Sebastian Tyszkowski
Articles
Reconstruction of geodynamic processes on the Vistula riverbank in Medieval Toruń (Poland)
Geographia Polonica (2025) vol. 98, iss. 2, pp. 231-249 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0301
Abstract
During roadworks on Bulwar Filadelfijski in Toruń, the foundations of a Benedictine monastery and the Holy Spirit Church were uncovered. Geoarchaeological research analyzed fluvial, denudational, and anthropogenic layers in the Vistula riverbank. The aim was to determine the spatial and stratigraphic relationships between fluvial and denudational sedimentsand anthropogenic embankments in the Vistula riverbank zone. Key findings:(1) Early medieval fluvial and denudational processes shaped sediments, with Bronze Age and Roman artifacts redeposited by medieval floods. (2) Late medieval construction (monastery, perimeter wall) led toanthropogenic embankments dominating the area. (3) After the monastery’s mid-17th-century destruction, major floods deposited overbank alluvium. The study clarifies the site’s stratigraphic evolution under naturaland human influence.
Keywords: geoarchaeological reconstruction, fluvial and denudational processes, anthropogenic embankments deposits, medieval town, Vistuli River valley
[jacek.szmanda@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[piotr.gierszewski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
[mateusz.kramkowski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[karol.witkowski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków: Poland
[sebastian. tyszkowski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[michał.fojutowski@twarda. pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[piotr.kittel@geo.uni.lodz.pl], Faculty of Geographical Sciences University of Lodz Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź: Poland
[mkrapiec@agh.edu.pl], Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection AGH University of Science and Technology Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków: Poland
[wojchud@umk.pl], Institute of Archaeology Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[rynius@umk.pl], Institute of Archaeology Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[malgorzata.luc@uj.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Management Jagiellonian University in Kraków Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków: Poland
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 205-225 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0233
Abstract
Agriculture has been the major driver of deforestation in Europe in the last 1000 years. In the past, forests were also exploited for charcoal production; however, the spatial scale/extent of this activity and its impact are unknown. LIDAR data can be used as a noninvasive tool to investigate the small-scale diversity of the land relief, including forested areas. These data can reveal the extent anthropogenic modifications of topography present-day as well as in the past. One of the activities that can be analyzed based on LIDAR data is spatial distribution of charcoal production. A preliminary LIDAR data analysis indicated the intensity of this practice and its potential impact on the natural environment. This prompted us to analyze the environmental impact of charcoal hearths in northern Poland. As it turned out, this topic exceeded the scope of earth sciences and became a transdisciplinary one. In this work, we will use the research methods typical of biogeography, dendroecology, paleoecology, soil science, biology, botany, history, onomastics, as well as art history, in order to thoroughly understand not only the natural consequences but also the social and economic consequences of charcoal production. This paper presents the assumptions of our project, the research methodology, and the preliminary results. We have identified using LIDAR data more than 73 thousand relief forms which can be remnants of charcoal hearths. Our preliminary results confirmed large scale impact of past human activity related to charcoal production and suitability of the methods used for detecting and reconstructing charcoal hearths as well as determining the distribution and magnitude of past forest use for charcoal production in NW Poland.
Keywords: anthropopression, relict charcoal hearths, legacy effects, deforestation, LIDAR, multiproxy, Central Europe
[michal.slowinski@geopan.torun.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Department of Soil Science Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
[tzwiazek@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. Stanisława Leszczyckiego PAN
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[aj.halas@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Geological Sciences Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of History The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin: Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Archaeology Nicolaus Copernicus University Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
, Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Nicolaus Copernicus University Sienkiewicza 30/32, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
, Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Nicolaus Copernicus University Sienkiewicza 30/32, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[mateusz.kramkowski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Pisa, Italy
[sebastian. tyszkowski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[boguslawa_kruczkowska@sggw.edu.pl], Institute of Agriculture Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
[aniak@twarda.pan.pl], Department of Geoecology Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[ekolaczk@twarda.pan.pl], Department of Geoecology Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Polish Language Polish Academy of Sciences al. Mickiewicza 31, 31-120 Kraków: Poland
, Faculty of History Nicolaus Copernicus University ul. Bojarskiego 1, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[m.niedzielski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[konopski@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
[darek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland