Research Project

Location of the drill core samples and the resistivity tomographies in the study area (Overlay of LiDAR-Data and TK50 Rastatt 2007, Blatt L7114; Projektion: UTM 32N, WGS84)

Near Ottersdorf, some anthropogenic linear anomalies on the terrain surface could be found with remote sensing via LiDAR data. This evident dike line near Ottersdorf (Distr. Rastatt) still consists of multiple sections with several repairs and constructions phases until today. Furthermore, the LiDAR data show a broad and powerful dynamic meander directly south of the detected dike line. This old meander correlates with an abandoned Rhine arm, which is recorded in archival sources and therefore leads around the villages of Plittersdorf, Ottersdorf and Wintersdorf on the east, which were situated on the Alsacian side of the Rhine during medieval times. During a flood, the Rhine broke through at Selz in 1306. The shipping east of these villages was stopped in 1472 because the old river arm was dammed due to a tolling conflict. After 1472, this former Rhine arm silted up but can still be recognized in the field. If the course on the LiDAR is identical with the main channel of the Rhine before 1306 and then formed its easternmost arm, the dike must date back before 1472. The repairs of the dike circle around typical scourings, which occurred at dikes when water with much power hit and broke them. This kind of destruction can hardly be expected after the closure of the Rhine arm in 1472.

The analysis of the most eastern, north-south-oriented dike structure, show that the paleo-meander, which accompanies the southern dike, cuts off an even older meander belonging to easternmost part. This geomorphic situation shows that the easternmost dike is probably the oldest. In addition, the LiDAR data show that the areas in the in the eastern riverside of the easternmost dike are more elevated compared to the hinterland. The deposited high flood sediments have led to an aggradation of the fluvial channel and the dike has thus fulfilled its flood protection function. Finally, the LiDAR data also shows that behind these dikes are ridge and furrow structures that partly reach up to the dikes. These field structures suggest that the dikes were aimed to protect agricultural land. Furthermore, in accordance to historical considerations, two dike generations have been identified. Because of repairs of the younger (West/East-Dike) one, the old meander must still have been active at the time the dikes were built.

Geoelectrical Resistivity Tomography over the far east of three dikes near the “Goldgrube” with ground layers and magnetic susceptibility of the drill cores R 1-3 in the central area of the dike.

The Goldgrube is the remnant of an abandoned Rhine meander, which was cut off from the river in the early 15th century. At least the constructions of dikes is mentioned in an archival source from 1419. On a current geomorphological map remnants of dike lines in this area can be confirmed by a LiDAR based DEM (digital elevation model) combined with a field survey. Although these dikes are not recorded on any historical maps, it can be assumed that the dikes are limited to the former “Giessen” due to the location and the course of the river. Functionally, these dikes only make sense as long as the “Goldgrube” and subsequent “Gießen” were still connected to the Rhine. This suggests an installation before the year 1419. This example perfectly shows the mutual strengthening of historical sources and geomorphological field data when developing a scientifically argued narrative.

Comparison of the drawn dike in Rhine stream map from 1595 near Mechtersheim (a) and the dikes from younger maps (b). “Schmitt´sche Karte von Südwestdeutschland von 1797 (c). Source: TK 25 Philipsburg 1878, Blatt 6716; Projektion: UTM 32N, WGS84.

In Besserer’s Palatinate map of the Rhine, the oldest map of the Upper Rhine from the year 1595, several dike lines can clearly be identified. Among others, one is depicted close to Mechtersheim (Distr. Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis). From a geomorphological point of view, the village is save from flooding at its location on the lower terrace. Therefore, the dikes probably protected less the village itself than the surrounding arable land. This is also visible on several other historical maps of this area. This case study is a particular challenge for identifying the position of the depicted dikes and meander arcs on later maps and in field surveys, because of the high number of dikes and their contemporary improvements.

Dike structures in the lowlands of the Rhine at Mörsch. a) Digital elevation model (LiDAR-Data and boundary plan Daxlanden around 1800; GLA Karlsruhe H Daxlanden 16, Bild 1). b) Digital elevation model (LiDAR-Data) and TK50 Rastatt 2007, Blatt L7114; Projection: UTM 32N, WGS84).

The combined analysis of historical, geomorphological, and topographical maps as well as the LiDAR data have resulted in several suspected dikes near the villages of Mörsch and Forchheim (Distr. Karlsruhe). Now, they will be investigated with geoarchaeological and historical methods. However, these dike lines do not appear on maps before the 19th century, but field names suggest a dike around Mörsch as early as the 16th century. Further fieldwork should clarify the precise age of these dikes.

The villages are located on the edge of the higher terrace. Their history reaches back to the early Middle Ages, according to archaeological and archival sources. Forchheim is even mentioned as the early medieval capital of the “Ufgau”. It can be assumed that the nutrient-rich floodplains have always served – as they still do today – as agricultural fields of these villages in the Rhine valley.

• Carsten Zube (Bachelor thesis in Geography, 2016): Fluviale Dynamik im Bereich des Speyerer Domgartens
  
  English Title: Fluvial Dynamics in the area of the Domgarten in Speyer.
• Jan Schmitt (Bachelor thesis in Geography, 2018): Sedimentologisch-geoarchäologische Untersuchungen der Deichlinien nahe Ottersdorf.
  
  English Title: Sedimentologic-geoarchaeological investigations at the dike line near Ottersdorf.
• Deborah Priß (Master thesis in Geoarchaeology, 2018): Die historischen Deichlinien bei der Goldgrube südlich von Speyer
  
  English Title: The historic dike lines at the Goldgrube south of Speyer.

• A.Conijn: An interdisciplinary research on medieval flood protection in the Upper Rhine Valley, Darmstädter Forschungskolloquium zur Umweltgeschichte on 8.5.2018 in Darmstadt (Germany).
• A. Conijn [et al.]: Medieval flood prevention as starting point for contemporary debates on flooding, PECSRL Conference 'European landscapes for quality of life?' from 3.9. to 9.9.2018  in Mende (France).
• T. Meier / F. R. Serralvo: Water mentalities. Archaeological clues to changes in water management during the middle ages, EAA Conference 2018 from 5.9 to 8.9.2018 in Barcelona (Spain).
• T. Meier / A. Conijn / C. Zube / B. Mächtle: Mittelalterlicher Hochwasserschutz am Oberrhein, International ARKUM Conference from 19. to 22.9.2018 in Kiel (Germany)
• A. Coijn: The relation between man and river dynamics from a flooding perspective in the Upper Rhine valley, Session „Do you see what I see – Theoretical approaches to understand ancient worldviews“, EAA Conference 2017 at 1.9.2017 in Maastricht (Netherlands)
• A. Conijn / J. Lange / T. Meier / B. Mächtle: The influence of the river Rhine and its flooding on the medieval landscapes of the Upper Rhine valley, Session „Archaelogy of rivers and lakes. When water is the bridge“, EAA Conference 2017 at 1.9.2017 in Maastricht (Netherlands).

• Workshop Hochwasser, Hochwasserwahrnehmung und Hochwasserschutz am mittelalterlichen Oberrhein in Heidelberg 17.-19. November 2016“; integrated in the ring lecture in the field of study: Geoarchaeology.
• Research Trip (A. Conijn) in Amsterdam at Prof. Petra van Dam und Prof. Hans Renes: Discussions, Research on river landscapes, floods, dike-building techniques, and the historical perspective of the Netherlands. State of the art exchange with Dutch dike-construction-research (2017).
• Interdisciplinary seminar „Historic Water Management in winter semester 2017/18; in the field of study: Geoarchaeology, Prehistory, Geography, and as a supplementary offer in the Marsilius-Studien (T. Meier, B. Mächtle).
• International Workshop: Floods – perceptions and protection along the medieval Upper Rhine, Heidelberg 28.01. – 31.01.2019 (integrated in the ring lecture Geoarchaeology)

• A. Conijn, J. Lange, B. Mächtle, T. Meier: Early floods and early dikes. Combining geoarchaeological sources in the Upper Rhine Valley. In: RGZM conference proceedings series, in Press.