Papers by Jonas Berking
eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies, Jan 1, 2011
Abstract The ancient and now abandoned settlement of Naga, had its heyday around 2000 years ago, ... more Abstract The ancient and now abandoned settlement of Naga, had its heyday around 2000 years ago, located in the hinterland of a Nile tributary. Here we present 15 new OSL-dates and four new radiocarbon-ages. Data show that fundamental environmental changes did ...
Zeitschrift für …, Jan 1, 2008
Abstract: The endorheic Nam Co Lake, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, was selected to investigate th... more Abstract: The endorheic Nam Co Lake, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, was selected to investigate the interrelation between post-glacial glacier decay and lake level fluctuations. During the transition between MIS 2 and MIS1glacier decay caused regional changes in ...
eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies, Jan 1, 2012
... The Elaborated Ancient Water Supply System of Resafa. Risk and Uncertainty of Water Harvestin... more ... The Elaborated Ancient Water Supply System of Resafa. Risk and Uncertainty of Water Harvesting in the Syrian Desert Steppe. Brian Beckers, Jonas Berking, Brigitta Schütt. Abstract. ---. Full Text: PDF. _____. ...
Geoarchaeology, Jan 1, 2010
... Subsequently, a Sergius cult arose and Resafa, later also named Sergiupolis, became one of th... more ... Subsequently, a Sergius cult arose and Resafa, later also named Sergiupolis, became one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites of ... h −1 and 75mm h −1 are reported from the semi-arid parts of Kenya by Rowntree (1988) and Sutherland and Brian (1990). ...
Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, …, Jan 1, 2011
Abstract: The Wadi Awatib discharges near the 6 th Cataract into the River Nile and drains a catc... more Abstract: The Wadi Awatib discharges near the 6 th Cataract into the River Nile and drains a catchment of 2360 km 2, an escarpment area. In this escarpment area, at the foot of the" Gebel Naga", the Meroitic settlement Naga was located. The relief is characterized by the ...
Quaternary …, Jan 1, 2010
Holocene sediments from a 9 m high outcrop at the Gangyasang Qu's entry into Lake Nam Co, on the ... more Holocene sediments from a 9 m high outcrop at the Gangyasang Qu's entry into Lake Nam Co, on the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau, were studied in a multiproxy approach. The lowermost part of the section is of early Holocene age and consists of varved sediments deposited in a proglacial lake. Geomorphological investigations of fossil beach ridges and fossil cliff lines in the littoral zone of Nam Co indicate a late Pleistocene lake level high of 29 m above the present level. A warming is visible in ostracode-rich silts deposited after 9.6 ka BP. An ostracode-based transfer function estimates a lake level 28 m higher than today from this time until about 5.2 ka BP. A late Pleistocene lake level high was accompanied by an increase in lake size, causing Nam Co to overflow into the lower course of Gangyasang Qu, where a bay with slack-water conditions formed. Between 4.2 and 1.3 ka BP the lake level was approximately 10 m higher than today. The progradation of the Gangyasang Qu delta into Nam Co and the decreasing lake level shifted the study site into a fluvio-lacustrine environment. The sandy character and relatively low numbers of ostracode valves in the topmost sediments indicate increased fluvial activity, possibly due to a temporary increase in flood frequency. This facies lasted at least until 1.3 ka BP, when the lake level of Nam Co dropped again and the river incised more than 10 m into the underlying fluvio-lacustrine and lacustrine sediments.
Quaternary …, Jan 1, 2010
A drill core (1.8 m; 34 samples) was taken out of a swamp near Nam Co (Tibet, China) for palynolo... more A drill core (1.8 m; 34 samples) was taken out of a swamp near Nam Co (Tibet, China) for palynological analysis. C 14 -Dating of the cores sediment at 3 different layers led to an numerical core age of about 8000 BP and the palynomorph content of prepared samples enabled reconstruction of the vegetation and climatic history of Nam Co Area. Pollen of Alpine Steppe elements together with Cyperaceae dominates the palynoflora reflecting the existing vegetation units around the lake throughout the investigated time span. Due to availability of water/precipitation, the different vegetation units extended or had to retreat, and hence the amount of their pollen increased or decreased. The presence of arboreal plants, verified by charcoal particles, suggest the existence of woodlands in the lake's surrounding area until possibly human made fires changed the environment over time. Holocene climate history around Nam Co shows several phases of a strengthening/weakening or even an interruption of monsoonal activity. Changing conditions between dry and humid evolved from 8017 BP until 4800 BP. A mostly humid and relative stable system occurred from 4800 until 700 BP whereas the last 700 years are characterized by drier conditions according to fluctuating monsoonal activity. Humid or arid periods have been different in duration and intensity. The interaction of both parts of the monsoonal system, the South Asian Monsoon and the East Asian Monsoon, influenced the climatic conditions around Nam Co.
Journal Articles by Jonas Berking
Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 2017
Within arid regions allochthonous rivers as a main source of fresh water play a significant role ... more Within arid regions allochthonous rivers as a main source of fresh water play a significant role in the spatial organisation of human occupation.
This study aims at a comprehensive view on changes in the prehistoric occupation patterns within the Río Ica catchment on the southern coast of Peru. Results of different research projects are integrated. The heterogeneous character of the catchment allows us to define three sub-sections which differ greatly in terms of vegetation, relief and water regime.
Based on quantitative geo-statistical methods we analyse spatio-temporal changes in human occupation from the Early Horizon (c. 1000–200 BC) through to the Inca Late Horizon (AD 1450–1532) in the context
of environmental conditions, as well as socio-economic processes. Examining known archaeological sites we are able to assess the significance of environmental location factors for pre-Hispanic settlements. In addition, areas of high human interaction are identified on the basis of a classification of archaeological sites according to their function (craft/industry, cult, cooperation and trade). We thereby transfer the concept of central place theory to the spatial distribution of archaeological remains, introducing a novel approach to identifying central functions in a spatially explicit way.
Our results crystallise the changing character of occupation in the study area over more than two millennia. They contribute to the ongoing debate on the decline of the Nasca culture, endorsing a complex combination of natural and socio-economic reasons. Furthermore, the results support the concept of a more widespread exchange and cooperation during ‘Horizon’ periods in the study area and likewise indicate that the disappearance of a supra-regional administrative polity during ‘Intermediate’ periods might have led to higher human activity in smaller scale societies, as reflected in a more diverse spatial organisation in terms of geomorphometric units and central areas.
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Papers by Jonas Berking
Journal Articles by Jonas Berking
This study aims at a comprehensive view on changes in the prehistoric occupation patterns within the Río Ica catchment on the southern coast of Peru. Results of different research projects are integrated. The heterogeneous character of the catchment allows us to define three sub-sections which differ greatly in terms of vegetation, relief and water regime.
Based on quantitative geo-statistical methods we analyse spatio-temporal changes in human occupation from the Early Horizon (c. 1000–200 BC) through to the Inca Late Horizon (AD 1450–1532) in the context
of environmental conditions, as well as socio-economic processes. Examining known archaeological sites we are able to assess the significance of environmental location factors for pre-Hispanic settlements. In addition, areas of high human interaction are identified on the basis of a classification of archaeological sites according to their function (craft/industry, cult, cooperation and trade). We thereby transfer the concept of central place theory to the spatial distribution of archaeological remains, introducing a novel approach to identifying central functions in a spatially explicit way.
Our results crystallise the changing character of occupation in the study area over more than two millennia. They contribute to the ongoing debate on the decline of the Nasca culture, endorsing a complex combination of natural and socio-economic reasons. Furthermore, the results support the concept of a more widespread exchange and cooperation during ‘Horizon’ periods in the study area and likewise indicate that the disappearance of a supra-regional administrative polity during ‘Intermediate’ periods might have led to higher human activity in smaller scale societies, as reflected in a more diverse spatial organisation in terms of geomorphometric units and central areas.
This study aims at a comprehensive view on changes in the prehistoric occupation patterns within the Río Ica catchment on the southern coast of Peru. Results of different research projects are integrated. The heterogeneous character of the catchment allows us to define three sub-sections which differ greatly in terms of vegetation, relief and water regime.
Based on quantitative geo-statistical methods we analyse spatio-temporal changes in human occupation from the Early Horizon (c. 1000–200 BC) through to the Inca Late Horizon (AD 1450–1532) in the context
of environmental conditions, as well as socio-economic processes. Examining known archaeological sites we are able to assess the significance of environmental location factors for pre-Hispanic settlements. In addition, areas of high human interaction are identified on the basis of a classification of archaeological sites according to their function (craft/industry, cult, cooperation and trade). We thereby transfer the concept of central place theory to the spatial distribution of archaeological remains, introducing a novel approach to identifying central functions in a spatially explicit way.
Our results crystallise the changing character of occupation in the study area over more than two millennia. They contribute to the ongoing debate on the decline of the Nasca culture, endorsing a complex combination of natural and socio-economic reasons. Furthermore, the results support the concept of a more widespread exchange and cooperation during ‘Horizon’ periods in the study area and likewise indicate that the disappearance of a supra-regional administrative polity during ‘Intermediate’ periods might have led to higher human activity in smaller scale societies, as reflected in a more diverse spatial organisation in terms of geomorphometric units and central areas.