The result of this investigation is an Ironage land use model based on several working levels. Therefore
different geoarchives have been analysed with multifarious methods to get the necessary data to
reconstruct the land use pattern. A work routine based on nine different levels was prepared and
consequently worked out. After a general suitability test of the study area (level I) the analysis of the relief
(level II) gives a first divide in a potential woodland (steep relief) and a potential open landscape (flat relief).
These areas get more differentiated and characterized by the following detailed mapping of the pedological
and sedimentological settings (180 lab. analysed profiles; 200 testholes). Colluvial sediments were localized
and partially quantified. Additional geophysical methods (Ground Penetrating Radar, Refraction Seismic,
Magnetic) complete the mapping (level III) which leads to a more detailed division of woodland (acidic soils
which are low in nutrients) and open land (soils which are rich in nutrients and easy to cultivate / level IV).
Parallel to that a settlement-archaeological database was established (level V). Data on the vegetational
sequence which came from bogs in the immediate study area fill the potential areas of woodland and open
landscape with information (for example tree species, seeds for cultivation, indicators for settlement etc. /
level VI). The chronology within the investigation area is established by sedimentological, pedological and
palynological stratigraphy, archaeological typology, radiocarbon dating of peat and charcoal between and
in the sediments as well as IRSL dating of the sediments itself (level VII). The data are blended and result in
an Ironage land use model (level VIII / IX) which now contains: · Settlement areas · Areas of woodland with
tree species · Agricultural areas and their possible seeds · Potentially agricultural areas or meadowland ·
Areas of bogs during the Ironage · Type and course of streams.
«