Jonas Berking

Improving archaeological site analysis: a rampart in the middle Orkhon Valley investigated with combined geoscience techniques

The Orkhon Valley in the Central Mongolia was included in the World Heritage list in 2004. It hosts multiple archaeological sites from Palaeolithic to recent times, which can contribute to the reconstruction of settlement history in this part of the Eurasian Steppe landscape. Almost 100 archaeological sites from prehistoric and historic times including ramparts and khirigsuurs were investigated in five field campaigns from 2008 to 2010 in the middle and upper Orkhon Valley. One site, MOR-2 (Dorvolzhin), proved especially difficult to date due to the lack of sufficient archaeological surface finds, and its role within a manifold of walled enclosures from different times in the study area remained unclear. Therefore, different techniques of archaeology, geophysics and geoarchaeology were combined at MOR-2 in order to determine a comprehensive picture about its timing, archaeological meaning, and environmental history. Information on topographical setting and morphometry of the rampart was gathered by an octocopter equipped with a high-resolution range finder camera. We achieved a high-resolution DEM that allowed us to map the rampart in detail and this served as a base map for all other investigations. SQUID magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electric resistivity measurements (capacitive coupled geoelectrics) were subsequently used to detect archaeological remains and to characterize the sediment distribution of the inner part of the enclosure and the ramparts themselves. The data show that the construction of the walls is similar to well-known Uighur neighbouring sites. Man-made sub-surface structures or bigger finds could not be detected. Sediment cores were drilled in a nearby meander, covering 3000 years BP. The analysis of the strata in terms of elemental composition (P, N, Mn, Fe, etc) revealed an increase of organic content in Medieval times, whereas the allochthonous filling of the back water must have started around the beginning of the 6th century AD. Using geophysical, archaeological and geological observations, we assume a dating in the Turk/Uighur period (6th–9th century AD) and a re-use under Mongolian reign (12th–17th century AD). This would mean that this site is the furthermost walled structure in the peri-urban area of Khar Balgas. However, the specific usage of this walled enclosure remains unclear and needs further analysis.

A short history of the water and society in the region of Vélez Blanco, East Andalusia

The network of irrigation canals and reservoirs in the Los Vélez region in Southern Spain has existed for centuries and is documented as tangible cultural heritage. But the region’s ‘water culture’ also has an intangible aspect that involves water-related management, conflicts and jurisdiction. This paper traces the water-related history of the city and region of Vélez Blanco from the Muslim period through the medieval era and later centuries until today, and embeds it in the development of legal history and the jurisdiction of water issues. We conclude with a reference to the twenty-first century and the value of historical and archival sources, as well as an appeal to found a museum and add the region to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Heavy Rainfalls in a Desert(Ed) City: A Climate‐Archaeological Case Study From Sudan

Climates, Landsca Geophysical Mon

The Berlin 2014 Water Management Workshop

In February 2014, the Cluster of Excellence Topoi organized a workshop on ancient water management at their home institution the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Already months before the workshop, it was a pleasure to learn, that Springer’s Water History would be ready to publish any good outcomes in a special issue and moreover that Maurits Ertsen would show up to give the initial talk. The topics of the workshop were—historically and geographically—wide spread, ranging from the earliest riverine states to medieval societies and from Latin America to Central-East Asia. Nevertheless, a clear focus on Mediterranean landscapes and the classic antique societies prevailed. This focus is explained by the attending scientific community and range of disciplines that framed this workshop. This community was composed of disciplines as different as Engineering, Legal Studies, History, Ethnology, Geology, Geography and Archaeology. The workshop benefitted from a well-selected, compact small participating group, with a series of shorter talks and, plenary talks allowing more time for discussions between all. A bit contrary to the good presentations and positive feedbacks during and after the workshop are the accepted papers that have made it into this volume of Water History, which only total two. The first paper by Delphine Driaux discusses water supply of ancient Egyptian settlements, with particular attention of the role of the state. Through her overview of a one specific scheme in the Old to New Kingdom (ca. 2543–1077 BC), Driaux proves to be a good example of an Egyptologist, who really shows that with a different perspective on ancient Egyptian societies, new and interesting research results can be achieved. In the second paper presenting a history of water and society in the region of Vélez Blanco, East Andalusia, a group of authors consisting of Dietmar Roth, Brian Beckers, Jonas Berking, Sarah Isselhorst and Brigitta Schütt present the long time depth of