Researchers from the Department of Archaeology at Charles University have pioneered a new approach to studying medieval land-use practices beneath Europe’s temperate forests, uncovering insights that were previously hidden beneath centuries of natural growth. Their study, recently published in Scientific Reports, utilized stable isotope analysis to examine soil composition at a Cistercian manor site dating back to the thirteenth century. This research revealed that cereal production, rather than animal husbandry, dominated agricultural activities at this location.
Through the isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen in the soils, the team identified clear markers of grain cultivation and the use of fertilization techniques, indicating systematic farming practices. Dr. Martin P. Janovský, the study’s lead author, explained the significance of these findings: “By analyzing carbon and nitrogen isotopes in soils, we have a novel method for reconstructing historical agricultural practices that have remained undetected until now. This approach not only clarifies the type of crops grown but also the extent of medieval agricultural impact, offering insights into the broader ecological and economic activities of the time.”
Stable isotope analysis enables researchers to differentiate between crop-based and grazing-based agriculture, providing precise insights into medieval land-use strategies. This allows archaeologists to understand not only what crops were grown but also the extent to which these agricultural activities transformed the landscape. Such knowledge is essential for interpreting long-term changes in soil and ecosystem conditions that resulted from medieval farming techniques.
The study further highlights the advantages of integrating isotope analysis with remote sensing tools such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). This combination offers a clearer view of how historical land use patterns impacted medieval landscapes and ecosystems, opening new avenues for examining the relationship between agriculture and environmental change over centuries. By pairing LiDAR’s capability to map and visualize surface structures with isotope analysis’s ability to identify specific agricultural activities, researchers now have a method to conduct more nuanced studies of ancient landscapes.
This innovative approach holds promise for transforming archaeological and ecological research, as it provides a means to track historical agricultural practices in ways previously unimaginable. It also allows scientists to explore how medieval societies adapted to and shaped their environments, revealing a complex web of economic and environmental interactions that impacted Europe’s landscapes over the centuries.