal systems (channels, tidal flats and salt marshes). Knowledge on the geological development of the tidal systems is documented in the GIS allowing mapping of coastal evolution. By comparing these coastal- evolution maps with archaeological data, interaction between landscape changes and settlements
can be hypothesized. At the onset of the Early Middle Ages, first results suggest silting up of tidal inlets along the Dutch coast coinciding with an increased settlement density in the waning tidal areas.
Meanwhile, large-scale extension of tidal systems at the expense of habitable land occurred in the SW part of the Netherlands. Adversely, at the end of the Early Middle Ages the SW part of the Netherlands silted up and some large sea ingressions took place in the northern part of the Netherlands. In both of these regions the current archaeological data does not yet reveal a clear pattern.
Additional information:
Results
Methods
Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and
Science
Other Beach barriers Active river channel belts (Rhine and Meuse) Brook valleys Settlements... Low chronological resolution (see map title) Higher chronological resolution (see map title)
Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 0 B C Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 1 2 B C - 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 10 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 0 - 2 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 2 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 2 70 - 45 0 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 5 50 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 5 25 - 72 5 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 25 - 90 0 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 05 0 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 9 00 - 10 50 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D
Outside the coastal area
Other Beach barriers Active river channel belts (Rhine and Meuse) Brook valleys Settlements... Low chronological resolution (see map title) Higher chronological resolution (see map title)
Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 0 B C Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 1 2 B C - 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 10 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 0 - 2 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 2 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 2 70 - 45 0 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 5 50 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 5 25 - 72 5 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 25 - 90 0 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 05 0 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 9 00 - 10 50 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D
Outside the coastal area Other Beach barriers Active river channel belts (Rhine and Meuse) Brook valleys Settlements... Low chronological resolution (see map title) Higher chronological resolution (see map title)
Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 0 B C Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 1 2 B C - 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 10 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 0 - 2 70 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 2 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 2 70 - 45 0 A D / B la ck : 1 2 B C - 45 0 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 5 50 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 5 25 - 72 5 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 8 85 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 7 25 - 90 0 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D Pa la eo ge og ra ph y: 1 05 0 A D Se ttl em en ts : R ed : 9 00 - 10 50 A D / B la ck : 4 50 - 10 50 A D
Outside the coastal area
Conclusions
System Begin End
A 100 BC 100 AD B 100 AD 750 AD
Database
Manual edited input Integrated time series
of landscape reconstruction
Script making time slices
Channels Tidal flats Tidal marshes
A
B B
A B
T = 50 AD
A
T = 500 AD
B
T = 1000 AD
B
A
Landscape reconstruction
Integration of data
Selection of settlements per time slice
ARCHIS
Additional regional overview studiesSource data
Archaeological settlements
EMA-D EMA-C EMA-B EMA-A
RP-L RP-M
RP-E
temporal resolution
EMA
1050 AD
450 AD
RP
12 BC
Integrated time slices of settlement data
T = 1000 AD
T = 500 AD
T = 50 AD
COASTAL REGION
GIS and database development (Pierik) Database development (Van Lanen)
+
+
1050 AD
450 AD
12 BC
> High ( ) Intermediate ( ) <
Period Region Landscape Settlements
Roman Age North Small tidal systems silting up Severe settlement decline in LRP
West Tidal systems silting up Settlement concentration in silting up / silted up tidal areas South Large scale extension of the tidal area (S-Zeeland) Severe settlement decline in LRP
Early Middle Ages
North Small tidal systems silting up and
extension of 2 major tidal systems Sparse data
West Last tidal system (Rhine estuary) silting up Settlement concentration in silting up / silted up tidal areas South Large scale extension tidal area (N-Zeeland) /
tidal flats silt up to become marshes (S-Zeeland) Minor settlement increase
T = 1000 AD
T = 500 AD
T = 50 AD
Project website Poster pdf References
Other
Beach barriers
Active river channel belts (Rhine and Meuse) Brook valleys
Settlements...
Low chronological resolution (see map title) Higher chronological resolution (see map title)
Palaeogeography: 80 BC
Settlements: Red: 12 BC - 70 AD / Black: 12 BC - 450 AD Palaeogeography: 110 AD
Settlements: Red: 70 - 270 AD / Black: 12 BC - 450 AD Palaeogeography: 285 AD
Settlements: Red: 270 - 450 AD / Black: 12 BC - 450 AD
Palaeogeography: 550 AD
Settlements: Red: 525 - 725 AD / Black: 450 - 1050 AD Palaeogeography: 885 AD
Settlements: Red: 725 - 900 AD / Black: 450 - 1050 AD Palaeogeography: 1050 AD
Settlements: Red: 900 - 1050 AD / Black: 450 - 1050 AD
Outside the coastal area
Schelde
Meuse
Rhine
Oer-IJ
Vlie Boorne
Middelzee
Paesens Hunze
Schelde
Meuse
Rhine
Vlie
Middelzee
Lauwers
Eems
Honte
Grevelingen Fivel
Eems
Schelde
Meuse
Rhine
Vlie Boorne
Middelzee
Hunze Fivel
Eems
Meuse
Rhine
Vlie Boorne
Middelzee
Hunze Fivel
Eems
Meuse
Rhine
Schelde
Honte
Vlie Boorne
Middelzee
Hunze Fivel
Eems
Schelde
Honte
Schelde
Meuse
Rhine
Vlie
Middelzee
Lauwers
Eems
Honte
Grevelingen
inherited from Early Holocene/Late Pleistocene estuary
newly formed (sea ingression) Tidal inlet systems
