
Moritz NykampFreie Universität Berlin | FUB · Institute of Geographical Sciences
Moritz Nykamp
Dr. rer. nat.
About
25
Publications
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Introduction
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Publications
Publications (25)
This study traces the geomorphological development in the environs of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site Göbekli Tepe by means of radiocarbon dated sediment profiles from its close vicinity. Based on facies interpretation we identify different depositional environments and discuss the involved process dynamics. Our results show that the sediments from...
The relation between human activities, climate variability, and geomorphodynamics in the Mediterranean region is widely discussed. For the western lower Bakırçay plain in the ancient Pergamon Micro-Region, geoarchaeological studies have shown changes in geomorphodynamics primarily on a site-basis. We reconstruct past geomorphodynamics in the area b...
This study presents a meta-analysis of radiocarbon ages for the environs of Göbekli Tepe-one of the oldest monumental structures worldwide-using cumulative probability functions to diachronically assess phases of geomorphodynamic activity as controlled by natural or anthropogenic drivers. We employ sediment cascades as a heuristic framework to stud...
This study uses an integrated multi-method geoarcheological and geochronological approach to contribute to the understanding of the timing and stratigraphy of the monumental burial mound royal tomb (Königsgrab) of Seddin. We show that the hitherto established radiocarbon-based terminus post quem time frame for the construction of the burial mound o...
The monumental Late Bonze Age royal tomb of Seddin is located in the old morainic landscape of the Prignitz region, northeastern Germany. Together with other richly equipped burials and a row of stone pits in its direct vicinity, it provides evidence for the presence of an elite from the nineth to sixth centuries BCE in this region. Our map emphasi...
Map published along with paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2021.2020178
Interaction represents the main drivers of historic, economic, social, and cultural processes and is addressed by many archaeological approaches, including culture and networks. Interaction can be measured using site distribution, exchanged objects and cultural distances. These approaches of developing empirical interaction models are explained. A...
This dataset comprises the detailed descriptions and laboratory measurements of sediment profiles from the semi-arid environs of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey—one of the oldest monumental structures of humankind dating to c. 11.5–10 ka BP. Focus of the descriptions are the architectural elements of the deposits...
Quantitative sediment analyses performed in the laboratory are often used throughout archaeological excavations to critically reflect on-site stratigraphic delineation. Established methods are, however, often time-consuming and expensive. Recent studies suggest that systematic image analysis can objectivise the delineation of stratigraphic layers b...
This contribution provides a first characterization of the environmental development for the surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Göbekli Tepe. We base our analyses on a literature review that covers the environmental components of prevailing bedrock and soils, model-and proxy-based climatic development, and vegetation. The spatio-temp...
This doctoral thesis focuses on human–environment interactions in the environs of the Late Bronze Age enclosure Corneşti-Iarcuri – the largest known settlement of European prehistory. Varying interactions among humans and the environment are considered on different spatial and temporal scales aiming to enhance our understanding of their impacts on...
This study exemplifies the theoretical and methodological process of integration of disciplinary results, the joint development of new hypotheses and its interdisciplinary interpretation in the framework of landscape archaeological research. A conceptual model is introduced to visualize the integration process. The findings of two recently publishe...
This study applies a landscape archaeological approach, combining geoscientific and archaeological data, to shed light into the Holocene landscape development in the environs of the Late Bronze Age enclosure of Corne¸stiCorne¸sti-Iarcuri, Romania. Corne¸stiCorne¸sti-Iarcuri is located at the eastern edge of the Great Hungarian Plain and represents...
The presented study combines data from geomorphological, geochemical, sedimentological, chronometric, and archaeological records providing first insights into the Holocene landscape development in the environs of the Late Bronze Age fortification enclosure Corneşti-Iarcuri. This large-scale archaeological site is located in a loess-covered, undulat...
For the environs of the Late Bronze Age fortification enclosure Iarcuri the
hydro-morphological relief characteristics are combined with archaeological evidences.
Target of the study is to evaluate the impact of settlement activities in the surroundings of
Iarcuri on the development of the channel network. Data analysis is based on topographic
map-...
Corneşti-Iarcuri is the largest known fortification enclosure of prehistoric Europe. The site is located in the Romanian Banat, at the southeastern edge of the Mureş alluvial fan (Fig. 1). Four earth filled wooden ramparts with a total length of about 33 km enclose an area of more than 17.2 km². Even today, after centuries of intensive arable farmi...
Late Holocene landscape evolution in the Geyikli basin, a sub-catchment of the Bakircay basin on the West Anatolian Coast, and its implications for the plaeogeography of the environs of ancient Pergamon (modern Bergama), were studied by a combination of archaeological and geographical investigations. The study aims to investigate whether the "Dorpf...
Projects
Projects (4)
The starting point of our project is the interactions between a profound urban change in the ancient city of Pergamon in western Anatolia and changes in the cities micro-region.
The project builds on the observation of a notable increase of the urban area of Pergamon since the end of the royal era in 133 BCE and simultaneous changes in the settlement pattern and characteristics in the western lower Bakırçay plain and the surrounding mountain ranges and coastal zones. The area was initially characterised by settlement concentration and demilitarisation; later, in the imperial period, otium elements such as thermal baths were established, and the relations between cities, rural settlements and the landscape changed.
We analyse this transformation systematically and diachronically throughout the entire micro-region for the first time. This takes place at various levels such as resource use, production and consumption, lifestyle and health of residents, architecture and construction as well as the design and perception of living spaces. In terms of the diversity of natural resources, the project focuses on soil, water, wood, stone, and clay, whose importance for the economic and living space can only be understood through the direct cooperation of archaeology, building research and physical geography.
We will answer the following overarching questions:
(1) Reconstruction of interdependencies in the diachronic development of settlement structure and use of natural space between urban and rural areas;
(2) analysis of the organization and function of complex processes, e.g. building programmes or ceramic production and distribution with special consideration of economic and ecological factors on different spatial levels (local, regional, supra-regional);
(3) evaluation of transformations of urban physiognomies in the context of dynamic ecological, economic and demographic developments within the micro-region and in the context of supra-regional networks; and
(4) the development of a complex social-ecological model of the transformation of the Pergamon micro-region as a contribution to a better understanding of the dynamic human-environment relationship and its reception in landscape design, urban development and architecture.
In the course of the project, focus and objectives shift from a small-scale exemplary view to the micro-region and adjacent areas as a whole.
Interdisciplinary (Physical Geography and Archaeology) investigations at the Late Bronze Age "Royal Tomb" ("Königsgrab") of Seddin (Prignitz region; northeastern Brandenburg; northeastern Germany) and in its surroundings.
The site of Göbekli Tepe is located in southeastern Anatolia, c. 10 km northeast of the modern city of Şanlıurfa. The monumental complex is constructed from monolithic T-shaped pillars dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPNA and PPNB), between c. 9.500 and 8.200 cal. BCE. Göbekli Tepe is interpreted as a ritual center and communication platform for a regionally interconnected hunter-gatherer society.
The environs of Göbekli Tepe are studied in order to understand the Late Quaternary landscape development; with a temporal focus on the transition from the Late Pleistocene to the Early Holocene. This is achieved by a combination of local geomorphological investigations and sediment analyses. Alluvial and colluvial sediments, obtained from outcrops in small-scale catchments in the vicinity of Göbekli Tepe, are analyzed regarding their geochemical and -physical characteristics and the depositional phases are estimated applying radiocarbon dating. Alongside, geomorphological mapping is carried out to provide detailed descriptions of the geomorphological context for the profile locations. The results will provide first insights into the varying Late Quaternary morphodynamics in the environs of Göbekli Tepe and will allow - in combination with local palaeobiological data and regional climate and vegetation data - to draw a first picture of the development of the natural environment. The integration of results from local geomorphological and sediment analyses and the archaeological data from Göbekli Tepe will lead to an enhanced understanding of the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene landscape in Upper Mesopotamia at the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to an agricultural lifestyle.