Environmental Monitoring at the Lusatian Culture Settlement in Biskupin, Poland

Abstract

The defended Lusatian culture settlement in Biskupin (Poland) was explored in the years 1934–1974, but without excavating the whole area of the site. After the research was finished, many well-preserved timber structures of the settlement that had been exposed were left in flooded trenches, filled up with soil or sand. The archaeological material that had not been excavated still stays buried and undisturbed underground. In 2003, a research project was commenced, to work out a complex site protection program.The article discusses the results of the 3-year-long monitoring of selected soil and water parameters. Measurements were performed in 6 measuring stations, distributed on lake Biskupińskie's peninsula. Changes in groundwater level, pH and water conductivity, as well as redox potential and soil temperature, were measured.Periodic fluctuations in the recorded environmental parameters were observed. In summer, groundwater level at the site dropped to the level of the remains of the Lusatian culture settlement. Archaeological material situated in the layer of wet peat lies in reducing conditions. Mean redox potential values (Eh) ranged from -240 to -170 mV. Higher values were observed with an increase in groundwater level and decrease in soil temperature. Timber that is situated above water level, as well as above the bottom of flooded trenches, finds itself in considerably worse condition.On the basis of measurements performed at the site, as well as parallel physical, chemical, and microbiological research on timber, some initial conclusions and recommendations have been made on the complete cessation of the process of pumping water out of the site and the necessity to start preparations for filling up the existing open trenches with soil.