Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: The discovery of the church of Rungholt, a landmark for the drowned medieval landscapes of the Wadden Sea World Heritage

Figure 4

Stratigraphy, landscape development and human impact in the Rungholt area. (a) Core RUN 71A with its stratigraphic sequence shows a gradual landscape development from a back barrier shallow water environment to a high salt marsh (units A-D), without any evidence of human impact. Around 800 BC, waterlogging causes widespread peat formation (unit E) prevailing at least until 400 AD (cf.22,27) and forming a landscape hostile to settlers. A distinct hiatus and shift to tidal flat conditions (unit G) mark major land losses since medieval times. Sedimentary evidence of an early modern, likely the 1634 AD storm surge (unit F) was found in the upper peat while medieval deposits are missing. (b) At sites RUN 72A and Profile 1, artificially excavated depressions filled with shell debris and brick fragments (unit H) represent remains of a foundation. Compaction and deformation observed for soft underlying strata (units A-E) are interpreted as effects of superimposed load, i.e. a ‘footprint’ of the former structure on top (cf.23).

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