New project: HEARTs – Headway or Escape? The Anthropogenic Riverscape Transition in the Eastern Harz Mountains. Part of SPP 2361

At he 01st of April this year, the HEARTs project: Headway or Escape? The Anthropogenic Riverscape Transition in the Eastern Harz Mountains was launched. Together with our project partners from the State Offices for Monument Preservation and Archaeology and for Geology and Mining from Saxony-Anhalt, we are investigating the holocene landscape development within the Bode catchment area, especially at the Selke river.

In contrast to the Western Harz, where mining history has been intensively researched, mining activities in the Eastern Harz have long been accorded a subordinate role. Nevertheless, mining is also one of the dominating elements of the settlement history and valorization of the area. The Selke is a typical low mountain range river with steep and small catchment areas and has experienced strong anthropogenic changes. The aim is to capture the low mountain area and its importance as an economic area, living space, etc.

The HEARTs project is part of the DFG project SPP 2361 „On the Way to a fluvial Anthroposphere“.