Historical land-use in an abandoned mountain village in the Czech Republic is reflected by the Mg, P, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Zr, and Sr content in contemporary soils

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) 2020-04, Vol.187, p.104347, Article 104347
• Main Authors: Janovský, Martin Petr, Karlík, Petr, Horák, Jan, Šmejda, Ladislav, Asare Opare, Michael, Beneš, Jaromír, Hejcman, Michal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropocene; Biomass ashes; Field pattern; Multi-element analysis; Past human impact
• ISSN: 0341-8162; 1872-6887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104347

•Historical land-use was reflected by anthropogenic chemical signatures in the soil.•The most enriched built-up area soils contrasted with the most depleted forest soils.•All soils were affected by sub-recent lead deposition.•The content of the elements was correlated between the A, B, and C horizons. Past human activities can be reflected in the elemental composition of contemporary soils. We asked how much historical land-use identified according to historical maps is reflected by the multi-elemental signatures of soils in an originally medieval village abandoned after WWII. Using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, we determined the content of 24 elements in soil samples from former arable fields, field boundaries, forests, built-up area, and permanent grasslands. Previous human activities were connected with the accumulation of 13 elements such as the usually thus interpreted P, Ca, Zn, and Cu, but also with elements rarely used in archaeological studies such as Mg, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Rb, Zr, and Sr. The content of P, Ca, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, V, Cr, and Zr decreased on former fields with the distance from the most enriched built-up area. This can be explained by the most intensive deposition of biomass ashes and manuring of gardens and fields close to the village. With the exception of Pb accumulated sub-recently because of aerial deposition, the lowest content of anthropogenic elements was recorded in continuous forest. The chemical signatures recorded were much stronger than those in previously studied medieval villages in the Czech Republic abandoned in the 15th or 16th centuries. This is because of the long period of the settlement’s existence since medieval times and in addition because of the short time since its abandonment. Although frequently neglected, the multi-elemental composition of soils in deserted settlements can be considered as cultural heritage similarly to the relicts of buildings or still visible field patterns.