AbstractPalaeolandscape reconstructions at the German North Sea coast are essential for the understanding of coastal changes and dynamic landscape-forming processes. This study contributes to reconstructing Holocene coastal changes in the back-barrier area of the East Frisian island of Norderney and draws conclusions on the local palaeogeography. Five sediment cores were analysed in terms of sedimentology (grain-size distribution), geochemistry (TOC, TIC, N, C/N), microfauna (foraminifers and ostracods) and 13 radiocarbon dates. In order to identify driving environmental factors and support the facies interpretation, multivariate statistics (PCA) were carried out. Additional cores from the surrounding area (WASA Project and ‘Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie’ (LBEG) Hannover) enabled correlation of the investigated cores over a transect of ~6 km, showing six depositional environments, which can be used for landscape reconstruction. Deposition starts with periglacial (aeolian and glaciofluvial) Pleistocene sediments, with subsequent pedogenesis followed by swamp conditions that develop into a salt marsh. The overlying tidal-flat sediments are partially cut by (fossil and recent) channel deposits. A hiatus at the base of the tidal-flat deposits that spans some 3000 years hints at their reworking caused by a combination of antrophogenic coastal protection measures and the impact of storms. Furthermore, based on the profile correlation and the age data, a widespread salt-marsh area with a minimum age of ~4000 cal BP is defined for the ‘Hohes Riff’ in the southwestern back-barrier of Norderney Island.

Abstract The ‘Wadden Sea Archive of landscape evolution, climate change and settlement history’ project (WASA) focuses on the analysis of marine sediment archives from the East Frisian Wadden Sea region. It aims at understanding the formation of palaeolandscapes since the end of the last ice age. One part of the project studies the possible correlation and shift of archaeological settlement patterns, climate change and sea-level rise through time in order to derive archaeological expectancy maps. In this paper we present our findings for a quantifiable set of Stone Age sites in the area of the prehistorical Dornumer tidal basin, discussing them against the background of coastal environmental factors and the applied methodology of our modelling. To enable spatial analysis of these sites, we developed a palaeographic elevation model, which was subsequently flooded at 2000-year intervals between the Boreal and early Subboreal periods. Particular challenges are posed by the dynamics of marine transgression, the related changes in the natural environment and their spatial extent. As a result of our GIS-based approach, the model can be extended geographically and provides a basis for future research.

The paper outlines a mixed methods approach to landscape characterisation and presents key findings from its application in northern Germany. It also illustrates the benefits for collaborative branding that result from the use of spatial data and information. Our study shows that working with maps helps to bring together stakeholders with different experiences and to involve them in brand building. This supported the transdisciplinary design of the project.

ZusammenfassungDas transdisziplinäre Verbundprojekt Regiobranding untersucht Kulturlandschaften innerhalb der Metropolregion Hamburg nach deren Charakteristika. Das Wissen um kulturlandschaftliche Besonderheiten wird in einen raumbezogenen Markenbildungsprozess eingebracht, der nachhaltig identitätsstiftend und imagefördernd wirken soll. Eine von mehreren im Projekt verfolgten Herangehensweisen zur Identifizierung von kulturlandschaftlichen Besonderheiten ist die Quantifizierung von Landschaftselementen mittels Geoinformationssystemen. Untersuchungen, die auf die physische Beschaffenheit des Raumes fokussieren, führen jedoch mitunter zu Schlüssen, die durch die Landschaftsnutzer, beispielsweise die lokale Bevölkerung, nicht geteilt werden. Aufgrund dessen wurden zusätzlich Daten auf Workshops erhoben, in deren Rahmen lokale Akteure kulturlandschaftliche Besonderheiten gemäß ihrer Einschätzung kartierten. Diese partizipative Form der Geodatenerfassung wurde als zentrales Element innerhalb von Gruppeninterviews eingesetzt, in denen – die Kartierung ergänzend – weiterführende Informationen über die jeweiligen Kulturlandschaften generiert wurden. Auf diese Weise wurden Mehrwerte für einen transdisziplinären Place-Branding-Prozess geschaffen, wie dieser Beitrag anhand der Untersuchungsregionen Steinburger Elbmarschen und Lübeck-Nordwestmecklenburg zeigt.