In this DFG project we focus on direct push sensing with case studies at Pestenacker (UNESCO-World Heritage Site) and Charlemagne's canal, the Fossa Carolina. Direct push sensing represents a set of tools for performing subsurface record by pushing small-diameter, hollow steel rods with different probes into the ground. This technique is mostly applicable in unconsolidated sediments that are typically less than 30 m below the surface. Thus, continuous in situ measurements provide high-resolution vertical data logs up to a depth-accurate resolution in the cm-scale. We aim to evaluate the potential of direct push sensing in wetland (geo)archaeology. We focus on depth-accurate recording of buried archaeological structures and on the high-resolution detection of different facies types in wetlands. Within an integrated multidisciplinary approach, minimally invasive direct push techniques are combined with a large set of geophysical and (geo)archaeological methods. Direct push techniques are applied in three different spatial dimensions: a) medium-scale detection of the lateral extents of archaeological sites, b) small-scale detection of wetland stratigraphies including their depth-accurately vertical dimension, and c) high-resolution microscale reconstruction of archaeological features. 

Kooperationspartner: Physische Geographie Uni Leipzig, Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) Leipzig, Leibniz-Institut für Photonische Technologien (IPHT) Jena, Ur- und Frühgeschichte Universität Jena

Ansprechpartner in der Archäologie des Mittelalters ist Lukas Werther.

Ergebnisse finden sich zum Nachlesen in
J. Hausmann/C. Zielhofer/L. Werther/S. Berg-Hobohm/P.Dietrich/R. Heymann/U. Werban, Direct push sensing in wetland (geo)archaeology: High-resolution reconstruction of buried canal structures (Fossa Carolina, Germany). Quaternary International 473, 2018, 21-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2017.02.008.

A. Köhler/A. Wanger O’Neill/J. Rabiger-Völlmer/F. Herzig/B. Schneider/S. Nebe/U. Werban/ M. Pohle/M. Kreck/P. Dietrich/L. Werther/D. Gronenborn/S. Berg/C. Zielhofer, Compilation of different data sets of the Late Neolithic wetland site of Pestenacker and of the adjacent valley depositions. Data in Brief 43, 2022, 108481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108481

A. Köhler/A. Wanger-O`Neill/J. Rabiger-Völlmer/F. Herzig/B. Schneider/S. Nebel/U. Werban/M. Pohle/M. Kreck/P. Dietrich/L. Werther/D. Gronenborn/S. Berg/C. Zielhofer, A hydrological tipping point and onset of Neolithic wetland occupation in Pestenacker (Lech catchment, S Germany). Quaternary Science Reviews 278, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107370

J. Rabiger-Völlmer/J. Schmidt/U. Werban/P. Dietrich/L. Werther/S. Berg/A. Stele/B. Schneider/H. von Suchodoletz/S. Lindauer/S. Linzen/R. Stolz/D. Wilken/P. Ettel/C. Zielhofer, High-resolution direct push sensing in wetland geoarchaeology – first traces of off-site construction activities at the Fossa Carolina. Remote Sensing 13, 2021, 4647. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13224647

J. Völlmer/J. Schmidt/L. Werther/S. Berg/S. Linzen/M. Schneider/U. Werban/P. Dietrich/D. Wilken/T. Wunderlich/A. Fediuk/C. Zielhofer, Non-invasive prospection techniques and direct push sensing as high-resolution validation tools in geoarchaeology – Artificial water supply at a Carolingian canal in South Germany? Journal of Applied Geophysics 173, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103928

J. Völlmer/C. Zielhofer/J. Hausmann/P. Dietrich/U. Werban/J. Schmidt/L. Werther/S. Berg, Minimalinvasive Direct-push-Erkundung in der Feuchtboden(geo)archäologie am Beispiel des Karlsgrabens (Fossa Carolina). Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 48,4, 2018, 577-593.