Geoarchaeological Investigation of Early Neolithic Lagoonal Fringe Landscapes in the Netherlands

Abstract

Coastal wetlands have historically been portrayed as too marginal for early crop cultivation during the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition due to their dynamic hydrology, low elevation, and poor drainage. However, growing evidence suggests that these environments played a crucial role in the spread of agriculture. We examined buried and submerged channel–levee systems beneath present-day Lake IJssel (the Netherlands) to investigate the spatial and temporal extent to which wetland levees provided suitable grounds for cultivation as rivers functioned while the sea level rose. The study area lies along the lower reaches of the paleo-Vecht River, one of two local rivers crossing the Swifterbant-type area, with key sites located 10–20 km inland. Integrating sedimentary geology, archaeological soil micromorphology, and radiocarbon dating of research cores, we identify buried soil horizons indicating periods of reduced sedimentation and relatively stable, dry conditions conducive to human activity. Micromorphology reveals charred plant material, ceramic fragments, and disturbed soil aggregates comparable to tilled fields at Swifterbant settlements. Radiocarbon dating places these features between ca. 4500 and 4200 BC, coinciding with upstream occupation. These findings add to growing evidence of widespread, sustained land use in these wetland environments and highlight the value of micromorphology in detecting subtle traces of human activity in landscape-scale studies.