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Objective classification of settlement deposits is a prerequisite for understanding human-environment interactions at habitation sites. This paper presents a novel approach combining a relatively fine-scale sampling strategy, a multimethod geoarchaeological investigation of cores and multivariate statistics to aid in the classification and interpretation of complex and intricately stratified archaeological deposits. Heterogeneous settlement deposits, buried soils, colluvial, fluvial, and fluvioglacial sediments from cores retrieved in the Viking settlement Hedeby were investigated using six cost-effectively measurable geoecological parameters: loss on ignition at 550°C, magnetic susceptibility, contents of stones, artifacts, bones, and charcoal with wood. Principal component analysis allowed identifying variables that would sufficiently describe data and cluster analysis enabled the classification of the materials. As a result, 13 classes were distinguished with a detailed and reliable differentiation of materials of natural and cultural genesis. Based on spatial distribution patterns of the classes, hypotheses regarding land use in the adjacent areas were made: Waste disposal in the valley of Hedeby-brook and metallurgic activities north of it. This approach is valuable for coring-based research at settlements, in particular at tightly managed heritage sites, and for surveys to identify potential excavation sites, whereas the set of variables must be adjusted according to local conditions.

Local landforms described by signs of curvatures can be considered as potential indicators of gully formation. However, the role of these landforms is not generally investigated in literature. Hence, the goals of the present research are: (i) identification of the relationships of land surface attributes at the head and end points of gullies with the size of these gullies, at different grid spacings of a digital elevation model (DEM); (ii) explanation of the frequency of occurrence (FO) of local landforms. Investigations were conducted on the example of 439 gullies of the Hronska pahorkatina Hill Land in Slovakia. The sizes of the gullies were described by their area and perimeter. Altitude, slope steepness, maximal catchment area (MCA) and curvatures were calculated at the head and end points of these gullies. 12 types of main local landforms (MLLFs) were identified by the signs of six curvatures. For calculation of land surface attributes, a set of DEMs with grid spacings at every 10 m interval from 10 m to 100 m was prepared. At the head points of gullies, significant Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rs) show that MCA and curvatures related with gully size at DEM grid spacings from 10 m to 30 m. At the end points, such relationships are observed at all grid spacings. A negative rs between gully size and slope steepness is obtained. At the head points, it is demonstrated that the large gullies reached more flat locations in comparison with small gullies. At the end points, negative rs indicates that large gullies are characterized by flatter outlets in comparison with small gullies. The FO of MLLFs at the head and end points of gullies – relative to their frequency for the whole DEM – indicate that only four types of MLLF are systematically related to gully occurrence.

F.H. Maier one of the best agricultural managers and agronomists of his time. He can be considered as the founder of steppe forestry in the world. A life majority he worked as the managing director in Shatilov’s manor «Mohovoe» where gained the All-Russian popularity. During lifetime, his portrait was placed in the conference hall of Imperial Moscow Society of Agriculture; three volumes of collected works were published. The main achievements of F.H. Maier in various areas, with the purpose to acquaint and awaken interest for history of Russian agriculture are presented in article.

This article focuses on features of spatial distribution of colluvial (slope) deposits on a micro scale. These features were detected by the non-parametric rank correlation of Spearman (rS) between thickness of colluvial layers and morphometric variables (MVs) of the modern land surface. The strongest correlation was found between total thickness of colluvial layers and maximal catchment area (rS = 0.85). A negative correlation was observed between thicknesses of younger and older colluvial layers. Additionally, if young colluvial layers have a negative correlation with slope steepness (GA), relatively old buried colluvial layers have a positive correlation with GA. These facts indicate an inversion of the zones of actual matter accumulation due to transformation of the land surface in profile during long-term sedimentation. Vertical curvature (kv) characterises acceleration and deceleration of surface flow caused by the shape of the slope profile along flow lines. Based on this, it was expected that kv would have a direct impact on the accumulation of colluvium. However, in this study, the correlations between the thickness of colluvial deposits and kv were low. Functional relationships between colluvial accumulation and the shape of profiles along flow lines were reflected by correlations with GA. Based on these observations, it is assumed that the regional nature of surface flow velocity affects the shift between existing accumulation zones reflected by colluvial deposits and potential accumulation zones reflected by MVs. Signs of correlation coefficients between the thickness of colluvial deposits and curvatures reflect the tendency of increased colluvial depositions at three out of 12 local landforms of Shary's classification. These landforms are located in the valley bottom. The mean thickness of colluvial deposits at these three landforms was 167 ± 18.7 cm (error range = standard deviation); the other nine landforms show a mean thickness of 130.1 ± 34.1 cm.

Some morphometric variables store information about past land surfaces longer than others. This property of morphometric variables is recognised as land surface memory. Slope deposits, soils, and vegetation also have this memory. In this study, a memory effect was quantitatively detected by Spearman correlations between thickness of colluvium and morphometric variables of the modern land surface. During long-term sedimentation, the sign of horizontal curvature (kh) may be inverted from minus to plus, suggesting that locations with positive kh values are not accumulation zones. However, the thickness of colluvial deposits at such locations in our study area indicates sediment accumulation. The sign of minimal curvature (kmin) tends to be more stable and remains negative. This difference provides the stronger correlation of colluvial layer thickness with kmin than with kh. The strongest correlation was found for total thickness of the colluvial deposits of the Neolithic and Iron Age with kmin (− 0.84); the correlation with kh was weaker (− 0.71).

On a straight slope within the lake catchment of Kleiner Tornowsee (Brandenburg, Germany) a sequence of slope sediments has been deposited during the Late Glacial, the Early Holocene and around cal 4.2 ka before today, 800, 500 and 300 years ago. The chronology is based on 21 radiocarbon dates and 11 OSL dates and a deposition model including the numerical data as well as stratigraphic information has been calculated with OxCal 4.1. A comparison of the woody taxa of charcoal particles (n = 566) embedded within the sediments with the known regional vegetation history confirmed the reliability of the dates. According to the age, volume and distribution the deposition of the Early Holocene sediments at ca. 10.3 kyrs, ca. 9.5 kyrs and ca. 8.2 to 7.7 kyrs before today strongly suggests an influence of known climatic deteriorations phases on geomorphologic processes. Cold and dry climatic conditions probably promoted wildfires in Pinus dominated forests and therefore triggered the observed repeated slope instability. In consequence, mid-latitude slope deposits provide a potential to reconstruct the geomorphological response to climatic events at a high spatial resolution. In contrast, the recorded Mid to Late Holocene soil erosion phases on the slope have been triggered by land-use activities. Apart from traditional environmental archives slope deposits provide valuable information about the vegetation and climate history.

The idea of open landscapes around prehistoric burial mounds is founded on their topographical position and findings of plaggen clots within the hills at some sites. We have investigated the surroundings of four Bronze Age burial mounds at Bornhöved (northern Germany) to test whether this assumed landscape openness enabled soil erosion and colluviation or not. The soils and colluvia within a watershed below the burial mounds were investigated in six large exposures and additional auger cores. The chronology is based on 21 AMS-radiocarbon dates, complemented by charcoal analysis and the content of selected heavy metals in the sediments. Colluvia were deposited in the Late Neolithic (~2500—2200 cal. BC), Roman Emperor Times (~ 250—400 cal. AD), Mediaeval Times (~ AD 600—1400) and Modern Times (~ AD 1800—2000). Our findings indicate that the soil surfaces were protected against soil erosion during the phase of Bronze Age funeral use (~ cal. 1800—600 BC). Either the prehistoric gravediggers practised a well suited form of pasturing to keep the scenery open or the surroundings of the burial mounds were forested at the time of funeral use. The results of charcoal analysis reflect the known succession of woody taxa in the region and underline the great potential of anthracology on colluvial layers for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions apart from traditional archives such as lakes or mires. Bulk radiocarbon dating of organic matter overestimated the time of burial of a buried soil as well as the time of deposition of colluvial layers considerably.