Klima und Landschaftsumgestaltung – Palynologische Hinweise zur Komplexität prähistorischer Mensch-Umwelt-Beziehungen

Pollen analytical studies of four radiocarbon dated sediment records from Switzerland suggest distinct phases of forest clearances and intensified land use from 1450–1250 BC, 650–450 BC, 50 BC–100 AD, and around 700 AD. These land use expansions coincided with periods of warm climate as recorded by Alpine dendroclimatic and Greenland oxygen isotope records. Our results suggest that harvest yields increased synchronously over wide areas of central and southern Europe during periods of warm and dry climate. Positive long-term trends in pollen values of Cerealia and Plantago lanceolata indicate that technical innovations during the Bronze and Iron Ages (e.g. metal ploughs, scythes, hay production, fertilizing methods) gradually increased agricultural productivity. However, our data imply that human societies were not able to compensate rapidly for harvest failures when the climate deteriorated. Agriculture in marginal areas was abandoned, and spontaneous reforestations took place on unoccupied land both north and south of the Alps.

Pollen content and radiocarbon ages of profile Delorett, Austria

A pollen profile from the highest known peatbog in the Alps is presented. The peatbog started to grow about 8000 years ago and over the last 5000 years. The influence of man on the vegetation is documented. Before the beginning of the bronze age pasturing started.

Mid-to Late Holocene flood frequency in the northeastern Alps as recorded in varved sediments of Lake Mondsee

Annually laminated (varved) lake sediments with intercalated detrital layers resulting from sedimentary input by runoff events are ideal archives to establish precisely dated records of past extreme runoff events. In this study, the mid- to late Holocene varved sediments of Lake Mondsee (Upper Austria) were analysed by combining sedimentological, geophysical and geochemical methods. This approach allows to distinguish two types of detrital layers related to different types of extreme runoff events (floods and debris flows) and to detect changes in flood activity during the last 7100 years. In total, 271 flood and 47 debris flow layers, deposited during spring and summer, were identified, which cluster in 18 main flood episodes (FE 1-18) with durations of 30-50 years each. These main flood periods occurred during the Late Neolithic (7100-7050 vyr BP and 6470-4450 vyr BP), the late Bronze Age and the early Iron Age (3300-3250 and 2800-2750 vyr BP), the late Iron Age (2050-2000 vyr BP), throughout the Dark Ages Cold Period (1500-1200 vyr BP), and at the end of the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age (810-430 vyr BP). Summer flood episodes in Lake Mondsee are generally more abundant during the last 1500 years, often coinciding with major advances of alpine glaciers. Prior to 1500 vyr BP, spring/summer floods and debris flows are generally less frequent, indicating a lower number of intense rainfall events that triggered erosion. In comparison with the increase of late Holocene flood activity in western and northwestern (NW) Europe, commencing already as early as 2800 yr BP, the hydro-meteorological shift in the Lake Mondsee region occurred much later. These time lags in the onset of increased hydrological activity might be either due to regional differences in atmospheric circulation pattern or to the sensitivity of the individual flood archives. The Lake Mondsee sediments represent the first precisely dated and several millennia long summer flood record for the northeastern (NE) Alps, a key region at the climatic boundary of Atlantic, Mediterranean and East European air masses aiding a better understanding of regional and seasonal peculiarities of flood occurrence under changing climate conditions.

Tappan Oak ... between U. Library and Haven Hall.

Tree before 1858; boulder ca. 1883; bronze plaque 1904. In spring of 1858 the Class of 1858 named this oak (growing near center of campus) the Tappan Oak as a tribute to then Pres. Henry P. Tappan). Stone was given by the "Tappan Boys" (class of 58) and placed ca. 1883.

A treatise on brasses, bronzes, and other alloys : and their constituent metals /

Includes bibliographical references.

Parade Mask

H: 10 in.; bronze

Ship Burial, Mound 1, excavated artifact, Helmet, left side

Sutton Hoo, England; H: 12-1/2 in.; bronze

Mirror with Handle

Lacquer, Japanese, Edo; D: 5 25/64 in.; L (handle): 3 55/64 in.; black and red lacquer and silver maki-e on bronze

Writing Table

Anonymous, English, 18C; 2 ft. 11 7/16 in. x 5 ft. 3 3/16 in. x 2 ft. 4 47/64 in.; mahogany and padouk, brass and gilt bronze

Throne Leg in the form of a Griffin

Metalwork, Iran, Umayyad Caliphate; 1 ft. 10 7/16 in.x 3 27/64 in.x 7 23/64 in.; cast and chased bronze

Ewer with a Feline-shaped handle

Metalwork, Islamic, Umayyad; 1 ft. 7 3/32 in. x 8 5/16 in.; bronze, case and chased, inlaid with copper

Tomb, excavated artifact, Dish with carved decoration

Jiangsu. Huaiyin. Gaozhuang; 2 23/64 in. x 1 ft. 8 5/64 in.; bronze

Ewer with Feline-Shaped Handle

Metalwork, Iran, Umayyad; 1 ft. 7 3/32 in. x 8 5/16 in.; bronze, cast and chased, inlaid with copper

Hu

Metalwork, Chinese, Song; H: 1 ft. 1/8 in.; cast and punched bronze