Articles | Volume 71, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-213-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-213-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Fluvial activity of the late-glacial to Holocene “Bergstraßenneckar” in the Upper Rhine Graben near Heidelberg, Germany – first results
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Felix Henselowsky
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Institute of Geography, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz,
Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany
Fabian Roth
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Annette Kadereit
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Manuel Herzog
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Stefan Hecht
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Susanne Lindauer
Curt-Engelhorn-Centre Archaeometry, D6, 3, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
Olaf Bubenzer
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Gerd Schukraft
Institute of Geography, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld
348, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
deceased, April 2020
Related authors
Rónadh Cox, Mary C. Bourke, Max Engel, Andrew B. Kennedy, Annie Lau, Serge Suanez, Sarah J. Boulton, Maria Alexandra Oliveira, Raphaël Paris, Dimitra Salmanidou, Michaela Spiske, Wayne Stephenson, Storm Roberts, Adam D. Switzer, Nadia Mhammdi, Niamh D. Cullen, and Masashi Watanabe
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1913, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1913, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal boulder deposits record extreme wave events, both storm and tsunami. Fully understanding hazards as recorded in these deposits requires high-quality data for comparison among sites and over time. We analysed methodologies and constructed a comprehensive set of field measurements to improve data consistency and reproducibility. We aim to help geomorphologists produce of data that can be widely shared and used to build extensive analytic understanding of coastal boulder deposits.
Rónadh Cox, Mary C. Bourke, Max Engel, Andrew B. Kennedy, Annie Lau, Serge Suanez, Sarah J. Boulton, Maria Alexandra Oliveira, Raphaël Paris, Dimitra Salmanidou, Michaela Spiske, Wayne Stephenson, Storm Roberts, Adam D. Switzer, Nadia Mhammdi, Niamh D. Cullen, and Masashi Watanabe
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1913, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1913, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal boulder deposits record extreme wave events, both storm and tsunami. Fully understanding hazards as recorded in these deposits requires high-quality data for comparison among sites and over time. We analysed methodologies and constructed a comprehensive set of field measurements to improve data consistency and reproducibility. We aim to help geomorphologists produce of data that can be widely shared and used to build extensive analytic understanding of coastal boulder deposits.
Elena Appel, Thomas Becker, Dennis Wilken, Peter Fischer, Timo Willershäuser, Lea Obrocki, Henrik Schäfer, Markus Scholz, Olaf Bubenzer, Bertil Mächtle, and Andreas Vött
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 73, 179–202, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-179-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-179-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Human intervention in the natural drainage system of the Hessische Ried (Germany) resulted in the transformation of a large wetland into a cultural landscape. In this study, we reconstruct the river network that was used by Romans for transportation and security. We found that the Romans collected water from several smaller rivers to establish the river Landgraben as a navigable waterway. Unexpectedly, larger rivers did not contribute any water to the Landgraben system during Roman times.
Nora Pfaffner, Annette Kadereit, Volker Karius, Thomas Kolb, Sebastian Kreutzer, and Daniela Sauer
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 73, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-1-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present results of the Baix loess–palaeosol sequence, SE France. Reconstructed intense soil formation under warm, moist conditions before and into the last ice age and less intense soil formations in warm (temporarily moist) phases during the generally cold, dry ice age were validated with laboratory and dating techniques. This is particularly relevant as Baix is located in the temperate–Mediterranean climate transition zone, a sensitive zone that is susceptible to future climate changes.
Thomas Kolb, Konrad Tudyka, Annette Kadereit, Johanna Lomax, Grzegorz Poręba, Anja Zander, Lars Zipf, and Markus Fuchs
Geochronology, 4, 1–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-1-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-1-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The µDose system is an innovative analytical instrument developed for the cost- and time-efficient determination of environmental radionuclide concentrations required for the calculation of sedimentation ages in palaeo-environmental and geo-archaeological research. The results of our study suggest that accuracy and precision of µDose measurements are comparable to those of well-established methods and that the new approach shows the potential to become a standard tool in environmental dosimetry.
Veit Ulrich, Jack G. Williams, Vivien Zahs, Katharina Anders, Stefan Hecht, and Bernhard Höfle
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 19–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-19-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-19-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we use 3D point clouds to detect topographic changes across the surface of a rock glacier. These changes are presented as the relative contribution of surface change during a 3-week period to the annual surface change. By comparing these different time periods and looking at change in different directions, we provide estimates showing that different directions of surface change are dominant at different times of the year. This demonstrates the benefit of frequent monitoring.
Cited articles
Ad-hoc-AG Boden: Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung, 5th edn.,
Schweizerbart, Hannover, 438 pp., 2005.
AdV (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Vermessungsverwaltungen der Länder der
Bundesrepublik Deutschland): DHHN2016 – Die Erneuerung des Deutschen
Haupthöhennetzes und der einheitliche integrierte geodätische
Raumbezug 2016, Landesamt für Digitalisierung, Breitband und Vermessung
Bayern, München, 2018.
Barsch, D. and Mäusbacher, R.: Erläuterungen zur Geomorphologischen
Karte 1:25 000 der Bundesrepublik Deutschland – GMK 25 Blatt 3, 6417
Mannheim-Nordost, in: GMK Schwerpunktprogramm, Geomorphologische
Detailkartierung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, edited by: Barsch, D.,
Fränzle, O., Leser, H., Liedtke, H., and Stäblein, G., Berlin,
1–56, 1979.
Barsch, D. and Mäusbacher, R.: Zur fluvialen Dynamik beim Aufbau des
Neckarschwemmfächers, Berlin. Geogr. Abh., 47, 119–128,
https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-3194, 1988.
Beckenbach, E.: Geologische Interpretation des hochauflösenden digitalen
Geländemodells von Baden-Württemberg, PhD thesis, University of
Stuttgart, Germany, https://doi.org/10.18419/opus-8846, 2016.
Bernhard, H. and Hickethier, H.: Beitrag zur Kenntnis des alten Neckarlaufs
am Westrand des Odenwalds bei Bensheim, Notizbl. Hess. L.-Amt Bodenforsch.,
94, 385–389, 1966.
Bibus, E., and Rähle, W.: Stratigraphische Untersuchungen an
molluskenführenden Terrassensedimenten und ihren Deckschichten im
mittleren Neckarbecken (Württemberg), E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 53,
94–113, https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.53.1.06, 2003.
Blott, S. J., and Pye, K.: GRADISTAT: a grain size distribution and
statistics package for the analysis of unconsolidated sediments, Earth Surf.
Proc. Landf., 26, 1237–1248, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.261, 2001.
Bohncke, S. J. P. and Hoek, W. Z.: Multiple oscillations during the Preboreal
as recorded in a calcareous gyttja, Kingbeekdal, The Netherlands, Quaternary Sci.
Rev., 26, 1965–1974, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.02.017, 2007.
Bos, J. A. A., Dambeck, R., Kalis, A. J., Schweizer, A., and Thiemeyer, H.:
Palaeoenvironmental changes and vegetation history of the northern Upper
Rhine Graben (southwestern Germany) since the Lateglacial, Neth. J. Geosci.,
87, 67–90, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600024057, 2008.
Bos, J. A. A., Dambeck, R., and Bouman, M. I. T. J.:
Paläoökologische Untersuchungen im nördlichen Oberrheingraben
vom Spätglazial bis Atlantikum; Vegetationsgeschichte und anthropogene
Einflüsse, Frankfurt. Archäol. Schr., 18, 59–90, 2012.
Buness, H., Gabriel, G., and Ellwanger, D.: The Heidelberg Basin drilling
project: Geophysical pre-site surveys, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 57,
338–366, https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.57.3-4.4, 2009.
Dambeck, R.: Beiträge zur spät- und postglazialen Fluss- und
Landschaftsgeschichte im nördlichen Oberrheingraben, PhD thesis,
University of Frankfurt/Main, Germany, 438 pp., 2005.
Dambeck, R. and Bos, J. A. A.: Lateglacial and Early Holocene landscape
evolution of the northern Upper Rhine River valley, south-western Germany,
Z. Geomorph. Suppl., 128, 101–127, 2002.
Dambeck, R., and Thiemeyer, H.: Fluvial history of the northern Upper Rhine
River (southwestern Germany) during the Lateglacial and Holocene times,
Quaternary Int., 93, 53–63, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00006-X, 2002.
Dister, E., Gomer, D., Obrdlik, P., Petermann, P., and Schneider, E.: Water
management and ecological perspectives of the upper Rhine's floodplains,
Regul. River., 5, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1002/rrr.3450050102, 1990.
Eckoldt, M.: Schiffahrt auf kleinen Flüssen. T. 2, Gewässer im
Bereich des “Odenwaldneckars” im ersten Jahrtausend n. Chr., Deutsch.
Schiffahrtsarch., 8, 101–116, 1985.
Eisbacher, G. H. and Fielitz, W.: Karlsruhe und seine Region.
Nordschwarzwald, Kraichgau, Neckartal, südlicher Odenwald,
Oberrhein-Graben, Pfälzerwald und westliche Schwäbische Alb.
Sammlung Geologischer Führer Vol. 103, Bornträger, Stuttgart, 2010.
Erkens, G., Dambeck, R., Volleberg, K. P., Bouman, M. T., Bos, J. A., Cohen,
K. M., Wallinga, J., and Hoek, W. Z.: Fluvial terrace formation in the
northern Upper Rhine Graben during the last 20 000 years as a result of
allogenic controls and autogenic evolution, Geomorphology, 103, 476–495,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.07.021, 2009.
Fezer, F.: 220 m Altpleistozän im “Heidelberger Loch”,
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 47, 145–153, https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.47.1.10, 1997.
Gabriel, G., Ellwanger, D., Hoselmann, C., Weidenfeller, M.,
Wielandt-Schuster, U., and The Heidelberg Basin Project Team: The Heidelberg
Basin, Upper Rhine Graben (Germany): A unique archive of Quaternary
sediments in Central Europe, Quaternary Int., 292, 43–58,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2012.10.044, 2013.
Große-Brauckmann, G., Malchow, G., and Streitz, B.: Makrofossil- und
pollenanalytische Befunde vom Altneckarbett bei Riedstadt-Goddelau, in: Die
Holzbrücken bei Riedstadt-Goddelau, Kreis Groß-Gerau, edited by:
Wagner, P., Mater. Vor- u. Frühgesch. Hessen, 5, 111–132, 1990.
Haupt, O.: Die Pfahlbausiedlung am Phillipshospital bei Goddelau im
hessischen Ried sowie das Alter der Neckarbetten und des Modauschuttkegels
an der Bergstraße, Notizbl. Ver. Erdk. Hess. Geol. L.-Anst., V(10),
239–245, 1928.
Heiri, O., Lotter, A. F., and Lemcke, G.: Loss on ignition as a method for
estimating organic and carbonate content in sediments: reproducibility and
comparability of results, J. Paleolimnol., 25, 101–110,
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008119611481, 2001.
HLfB (Hessisches Landesamt für Bodenforschung): Bodenkarte der
nördlichen Oberrheinebene 1:50000, Wiesbaden, 1990.
Hoffmann, J. and Krzyzanowski, J.: Laacher-Bimstuff-Vorkommen im Bereich
des ehemaligen Neckarlaufs bei Zwingenberg (Bergstraße), Geol. Jb.
Hessen, 112, 77–81, 1984.
Holzhauer, I.: Landschaftsgeschichte und menschlicher Einfluss im Umfeld der
Schwetzinger Hardt seit dem Würm-Hochglazial, PhD thesis, Heidelberg
University, Germany, https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00015714, 2013.
Holzhauer, I., Kadereit, A., Schukraft, G., Kromer, B., and Bubenzer, O.:
Spatially heterogeneous relief changes, soil formation and floodplain
aggradation under human impact – geomorphological results from the Upper
Rhine Graben (SW Germany), Z. Geomorph., 61 (Suppl. 1), 121–158,
https://doi.org/10.1127/zfg_suppl/2017/0357, 2017.
Howard, A. D. and Hemberger, A. T.: Multivariate characterization of
meandering, Geomorphology, 4, 161–186, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-555X(91)90002-R,
1991.
Kneisel, C.: Electrical resistivity tomography as a tool for
geomorphological investigations – some case studies, Z. Geomorph. Suppl.,
132, 37–49, 2003.
König, P.: Eine vorgeschichtliche und frühmittelalterliche Siedlung
von Heddesheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Fundber. Baden-Württemb., 35,
141–204, https://doi.org/10.11588/fbbw.2015.0.44523, 2015.
Kromer, B., Lindauer, S., Synal, H. A., and Wacker, L.: MAMS – a new AMS
facility at the Curt-Engelhorn-Centre for Achaeometry, Mannheim, Germany,
Nucl. Instr. Meth., 294, 11–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2012.01.015, 2013.
Kupfahl, H.-G., Meisl, S., and Kümmerle, E.: Erläuterungen zur
geologischen Karte von Hessen 1:25000, Blatt 6217 Zwingenberg an der
Bergstraße, Hessisches Landesamt für Bodenforschung, Wiesbaden, 276 pp.,
1972.
Lang, A.: Die Infrarot-Stimulierte-Lumineszenz als Datierungs- methode für
holozäne Lössderivate. Ein Beitrag zur Chronometrie kolluvialer,
alluvialer und limnischer Sedimente in Südwestdeutschland, Heidelb.
Geogr. Arb., 103, 1–137, 1996.
LGBR (Landesamt für Geologie, Bergbau und Rohstoffe): Kiese und Sande
des Neckars im Oberrheingraben, https://lgrbwissen.lgrb-bw.de/rohstoffgeologie/rohstoffe-des-landes/kiese-sandig/kiese-sande-des-neckars-im-oberrheingraben,
last access: 27 August 2021.
Löscher, M.: Die quartären Ablagerungen auf der Mannheimer
Gemarkung, in: Mannheim vor der Stadtgründung. Teil 1 Band 1, edited by:
Probst, H., Friedrich Pustet Verlag, Regensburg, 28–47, 2007.
Löscher, M., Haag, T., and Münzing, K.: Zum Alter der Dünen im
nördlichen Oberrheingraben bei Heidelberg und zur Genese ihrer
Bänderparabraunerden, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 39, 98–108,
https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.39.1.10, 1989.
Löscher, M., Becker, B., Bruns, M., Hieronymus, U., Mäusbacher, R.,
Münnich, M., Münzing, K., and Schedler, J.: Neue Ergebnisse über
das Jungquartär im Neckarschwemmfächer bei Heidelberg, E&G
Quaternary Sci. J., 30, 89–100, https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.30.1.07, 1980.
Mangold, A.: Die alten Neckarbetten in der Rheinebene, Abh. Großherzogl.
Hess. Geol. Landesanst. Darmstadt, 2, 75–114, 1892.
Merz, M. U. E.: The biology of carbonate precipitation by cyanobacteria,
Facies, 26, 81–102, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02539795, 1992.
Mone, F. J.: Ueber den alten Flußlauf im Oberrheintal, Badisch. Arch. z.
Vaterlandsk. in allseit. Hinsicht, 1, 1–47, 1826.
Munsell Color Laboratory: Munsell Soil Color Chart, New Windsor, 2000.
Nickel, E. and Fettel, M.: Odenwald – Vorderer Odenwald zwischen Darmstadt
und Heidelberg, Sammlung Geologischer Führer Vol. 65, Bornträger,
Stuttgart, 1979.
Pawłowski, D., Borówka, R. K., Kowalewski, G. A., Luoto, T. P.,
Milecka, K., Nevalainen, L., Okupny, D., Tomkowiak, J., and Zieliński,
T.: Late Weichselian and Holocene record of the paleoenvironmental changes
in a small river valley in Central Poland, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 135, 24–40,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.01.005, 2016.
Peters, G. and van Balen, R. T.: Tectonic geomorphology of the northern
Upper Rhine Graben, Germany, Global Planet.
Change, 58, 310–334, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2006.11.041, 2007.
Pflanz, D., Kunz, A., Hornung, J., and Hinderer, M.: New insights into the
age of aeolian sand deposition in the northern Upper Rhine Graben (Germany),
Quaternary Int., 625, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.03.019, 2022.
Reimer, P. J., Austin, W. E., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Blackwell, P. G.,
Ramsey, C. B., and Grootes, P. M.: The IntCal20 northern hemisphere
radiocarbon age calibration curve (0–55 cal kBP), Radiocarbon, 62,
725–757, https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2020.41, 2020.
Reinig, F., Wacker, L., Jöris, O., Oppenheimer, C., Guidobaldi, G.,
Nievergelt, D., Adolphi, F., Cherubini, P., Engels, S., Esper, J., Land, A.,
Lane, C., Pfanz, H., Remmele, S., Sigl, M., Sookdeo, A., and Büntgen,
U.: Precise date for the Laacher See eruption synchronizes the Younger
Dryas, Nature, 595, 66–69, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03608-x, 2021.
Saur, A.: Parvum theatrum urbium, Frankfurt, 1593.
Scheer, H.-D.: Gliederung und Aufbau der Niederterrassen von Rhein und Main
im nördlichen Oberrheintalgraben, Geol. Jb. Hessen, 106, 273–289, 1978.
Schottler, W.: Erläuterungen zur geologischen Karte des Grossherzogtums
Hessen im Maßstabe 1:25000, Hessischer Staatsverlag, 1906.
Stuiver, M., Reimer, P. J., and Reimer, R. W.: CALIB 8.2 (WWW program), http://calib.org, last access: 19 January 2022.
Wagner, P.: Riedstadt-Goddelau, Kreis Groß-Gerau. Holzbrücken im
alten Neckarbett, Ausgrabungen im Hessischen Ried 1976–1977, Archäol.
Denkm. Hessen, 20, 1–12, 1981.
Waldmann, F.: Beziehungen zwischen Stratigraphie und Bodenbildungen aus
spätglazialen und holozänen Sedimenten in der nördlichen
Oberrheinebene, PhD thesis, University of Freiburg, Germany, 1989.
Wild, E. M., Steier, P., Fischer, P., and Höflmayer, F.: 14C dating
of humic acids from Bronze and Iron Age plant remains from the eastern
Mediterranean, Radiocarbon, 55, 599–607, https://doi.org/10.1017/S003382220005774X,
2013.
Winkelmann, J. J.: Gründliche Beschreibung der Fürstenthümer
Hessen und Hersfeld, Brauer, Bremen, 1697.
Wirth, K.: Ein Bohlenweg oder eine Sumpfbrücke aus römischer Zeit in
Mannheim-Straßenheim, in: Archäologie der Brücken,
Vorgeschichte, Antike, Mittelalter, Neuzeit, edited by: Pflederer, T. and
Sommer, C., Friedrich Pustet Verlag, Regensburg, 102–105, 2011.
Short summary
The late-glacial Bergstraßenneckar is a former course of the Neckar River in the Upper Rhine Graben of southwest Germany at a time when the confluence with the Rhine river was 50 km further to the north. The former river bends are still visible in topographic maps and satellite imagery. Sediment cores and geophysical measurements from the former river channels let us reconstruct the shift from a running river to silting-up meanders and permit us to date this to ca. 11 000 to 10 500 years ago.
The late-glacial Bergstraßenneckar is a former course of the Neckar River in the Upper Rhine...