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

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. K E Y W O R D S anthropogenic relief features, charcoal kilns, charcoal pits, digital mapping, pre-industrial charcoal production platforms 1 | INTRODUCTION The study of relict charcoal hearths (RCHs), also referred to as charcoal kiln sites, is an emerging topic in environmental sciences and archaeology. The charcoal/biochar enriched substrate found in these sites not only affects carbon sequestration in soils (Kerré, Bravo, Leifeld, Cornelissen, &

A modified Mask region‐based convolutional neural network approach for the automated detection of archaeological sites on high‐resolution light detection and ranging‐derived digital elevation models in the North German Lowland

“…In flat terrain, RCHs are generally circular in shape, with a wide range of diameters (up to 30 m and averaging 12 m), are elevated several decimetres above the earth's surface and are often surrounded by a shallow circular ditch or multiple small pits (Hirsch et al, 2020). These morphological properties are favourable for detecting RCHs on LiDAR-based digital elevation model (DEM) visualizations because the circular elevation (positive feature) and the ditch (negative feature) form a strong visual contrast.…”

Anthropogenic Landforms Derived from LiDAR Data in the Woodlands near Kotlarnia (Koźle Basin, Poland)

“…Forests growing on the banks of the Ruda and Bierawka Rivers played a similar role as a raw material base for manufacturing and even for the energy and chemical industries. The studies conducted in Germany demonstrated morphological variation between charcoal pile bases (e.g., [ 44 ]). Charcoal piles surrounded by ditches have been described in Greater Poland [ 45 ], and similar structures have been found in Brandenburg [ 46 ].…”

Implementing State-of-the-Art Deep Learning Approaches for Archaeological Object Detection in Remotely-Sensed Data: The Results of Cross-Domain Collaboration

“…This greatly increases the number of examples in the dataset and allows for easier detection, since a single plot is generally rectangular, while the shape of the entire field often is not (see . Charcoal kilns are circular platforms or mounds surrounded by a shallow ditch or circle of pits, used for the production of charcoal by heating wood at a specific temperature, while covered with soil (Hirsch et al 2020). Charcoal kilns found on the Veluwe are on average 14 m in diameter (Verschoof-van der Vaart in press), and are often found in groups or rows along forest paths.…”