Palaeoecological record of natural changes and human impact in a small river valley in Central Poland

Pawłowski, Dominik; Milecka, Krystyna; Kittel, Piotr; Woszczyk, Michał; Spychalski, W.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.06.033

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The increase in human indicators in the palynological record (Fig. 5), along with archaeological studies from the Grabia River valley, have shown human activity from the Neolithic to the present day (Pelisiak 2004;Pawłowski et al 2014). Extensive farming resulted in the erosion of the morainic plateau around the valley, and much fine sediment was supplied to the alluvial channel.…”

Section: Limitations Of Palaeohydrological Reconstructions Based On Fmentioning

confidence: 97%

A reconstruction of the palaeohydrological conditions of a flood‐plain: a multi‐proxy study from the Grabia River valley mire, central Poland

Pawłowski

Kowalewski

Milecka

et al. 2015

Boreas

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This study investigated the Grabia River valley mire in central Poland to reconstruct its palaeoenvironmental conditions from the Younger Dryas to the present. We analysed sedimentological, biological and geochemical data from the palaeo-oxbow lake and valley mire to identify the principal hydrological trends, especially episodes of high water level. During the Lateglacial and Holocene, the Grabia River had a meandering channel, and its hydraulic parameters and the channel dimensions changed in response to climatic oscillations and vegetation development. We identified phases of high flood intensity and high groundwater level that correlate with regional and supraregional climatic events. The frequency and timing of palaeohydroclimatic oscillations show strong similarities to records from other sites in Poland and the rest of Europe. We show that various analytical methods, namely, pollen, plant macrofossils, Cladocera, Chironomidae, sedimentological, geochemical and radiocarbon data, can be effective tools for reconstructing past hydroclimatic changes in palaeo-oxbow lakes and investigating the effects of past climate changes on river environments. The high sensitivity of the biota, especially Cladocera, to changes in water level permits the reconstruction of palaeoecological changes, especially flood episodes that occurred in the river valley. In particular, the increase in the proportion of sediment-associated Cladocera and pelagic taxa was closely correlated with floods. Through comparisons with the palaeobiological data, geochemical data allowed the identification of humid phases within the fen associated with a rising groundwater table, direct fluvial activity (floods) and alluvial deposition. We also discuss the limitations of palaeohydrological reconstructions based on these proxies, especially on fossil aquatic invertebrates.

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Section: Limitations Of Palaeohydrological Reconstructions Based On Fmentioning

confidence: 97%

A reconstruction of the palaeohydrological conditions of a flood‐plain: a multi‐proxy study from the Grabia River valley mire, central Poland

Pawłowski

Kowalewski

Milecka

et al. 2015

Boreas

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“…Such processes have been observed in central Poland valley mires (Pawłowski et al . , b). This is also evident in Wilczków by the appearance (X 1 and X 2 wet stages) and disappearance (Y 1 and Y 2 – dry stages) of Cladocera.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fen ecosystem responses to water‐level fluctuations during the early and middle Holocene in central Europe: a case study from Wilczków, Poland

Płóciennik

Kruk

Forysiak

et al. 2015

Boreas

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This paper presents a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Wilczków fen (central Poland). The fen developed in an inactive valley at the onset of the Holocene (~11 ka BP) and peat accumulation lasted until 5.7 ka BP. Multi‐proxy reconstructions were made on the basis of palaeobotanical, cladoceran, chironomid, beetle and geochemical analyses. A Kohonen self‐organizing map (SOM, unsupervised artificial neural network) of the biotic sequence distinguished four stages of fen history. Stage X1 (11.0–10.7 ka BP) was relatively wet and cool. Organic matter started to accumulate but the habitat conditions remained unstable. Moss, sedge and fern communities then developed. Sedimentary changes reveal an intensive groundwater supply at that time. Numerous and diverse chironomid and cladoceran subfossils indicate nearly permanent aquatic conditions. During stage Y1 (10.6–9.2 ka BP) conditions were dry and the upper peat layer desiccated. Cladocera nearly disappeared whereas chironomids were represented by semi‐terrestrial and predatory (Tanypodinae) species. Conditions started to be more reducing. All the remaining samples belonged to the interweaving stages X2 and Y2. Stage Y2 (mostly 9.1–7.3 and 6.0–5.7 ka BP) was also dry but humidity increased towards the top. Oxidizing conditions occurred and the pH became more alkaline, favouring Cladium mariscus. The basin received mostly allochthonous matter input at that time. Stage X2 (mostly 6.8–6.1 ka BP) was humid and warm. The groundwater supply remained low but there was an increase in precipitation, changing local conditions to ombrotrophic. Species‐rich chironomid and cladoceran communities were associated with temporary pools. Finally, conditions returned to those characteristic of stage Y2. The presented reconstruction documents long‐term abiotic and biotic changes determined by water supply, including groundwater outflow, which have rarely been detected at a multi‐proxy scale. We show that inactivated valley fens are sensitive to climate‐driven hydrological fluctuations. Kohonen neural networks appear to be a promising method for analysing variability in multi‐proxy data.

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“…In Central Poland, evidence of water‐logging of valley floors resulting from human occupation in historical times was found in the Bzura River valley near Łęczyca (Forysiak et al., ; Krzemiński, ), the Warta valley in Ląd (Bartkowski, ), and in the lower Moszczenica valley (Kamiński, ). The accumulation of sandy loams in the historical period has been described in the Luciąża River in Rozprza (Goździk, ; Wachecka‐Kotkowska, ), the lower Moszczenica River (Kamiński, ), the Linda River near Ozorków (Marosik, ), the Dobrzynka River (Kittel, ), the Ner River near Lutomiersk (Kittel et al., , Kittel, ), and in the Grabia River (Pawłowski, Milecka, Kittel, Woszczyk, & Spychalski, ).…”

Section: Previous Alluvial Research In Central Polandmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Late Medieval motte‐and‐bailey settlement in a lowland river valley landscape of Central Poland

Kittel

Sikora

Wroniecki³

2018

Geoarchaeology

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The Rozprza motte‐and‐bailey residence in Central Poland was inhabited from the third decade of the 14th century up to the 15th century A.D. and functioned as a seat of a noble family. It was situated in the place occupied previously by an Early Medieval open settlement and a later ring‐fort. The motte was constructed on the river terrace remnant adjoining a strongly expanding flood plain in the central part of the mid‐Luciąża River valley. The immediate surroundings of the stronghold were studied by means of archaeological excavations, detailed geological mapping (hand‐auger transects and trenching), and large‐scale aerial photography, as well as geochemical and geophysical (magnetic gradiometry and soil electrical resistance) prospection. All the results have been integrated within a GIS and supported by a set of 14C dates that allow for a detailed geomorphological reconstruction of the stronghold situation, including former river patterns, the local flood plain development, and the history of the Medieval fortress site with its moats. Our research provides insights into the late Holocene evolution of a small river valley and confirms the favorable conditions for the location of the motte on a terrace remnant protected by the system of moats and surrounding paleochannels and swampy areas within the valley floor.

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Palaeoecological record of natural changes and human impact in a small river valley in Central Poland

Cited by 33 publications

References 53 publications

A reconstruction of the palaeohydrological conditions of a flood‐plain: a multi‐proxy study from the Grabia River valley mire, central Poland

A reconstruction of the palaeohydrological conditions of a flood‐plain: a multi‐proxy study from the Grabia River valley mire, central Poland

Fen ecosystem responses to water‐level fluctuations during the early and middle Holocene in central Europe: a case study from Wilczków, Poland

A Late Medieval motte‐and‐bailey settlement in a lowland river valley landscape of Central Poland

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