The Chair of Forest Growth participates in the cross-border German-Czech project »ArchaeoTin«, a collaborative effort involving six partner institutions from the Czech Republic, Bavaria, and Saxony. This project systematically examines the history of tin mining in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) from the Bronze Age to modern times. Beyond exploring the mining of tin, the project investigates the social and environmental impacts of the mining activities, with a particular emphasis on historical land use patterns.
Our research focuses on reconstructing historical land use through the systematic study of charcoal kilns within selected mining areas. Initial investigations were conducted in the Greifenbachtal, a medieval tin placer mining area in the central Erzgebirge. Using LiDAR-derived digital elevation models, potential relict charcoal kilns sites were identified and subsequently verified through field surveys. Charcoal samples were collected from several sites, and tree species determination was performed. Age estimations for the kilns were achieved through dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating, revealing dates ranging from the 13th to the 15th-17th centuries.
Preliminary results indicate significant changes in forest composition over time. The dominant tree species shifted from silver fir and European beech, representative of the typical climax forest community, to Norway spruce and pioneer species. These findings provide valuable insights into the historical dynamics of forest ecosystems in response to human activities such as mining and charcoal production.