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March 2010 - present
September 2009 - February 2010
May 2006 - August 2009
Publications
Publications (70)
Archaeological structures are usually subject to sedimentation after their aban-donment. These sediments ("debris") come partly from collapse and are often removed as quickly as possible in order to study artifacts and the intact remains of the structures. However, in the semi-arid and arid climates of Jordan, sediments of the debris contain (or co...
Remote sensing as a tool to map and monitor soil cover in Jordan is very significant for agriculture production. Nonetheless, the still poor state of information about spectral characteristics of Jordan's soils is a challenge, where the understanding of soil spectra is of essential importance. It is especially suited to demonstrate relationships be...
Ruins of archaeological structures, mainly dating to the Bronze Age till Byzantine period, were investigated in a case study in the Petra region in southern Jordan and in the northern Negev desert in Israel. They are covered by post-abandonment debris sediments which provided the parent material of initial soils now developed on the ruins. Such deb...
Soil fertility must be viewed as a dynamic concept that involves the constant cycling of nutrients between organic and inorganic forms. In this context, it refers also to supplying adequate amounts of water and aeration for plant growth. Soil fertility under arid and semi-arid lands is constrained not only by limited water availability but also by...
Ground data on spectral characteristics of Jordan's soils remain sparse, which makes the interpretation of remote sensing datasets challenging. These are, however, very useful for predicting soil properties and agricultural suitability. Previous studies have shown that soil colors correlate well with degrees of weathering intensity as indicated by...
Terrestrial carbonate deposits are common in both natural and human-modified
landscapes in Petra and its surroundings.Three broad genetic categories are
recognized: cementations of pre-existing clastics (veins, crusts, cemented alluvium);
free-water deposits (Massive Laminated Deposits (MLD), rhizoliths, carbonate blisters,
coatings on archaeologic...
Archaeological structures are often filled with sediments and may serve as effective dust traps. The physical parameters and chemical composition of archaeological soils in hilltop ruins, ancient runoff-collecting terraces, and cleanout spoils of cisterns were determined in the Petra region in southern Jordan and the Northern Negev in Israel. Diffe...
Remote sensing as a tool to map and monitor soil cover in Jordan is very signifi-cant for agriculture production. Nonetheless, the still poor state of information about spectral characteristics of Jordan's soils is a challenge, where understanding of soil spectra is of essential importance. It is especially suited to demonstrate re-lationships betw...
Loess accumulated in the Negev desert during the Pleistocene and primary and secondary loess remains cover large parts of the landscape. Holocene loess deposits are however absent. This could be due low accumulation rates, lack of preservation, and higher erosion rates in comparison to the Pleistocene. This study hypothesized that archaeological ru...
To characterize the spectra of soils in the study area, sample collection sites were located along deferent landscape units and important transects (40 locations). The sampling was at depth 0–10 cm. The mean soil reflectance spectra (MSRS) of each sampled location was determined depending on the ASD measurements of the sieved samples (<2mm). Each M...
Using SEM-supported microsurface and analytical methods we studied quartz and rare feldspar grains of the sand fraction > 250 μm from three soil profiles in Jordan. The soils including a Lithosol are of different maturity and diagenetic alteration of their bed rocks, which are sandstone, limestone, and basalt. The profiles had been investigated dur...
Common narratives of "decline" in Jordan and Syria during the Islamic periods are based on diminishing evidence for construction and maintenance of monumental architecture, and often consider man-made degradation of the environment, such as soil erosion due to mismanagement, as a key factor of reduced productivity. This contribution tackles the que...
Although soil organic matter (SOM) forms a small portion of the soil body.
Nevertheless, it is the most important component of the soil ecosystem, as
well as of the carbon global cycle. In the semi-arid environment, there has
been little research on the spatial distribution of SOM and soil organic carbon
(SOC) stock. In this study, stratified rando...
This contribution compares the remains of irrigation systems along a climatic transect in northern Jordan: Gadara (today Umm Qeis) in the north-west, Abila (today Queilbeh) in the north, and Umm el-Jimal (ancient name unknown) in north-east Jordan. While Gadara and Abila were monumental ancient cities of the Decapolis city league, which are located...
In the semi-arid regions of northern Jordan, soil surface colors show gradual variation from west to east. The dominant soil color in the northwest is a dark reddish brown. Toward the east, lighter brown colors dominate, and colors change further to light yellow in the east. These changes coincide with a climatic gradient (mean annual precipitation...
This paper presents the preliminary results of a survey project which is being carried out in the small village of Fatschenbrunn, in Lower Franconia, Germany. The project combines archaeological, historical geographical, botanical, geological and pedological data to reconstruct the farming regimes and land use in the late medieval and post-medieval...
In this book, the author compares soil development and
sediments (soilscapes) in marginally pro ductive areas of Jordan,
Syria, Mexico, and Germany with the aim to conduct systematic
compari sons of patterns at different scales.
The idea of comparing research areas on three continents
partly followed earlier investigations considering long-range
te...
We investigated Terrae calcis on limestone and dolomite in Franconia, as well as the red fill of deep cracks in the rock (Karstschlotten). SEM images of the rock-soil transition zones supported by EDS found amorphous clays along fissures that could be products of metasomatic, authigenic clay neoformation within microfossils, calcite, and dolomite g...
We conducted a detailed study of a valley fill in Wadi Queilbeh near the ancient site Abila of the Decapolis in northern Jordan to check whether the fill can serve as environmental archive of landscape changes in the region. Apart from several profiles along the course of the valley and its bordering slopes, one profile was studied in the neighbori...
Order information:
We decided to publish the book with the Franconian Geographical Society and Palm & Enke in order to keep costs low and have better flexibility in the production process. Therefore it costs only 29 Euro. Shipping inside Germany costs 4,90 Euro, and international shipment costs are 16 Euro.
For ordering please send an email to ge...
It is disputed whether Terrae Rossae form mainly out of the bedrock residue, from allochthonous material like aerosols, or by isovolumetric replacement. Furthermore, whether they are mainly relic soils or are still forming is subject to debate. These questions were addressed by comparing the geochemistry of several limestone and basalt based Red Me...
Growing populations, increasing food demand, and technological advances may soon lead to intensifying land use in semiarid and arid countries through the spread of irrigated agriculture. Improved water harvesting and desalinization technology, coupled with higher efficiency of regenerative energies, might allow to widely extend irrigated areas. Whi...
We investigated the rocksoil transition zones of three different Terra Rossa profiles near the ancient site of Abila, in northern Jordan, in order to demonstrate the possibility of a metasomatic origin for these soils using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energydispersive system (EDS). The field interpretation suggested that...
We investigated the rock-soil transition zones of three different Terra Rossa profiles near the ancient site of Abila, in northern Jordan, in order to demonstrate the possibility of a metasomatic origin for these soils using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive system (EDS). The field interpretation suggested that...
European travel reports of the 19th century and excavations in Transjordan created the impression that population numbers were strongly reduced during the Islamic periods, leading to 'empty' lands which were only resettled during the early 20th century. This development was considered to be caused by bad (Muslim) governance, nomadic incursions, and...
Germany: Red soil in limestone ssures under brown soil (Terra Fusca) in the Franconian Alb -Calcite plates along in the rock-soil transition zone show clay minerals in cracks, sug-gesting that pieces of calcite are separated from the rock by clay growth in ssures. -Closed pores are some-times lled with clay, and no detrital clay can be observed (no...
Large-scale irrigation projects are theoretically beneficial; however there are examples of outstanding failures which partly led to ecological catastrophes. We think that
irrigation per se does not necessarily lead to land degradation. Even in the famous case of the Mesopotamian plains, the idea
that ancient Sumerian irrigation caused irreversible...
It is a deeply entrenched belief that historic land use led to land degradation in the desert belts. Supposedly, overgrazing
and farming caused erosion, and irrigation led to salinization. Considering the gaps in settlement history, mismanagement
is considered a prime reason for abandonment [1–3]. If this is so, Progressive Development might be doo...
The current discussion of “sustainability” focuses on aspects of conserving the environmental status quo. However, the environmental
history of the desert belts is characterized by strong environmental fluctuations, and modern technology started to irreversibly
change societies living in arid regions, initiating a growth which long since crossed th...
Most semi-arid regions face strong population growth. For example, with the actual growth rate in Jordan, population doubles
every 25 years. Many countries in the desert belt experienced rapid modernisation during the last 50 years. Taking Jordan
again as an example, modern western life styles are spreading quickly. They co-exist with traditional h...
The overview of developments in the desert makes clear that Progressive Development is already implemented is many areas,
although it is not acknowledged as such and a coordinating master plan is missing. International plans would be very desirable,
since water is a transboundary issue. For example, exploitation of the Disi aquifer led to conflict...
According to the definition of sustainability, the achievements of past civilizations, e.g. the floodwater farming near the
site of Umm el-Jimal, were sustainable since they did not rely on non-renewable resources. But they did not allow continuous
settlement from antiquity until today. It is often assumed that breaks in settlement history were due...
The World Reference Base for Soil Resources and the FAO Guidelines for Soil Description are tools to identify, describe and classify a soil by diagnostic horizons, diagnostic properties, diagnostic materials, and other soil features. While bedrock and residual fragments can be defined by their lithology and abundance, the parent material of soil fo...
It is expected that global warming will materialize primarily as lack of rain in semi-arid countries, leading to drought and failure of crops. But apart from the direct impact on harvests, changing temperatures also affect soil properties. A sustained drought or different rainfall pattern may lead to a reduction of organic matter, loss of aggregate...
Beiträge des 13. Internationalen Symposiums zur Geschichte der Wasserwirtschaft und des Wasserbaus im Mediterranen Raum Petra / Amman 31. März – 09. April 2007 edited / herausgegeben im Auftrag der by / von Christoph Ohlig Siegburg 2008
Desertification is seen as a severe threat to Mediterranean ecosystems and the desert fringes. Both land use and climate variations may lead to an advance of the desert, and human and natural factors can be connected in feedback relationships. This makes it difficult to describe cause-and-effect relationships, and to predict the impact of global wa...
It is of high actual importance to clarify historic climate variations and their impact, because it is not possible to predict future developments and their drivers, unless those of the past are understood. The Decapolis area in northern Jordan provides excellent opportunities to analyze this question. Environmental change as a result either or of...
Historic land use was found to impact soil development directly in the Decapolis region in Northern Jordan, leading to re-distribution, not simply erosion and degradation of soils. Several authors proposed that land use had a strongly negative impact on soil development in semi-arid areas, leading to desertification. The term desertification was us...
Historic land use was found to impact soil development directly in the Decapolis region in Northern Jordan, leading to re-distribution, not simply erosion and degradation of soils. Several authors proposed that land use had a strongly negative impact on soil development in semi-arid areas, leading to desertification. The term desertification was us...
The Decapolis region in Northern Jordan flourished during the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad period, leading to the construction of great monuments. They are very well preserved, because the region was abandoned in the 10th century AD and no significant resettlement took place. Earthquakes, diseases and political reasons are in general thought to be...
The Decapolisregion in Northern Jordan flourished during the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad period, leading to the construction of great monuments. They are very well preserved, because the region was abandoned in the 10th century AD and no significant resettlement took place. Earthquakes, diseases and political reasons are in general thought to be r...
Lucke, B., 2002. Abila's Abandonment. Anthology of Scientific Publications & Research Papers, RPR 14, Chair of Environmental Planning, BTU Cottbus, Cottbus.
Desertification is seen as a severe threat for the Mediterranean and the desert belts, which is accelerated by global warming. Both land use and climate variations may lead to an advance of the desert, and human and natural factors can be connected in feedback relationships. This makes it difficult to describe cause-and-effect relationships, and to...
Projects
Projects (6)
Agricultural systems in arid and semi-arid regions lack an adequate approach for estimating fertility since most estimating soil fertility systems are designed for temperate and humid regions.
This project aimed to develop an algorithm that will permit to estimate fertility of soils in xeric environments and improve the agricultural systems in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa. My research entails collaboration with programmers and agricultural land tax offices in Germany, which are responsible for equal taxation and value assessment of land according to the German soil fertility system (developed for temperate climate).
1) Investigate soil factors determining and limiting yields in arid and semi-arid areas
2) Determine the role and impact of physical and chemical properties of soils in arid and semi-arid regions with regard to fertility assessment
3) Propose a soil fertility estimation approach that will be designed in a numerical system (1-100) and consists of three categories, which makes it possible to quantify the fertility and value of the land as well as the effects of soil loss from an economic point of view.
4) Development of an algorithm
5) Attract projects that can test the algorithm
6) The research is for the benefit of society and will be conducted in close collaboration with a programmer and agricultural land tax offices in Germany. Interdisciplinary exchange is key for the development of the method.
7) Establish contacts for future collaboration with FAO, IPCC, the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas ICARDA, The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands “ACSAD".
To better understand recent (Late Quaternary) geological processes in Petra and how humans interacted with them.
1) This research will provide a unique database for the Murgia of southern Italy of past natural habitat composition and distributions, and their relationship to past climates, landscapes, human activity and landscape processes.
2) We will assemble a database documenting the current status of the remaining natural habitats in the region. We will use this to document both the current diversity of natural communities, and any changes that might occur. We will also inventory habitats that have recently been burned, or are repeatedly burned to note the sequence of recovery, and changes in biodiversity. Both these databases will be used for implementing the design of restorative permascapes.
3) Determine both the major and minor causes of natural habitat destruction so that these can be addressed and removed as destructive agents in the local environment.
4) Re-educate stake holders in appropriate land use practices to halt ongoing destruction of both natural and agricultural habitats. A particular target will be the cessation of biomass burning in the area. The second target will be to eliminate over steep slopes that are particularly susceptible to erosion from farming. These areas should revert to natural habitats, i.e., hedge rows, macchia, and even small woodlands.
4) Establish a locally run program of environmental monitoring to track natural habitats to track trends in both diversity and spatial distribution in real-time, so that rescue intervention can be undertaken much more rapidly than if the program was managed from outside the Murgia.
5) Initiate a program of environmental education in local schools and as a series of informative presentations to encourage involvement of the community in maintenance of the natural habitats of the Murgia. We envision a program involving students in the rescue of natural habitats that will produce a long-term commitment to be stewards of the environment. This will be especially timely, because the Catholic church is now considering making environmental stewardship a primary teaching of the church, and a responsibility of Catholics.
6) Initiate a program of local volunteerism for re-planting of native habitats. Re-vegetation will be based upon both the local natural habitat biodiversity inventory and upon is learned from the paleo-data sets that will be collected for the area regarding past habitat composition. Because this activity may require a lot of manpower, that with the agreement of the local community members of the refugee population who are not already otherwise employed might be join these volunteer groups. Beyond the supplying additional help in replanting the ecosystems of the area, it would also serve to help integrate these people into the local community. Working together is often the first step in understanding and acceptance by the local population.
7) Train local habitat monitors to continue assessment of natural habitats after this project is completed. Local assessment will expedite identification of problems that might arise in the environment before they become significant.
8) Establish and maintain a program to monitor the water quality and health of local springs.
9) Establish a similar project in central Ireland, to monitor natural habitat response to climate change in an area with contrasting environmental parameters. Comparison of the two habitats will generate understandings regarding the response of local habitats to climate change under very different conditions.