Archaeologia Polona Vol. 49 (2011-2013)

il. ; 24 cm

This paper presents the results of multidisciplinary research on Neo-Holocene alluvial and colluvial sediment covers undertaken in the Ner River basin in central Poland. This research environmental archaeology has been undertaken as part of archaeological investigations at the sites of Szynkielew, Lutomiersk-Koziówki and Wierzbowa. Overbank sands and silts cut by episodic channels filled with alluvium have been recognized in the Dobrzynka River valley at the Szynkielew site. These sediments most probably accumulated in the 12th century AD after the area became a property of the chapter of the Kraków bishop. An episodic channel at Lutomiersk-Koziówki site was formed by high flood flow most probably resulting from the draining of a pond between 16th and 19th century AD. At the archaeological settlement complex at Wierzbowa, fossil cultural layers have been uncovered which were deposited within sandy slope wash sediments accumulated on the surface of a valley slope. The initiation of the accumulation of the whole slope cover has been attributed to the period after c. 1900–1750 BC correlating with activity of people of the Trzciniec Culture. Only comprehensive multidisciplinary research can provide the data to correlate the accumulation of such inorganic sediment covers with past human activity. The character of discussed series indicates that the sediments arise from very intensive processes initiated indirectly by human activity as evidenced by their geological context, archaeobotanical content, and absolute chronology

ill. ; 24 cm