Address:
Eberhard Karls University Tübingen
Soil Science and Geomorphology
Rümelinstraße 19-23
D-72070 Tübingen
Office: Room H 321, Hauptbau
Tel.: +49(0)7071-29-77-533
Consulting hours:
By arrangement
Research Topics:
- Soils
- Archaeopedology
- Bioturbation
- Soil Substrates
- Semi-arid regions
Regional Interests:
- Oman
- Yemen, Socotra Island
- Ethiopia
- Middle Russian steppe
- Swabian Alb
CV:
*21.03.1973 in Leipzig, Germany
1993-1996 | Study of German Language and Literature, and Ethnology, University of Leipzig |
1996-2001 | Study of Geography, and Ethnology, University of Leipzig |
2001 | Diploma: Substrat- und pedogenetische Differenzierungen zur Bewertung agrarischer Eignungsräume im südjemenitischen Hochland - Substrate-related and pedogentical differentiations to evaluate the agrarian suitability of the South-Yemen Highlands |
2002-2006 | Researcher, Department of Geography, University of Marburg |
2006 | PhD: Böden der Trockentropen. Prozess- und Strukturindikatoren-gestützte Analyse geschichteter, polygenetischer und degradierter Böden der Insel Socotra (Jemen) – Soils of the dry Tropics. Process- and structure-based analysis of layered, polygenetic and degraded soils on the Island of Socotra (Yemen) |
2007-2013 | Researcher, Geographical Institute, University of Tuebingen |
2014 - 2017 | Project manager UNESCO Global GeoPark Swabian Alb e.V. |
2016- 2017 | Coordinator of the German Congress of Geography [Link, s. Koordinatorin DKG 2017] |
10/2017-present | Staff member of the Asylum centre Tübingen e.V. [Link] |
11/2023-10/2024 | Researcher, Geographical Institute, University of Tuebingen |
Current Project: UmWeltWandel
Environmental changes and the way of life in Central Oman in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC [Link]
Previous Projects:
Soil degradation and soil monitoring on Socotra Island (since 2007 Friends of Soqotra)
Upper Palaeolithic environment in Kostienki and Borshevo, Russia (2011-2013 DFG PI 452/4-1, self-financed)
Pre-Aksumite environment of Northern Tigray, Ethiopia (2010-2013 DAI cluster research)
Ancient oases of Yemen: Ma’rib and Sirwah (2007 Young scientist-sponsorship by Tübingen University, 2008 DFG PI 452/2, DAI cluster research)
Correlating soil classification systems (2008 BGR Hannover)
Memberships:
Conferences and meetings (2002-2024):
Publications
Peer-reviewed articles:
Schmidt, C., Beuzen-Waller, T., Pietsch, D., Proctor, L., Schmitt, K.E., Schöne, B.R., Unkelbach, J., Reinhardt, A. and Lindauer, S. (2025). A Multi-Proxy Investigation of the Anthropogenic Landscape Near the Early Bronze Age Building VII at Al-Khashbah, Oman. Open Quaternary, 11: 1, pp. 1–24. doi: 10.5334/oq.153
Schmitt, K. E., Beuzen-Waller, T., Schmidt, C., Proctor, L., Lindauer, S., Gey, C. J., Pietsch, D. and Schöne, B. R. (2024). Melanoides tuberculata and Zootecus insularis gastropod shells provide a snapshot into past hydroclimatic conditions of arid environments: New perspectives from Oman. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 655, 112542. p. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112542
Fritzsch, D., Kühn, P., Pietsch, D., Röpke, A., Scholten, T., Thiemeyer, H. (2022): Böden und Bodenbildung. In C. Stolz & C. E. Miller (Hrsg.), Geoarchäologie (S. 217–238). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-62774-7_12
Megerle, H.; Pietsch, D. (2019): Geotopschutz als Stiefkind des Naturschutzes. Geoparks im Spannungsfeld von Schutz und Nutzung. In: Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 51(4): 174–182.
Megerle, H.; Pietsch, D. (2017): Consequences of overlapping territories between large scale protection areas and Geoparks in Germany: Opportunities and risks for geoheritage and geotourism. Annales de Géographie 717: 598 – 624. doi: 10.3917/ag.717.0598
Megerle, H.; Pietsch, D. (2017): Chancen und Herausforderungen für Geotourismus, Geotopschutz und Geodidaktik am Beispiel des UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb. Geographische Rundschau, 10, S. 26-31.
Pietsch D., Kühn P. (2017): Buried soils in the context of geoarchaeological research - two examples from Germany and Ethiopia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 9(8), 1571–1583. doi: 10.1007/s12520-014-0180-9
Pietsch, D., Kühn, P., Lisitsyn, S., Markova, A., Sinitsyn, A. (2014): Krotovinas, pedogenic processes and stratigraphic ambiguities of the Upper Palaeolithic sites Kostenki and Borshchevo (Russia). Special Issue "Human dimensions of Quaternary palaeoenvironments". Quaternary International 324, 172-197. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2013.05.036
Pietsch, D., Kühn, P., Morris, M. (2013): Mubaraks's Garden. Land improvement in a dry tropical coastal environment in the Arabian Sea. Journal of Landscape Ecology 6, 109-123. doi: 10.2478/jlecol-2014-0006
Kühn, P., Pietsch, D. (2013): Soil micromorphogenesis and Early Holocene palaeoclimate at the desert margin of Southern Arabia. Spanish Journal of Soil Science 3(2): 59-77. doi: 10.3232/SJSS.2013.V3.N2.04
Pietsch, D., Schenk, K., Japp, S., Schnelle, M. (2013): Standardised recording of sediments in the excavation of the Sabaean town of Sirwah, Yemen. Journal of Archaeological Science 40(5): 2430–2445. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.12.037.
Pietsch, D. (2013): Krotovinas – soil archives of steppe landscape history. Catena 104: 257–264. doi: 10.1016/j.catena.2012.12.003
Pietsch, D., Kühn, P. (2012): Early Holocene paleosols at the southwestern Ramlat As-Sab’atayn desert margin: new climate proxies for Southern Arabia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 365-366: 154–165. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.09.023
Pietsch, D., Machdo, J.M. (2012): Colluvial deposits - proxies for climate change and cultural chronology. A case study from Tigray, Ethiopia. Zeitschrift für Geomorphology – Annals of Geomorphology. Special Issue ‘Geomorphological Systems’. doi:10.1127/0372-8854/2012/S-00114
Pietsch, D., Mabit, L. (2012): Terrace soils in the Yemen Highlands: Using physical, chemical and radiometric data to assess their suitability for agriculture and their vulnerability to degradation. Geoderma: 185-186: 48–60. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.03.027
Pietsch, D., Kühn, P., Scholten, T., Brunner, U., Hitgen, H., Gerlach I. (2010): Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: further Sabaean treasures? The Holocene 20: 785-799. doi:10.1177/0959683610362814
Kühn, P., Pietsch, D., Gerlach, I. (2010): Archaeopedological analyses around a Neolithic hearth and the beginning of Sabaean irrigation in the oasis of Ma'rib (Ramlat as-Sab'atayn, Yemen). Journal of Archaeological Science 37:1305-1310. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.12.033
Pietsch, D., Morris, M. (2010): Ancient and modern knowledge of conserving soils on Socotra Island, Yemen. In: Land Degradation and Desertification: Assessment, Mitigation and Remediation, Eds. Zdruli, P., Pagliai, M., Kapur, S., Faz Cano, A.. Springer Books, pp. 375-386.
Pietsch, D., Kühn, P. (2009): Soil developmental stages of layered Cambisols and Calcisols on Socotra Island, Yemen. Soil Science 174/5: 292–302. doi:10.1097/SS.0b013e3181a396ba
Pietsch, D., Lucke, B. (2008): Soil substrate classification and the FAO and World Reference Base (WRB) systems: examples from Yemen and Jordan. European Journal of Soil Science 59: 824–834. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2389.2008.01017.x
Monographs, translations:
Pietsch, D. (2006): Böden der Trockentropen. Prozess- und Strukturindikatoren-gestützte Analyse geschichteter, polygenetischer und degradierter Böden der Insel Socotra (Jemen). Jemen-Studien 17, Wiesbaden. ISBN 978-3-89500-551
Pietsch, D. (2007): Socotra Final Soil Report. Part 1. Homhil Basin, Hadiboh Coastal Plain, Wadi Ayhaft. Tübingen. ISBN 978-3-00-022830-8
Strahler, A., Strahler, A. (2009): Physische Geographie. Neuübersetzung und Bearbeitung der „Introduction to Physical Geography“ (2006, 4. Auflage) durch E. Eberhardt, P. Kühn, D. Pietsch und Th. Scholten, unter Berücksichtigung der 3., korrigierten Auflage der deutschen Ausgabe von F. Ahnert, Ulmer UTB, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-8252-8159-5