An initiative for a morphologic-genetic catalog of relict charcoal hearths from Central Europe

Florian Hirsch, Anna Schneider, Alexander Bonhage, Alexandra Raab, Patrick J. Drohan, Thomas Raab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The increasing availability of high-resolution topographic data, coupled with image analysis and machine learning techniques, is rapidly changing the way archaeological sites are digitally identified and mapped. We present a catalog of common forms of relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) in Central Europe to improve the evaluation of morphologic and genetic features in future mapping approaches. RCHs are important historical landscape features created from the production of charcoal. RCHs are noted in Central Europe from the Medieval Period, but also are widespread near (pre-)industrial mining centers. Different forms of charcoal hearths were created by workers known as colliers, and their hearth building techniques may have differed on a regional scale. Our catalog is based on a morphologic–genetic grouping of RCHs. Due to topographic effects, reuse of production sites, or local techniques, this catalog is nonexhaustive, but most RCHs in Central Europe can be grouped into one of seven types.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)974-983
Number of pages10
JournalGeoarchaeology
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Archaeology
  • Archaeology
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An initiative for a morphologic-genetic catalog of relict charcoal hearths from Central Europe'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this