Investigation of Holocene blown-sand movement based on archaeological findings and OSL dating, Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary

Abstract

The largest blown-sand area of Hungary is located on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. Here the most significant aeolian activity took place in the Pleistocene, however the aeolian rework of the forms occurred also in the Holocene and even during historical times. The aims of the research were : (1) to map the geomorphology of the study area at the eastern border of the interfluve (2) to determine the periods of sand remobilisation during historical times (3) to identify the possible types of human activities enabling aeolian activity. In order to determine the exact time of blown-sand movement OSL measurements were applied. Maps (scale 1:10,000) were made in order to analyze the geomorphological setting of the area and to represent the spatial distribution of archaeological findings. Based on the results, the studied sand dune area was occupied mainly by groups grazing large livestock. The archaeology of the territory reflects that settlements were primarily established in the border zone of dry dunes and wet, marshy interdune areas. Animal breeders with large populations meant an intensive burden on the environment and the chance for over-grazing increased during their inhabitance. For these reasons, aeolian activity reoccurred several times on the territory: at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (1400-800 y BC), in the Sarmatian period (100-500 y AD), during the realm of the Avars (500-900 y AD) and when the Cumanians inhabited the region (1200-1500 y AD).

Environmental Changes in Historical Times Near Apostag on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary (A Complex Research Based on Archaeological Excavation and Geomorphological Investigations)

“…Based on archaeological investigations and OSL measurements on the Danube-Tisza Interfluve aeolian activity occured in the Bronze Age (Gábris, 2003;Újházy et al, 2003;Nyári and Kiss, 2005a, b;Nyári et al, 2006, 2007a andSipos et al, 2006), then the surface became stable for a long period, until the 3 rd -4 th centuries AD. As later the climate turned dry (Rácz, 2006;Persaits et al, 2008) and the anthropogenic disturbance became more significant conditions became suitable for aeolian activity, which is proved by several researchers (Lóki and Schweitzer, 2001; Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007aSipos et al, 2006). Sand movement was also characteristic in the Migration Period, especially during the 6 th -8 th century AD, which was the realm of the Avars (Nyári and Kiss, 2005a,b;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007aSipos et al, 2006) Subsequent aeolian activity occurred also in the Árpád Age (11 th -13 th c. AD, Lóki and Schweitzer, 2001;Gábris, 2003;Újházy et al, 2003; and when the Cumanians inhabited the territory (13 th c. AD, Sümegi, 2001;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007a.…”

“…As later the climate turned dry (Rácz, 2006;Persaits et al, 2008) and the anthropogenic disturbance became more significant conditions became suitable for aeolian activity, which is proved by several researchers (Lóki and Schweitzer, 2001; Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007aSipos et al, 2006). Sand movement was also characteristic in the Migration Period, especially during the 6 th -8 th century AD, which was the realm of the Avars (Nyári and Kiss, 2005a,b;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007aSipos et al, 2006) Subsequent aeolian activity occurred also in the Árpád Age (11 th -13 th c. AD, Lóki and Schweitzer, 2001;Gábris, 2003;Újházy et al, 2003; and when the Cumanians inhabited the territory (13 th c. AD, Sümegi, 2001;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007a. The latest aeolian activity occurred in the 15 th century AD (Nyári et al, 2007a).…”

“…Sand movement was also characteristic in the Migration Period, especially during the 6 th -8 th century AD, which was the realm of the Avars (Nyári and Kiss, 2005a,b;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007aSipos et al, 2006) Subsequent aeolian activity occurred also in the Árpád Age (11 th -13 th c. AD, Lóki and Schweitzer, 2001;Gábris, 2003;Újházy et al, 2003; and when the Cumanians inhabited the territory (13 th c. AD, Sümegi, 2001;Kiss et al, 2006;Nyári et al, , 2007a. The latest aeolian activity occurred in the 15 th century AD (Nyári et al, 2007a). …”

Luminescence dating of periods of sand movement from the Gödöllő Hills, Hungary

“…A Multiple Aliquot Additive Dose (MAAD) protocol was used for the IRSL dating approach, supplemented by radiocarbon dating of charcoals. More recently, sand-dunes from the middle and southern part of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve and from the southern part of the Nyírség were investigated using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of quartz grains and radiocarbon dating (Nyári et al, 2007;Kiss et al, 2008). The latter studies were focused on historical periods of aeolian sand activity.…”

Introduction to the Journal of Maps Student Edition

“…A multidisciplinary study is presented by Nyári et al (2007) Geomorphological mapping, archaeological evidence and sedimentological dating techniques were utilised to assess aeolian sediment activity during historical times. The spatial distribution of the findings enabled the reconstruction of the type, intensity and the results of human impact on the palaeo-environment.…”