80
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
(2011). The question on the accuracy and correctness of the sea level curve (showing the
development of the sea level in a certain area – see, e.g., Behre (2007); Baeteman et al.
(2011)) is in our context insignificant, but has to be considered for the interpretations of
archaeological finds.
The first settlers started with building of dwelling mounds. Furthermore, the arable
land was enlarged and small dikes were constructed. Figure 5.11 gives an impression of a
situation when the main dike line was protecting a huge area against flooding. In ancient
times people produced salt from frequently flooded peat areas by digging and burning
(the process is called selnering) caused by an increasing demand of salt – see, for example, Marschalleck (1973); Besteman (1974); Fries-Knoblach (2001); Nienhuis (2008)
and Siegmüller and Bungenstock (2010). Additionally, farm land for crops and cattle was
enlarged and should be protected against fluvial and pluvial floods. Consequently, there
was a strong need for efficient and swift drainage of these polder areas. Drainage management was additionally challenged by selnering because it led to increased subsidence
of the surface. Some authors assume that this kind of land use entailed the beginning of
land loss in the southern North Sea Region. Thus, innovation was required. The protection
against storm surges, the enlargement of arable land and the production of salt by selnering
demanded new water management options.
Normally, the surface water flows caused by the gravitation “downhill” and discharges
in bigger and bigger rivers and, finally, into the sea or a lake. In coastal areas influenced
by tides the system of drainage is much more complicated, because the water level has
a strong influence on the possibility of drainage (see Chap. 4). Water bodies which are
Fig. 5.11 Sketch of coastal landscape with dikes protecting the productive area and settlement.
Right: Tidal channels have been closed off from the sea, drainage is organized by tidal gates. The
excavation of salt (selnering) led to sinking land surface and, thus, to increase demand for inland
drainage. To limit the flood prone area in case of a failure second dike lines have been constructed or
are remnants of former main dikes in the hinterland. Farm houses were built on higher ground either
on dwelling mounds or on the moraine. Left: The open landscape still exists, tidal channels were not
closed and farm houses were built on dwelling mounds. Source: adapted from Bantelmann (1966)
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
(2011). The question on the accuracy and correctness of the sea level curve (showing the
development of the sea level in a certain area – see, e.g., Behre (2007); Baeteman et al.
(2011)) is in our context insignificant, but has to be considered for the interpretations of
archaeological finds.
The first settlers started with building of dwelling mounds. Furthermore, the arable
land was enlarged and small dikes were constructed. Figure 5.11 gives an impression of a
situation when the main dike line was protecting a huge area against flooding. In ancient
times people produced salt from frequently flooded peat areas by digging and burning
(the process is called selnering) caused by an increasing demand of salt – see, for example, Marschalleck (1973); Besteman (1974); Fries-Knoblach (2001); Nienhuis (2008)
and Siegmüller and Bungenstock (2010). Additionally, farm land for crops and cattle was
enlarged and should be protected against fluvial and pluvial floods. Consequently, there
was a strong need for efficient and swift drainage of these polder areas. Drainage management was additionally challenged by selnering because it led to increased subsidence
of the surface. Some authors assume that this kind of land use entailed the beginning of
land loss in the southern North Sea Region. Thus, innovation was required. The protection
against storm surges, the enlargement of arable land and the production of salt by selnering
demanded new water management options.
Normally, the surface water flows caused by the gravitation “downhill” and discharges
in bigger and bigger rivers and, finally, into the sea or a lake. In coastal areas influenced
by tides the system of drainage is much more complicated, because the water level has
a strong influence on the possibility of drainage (see Chap. 4). Water bodies which are
Fig. 5.11 Sketch of coastal landscape with dikes protecting the productive area and settlement.
Right: Tidal channels have been closed off from the sea, drainage is organized by tidal gates. The
excavation of salt (selnering) led to sinking land surface and, thus, to increase demand for inland
drainage. To limit the flood prone area in case of a failure second dike lines have been constructed or
are remnants of former main dikes in the hinterland. Farm houses were built on higher ground either
on dwelling mounds or on the moraine. Left: The open landscape still exists, tidal channels were not
closed and farm houses were built on dwelling mounds. Source: adapted from Bantelmann (1966)