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Chernozems/Phaeozems are important agricultural resources and have been intensively used for millennia. However, their origin and age are still controversial. In Europe, the westernmost widespread Chernozem/Phaeozem area is located in Central Germany. In contrast to other German regions with anthropogenic Chernozems/Phaeozems, their natural origin is suggested in connection with intensive bioturbation. Yet, radiocarbon is unsuitable for decoding Chernozem/Phaeozem formation so this hypothesis remains untested, whereas single-grain luminescence dating allows to discriminate between different soil sub-processes and formation phases. We applied single-grain feldspar luminescence to a Central German Chernozem that was buried during the Bronze Age and subsequently protected from pedogenic processes. For the first time, we could directly determine timing and rate of Chernozem/Phaeozem formation in Central Europe by dating bioturbation as the dominant soil forming process. Accordingly, Chernozem/Phaeozem formation started at the latest in the Early Holocene prior to Neolithic settlement indicating a natural origin of Central German Chernozems/Phaeozems, and Chernozem/Phaeozem formation ceased around 6–5 ka when the regional climate became more humid. Our effective soil reworking rates show that earthworm bioturbation in Chernozems/Phaeozems is more intense than ant-dominated bioturbation, but significantly less intense than bioturbation by lugworms or ploughing. The latter effect allows to identify prehistoric ploughing in paleosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateglacial buried soil horizons, which occur widely in sandy aeolian sequences of northern central Europe, were analysed in order to evaluate their regional pedostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental potential. Data on stratigraphy, sedimentology, pedology, geochronology and palaeobotany from 29 palaeosol-bearing profiles at terrestrial sites are presented. Greyish Ahb and Eb horizons occur, as well as brownish Bwb and BwAhb horizons. They are 5–30 cm thick, showing similar pedological properties except colour, and they frequently bear charcoal typically from pine. Soil classification results in Albic Arenosols (Dystric) and Brunic Arenosols (Dystric) representing palaeosols of the Usselo and Finow types, respectively. Radiocarbon dating of the palaeosols reveals a dominance of Allerød ages followed by Younger Dryas and Preboreal ages. Most luminescence ages on overlying aeolian sands date into the Allerød–Younger Dryas interval. Mapping of all Usselo and Finow soil occurrences ( n=96) in northern central Europe known so far reveals a nearly closed Finow soil province between Usselo soil areas in NW Germany and central Poland, mainly situated in NE Germany. Most Usselo soils compiled contain charcoal, indicating widespread and repeated fires. Recent claims that the Usselo soil represents an event layer from rapid aeolian sedimentation caused by an extraterrestrial impact is rejected. Instead, both Usselo and Finow soils can be assumed to be pedostratigraphical marker horizons in northern central Europe and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]