Biology subjects

Kirleis, W.

Publications and source records attributed to Kirleis, W..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

The role of climatic anomalies in agricultural instability and settlement abandonment in northeastern Germany during the Migration Period

The Late Antique Migration Period (LAMP; 300-700 CE) in northeastern Germany was marked by significant socio-environmental transformations, including the decline of human activity, settlement abandonment, and a reduction in cereal cultivation, particularly rye (Secale cereale). While these changes are well-documented in pollen and archaeological records, their underlying drivers--whether socio-political instability, agricultural crises, or environmental pressures--remain debated. Here, we synthesize multiproxy evidence, including high-resolution pollen data, climate reconstructions, and archaeobotanical data to explore the interplay between climatic fluctuations, agricultural practices, and human mobility during LAMP. Although previous studies have examined socio-environmental changes during the Migration Period using archaeological and palynological evidence, this study is the first to integrate high-resolution pollen records, archaeobotanical data, and climate model simulations specific to northeastern Germany to systematically evaluate the role of climatic anomalies in shaping agricultural and demographic patterns. We focus on the Dark Age Cold Period (DACP; 350-700 CE) and the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA; 536-660 CE), which brought cold and wet conditions to northern Europe, likely disrupting agricultural productivity and fostering the spread of Claviceps purpurea (ergot), a toxic fungus affecting cereal crops, particularly rye. Our findings suggest that these climatic anomalies created favorable conditions for ergot outbreaks, leading to agricultural instability and reduced food security. This, combined with socio-political pressures, may have contributed to the observed decline in human activity and settlement abandonment. By integrating palynological, climatic, and archaeobotanical data, this study highlights the complex interactions between environmental stressors and human responses during the LAMP. We suggest that the climatic anomalies of the DACP and LALIA, coupled with the vulnerability of cereal crops to ergot infestation, influenced agricultural and demographic shifts in northeastern Germany. This review not only refines our understanding of the DACP and the LALIA but also demonstrates how climatic stressors and natural hazards can amplify socio-political vulnerabilities in past societies (or pre-industrial societies).

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) reveal divers manuring practices of rye (Secale cereale) in northern Europe since 1500 years

First analysis of stable isotopes in rye from northern and eastern Germany provides insights into the early history of rye cultivation from the migration to the late medieval period. A comparison of the{delta} 15N with modern experiments reveals that already the early cultivation involved the practice of intensive manuring. The intensity of manuring does not demonstrate a discernible trend over time but high variability. In some instances, it is likely that rye was cultivated as part of a rotation cultivation system including manuring. Through its{delta} 34S values some rye turned out to be manured with marine peats. Rye, reputed to be a frugal crop, was cultivated on poor sandy soils to a limited extent only. Statistically significant correlation between the 13C content and yields demonstrates that the highest yield success on dwelling mounds was achieved, while the majority of fields on dry sandy soils yielded in relation only 40 to 70 %. Manured rye facilitated the emergence of multi-headed village communities and towns and stabilized the political power systems. The cultivation on mounds flooded by winter storm surges emphasises that summer rye was initially cultivated, before winter-rye became the dominating crop in Germany until the mid-20th century.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Sequencing of historical plastid genomes reveal exceptional genetic diversity in early domesticated rye plants

In medieval central Europe, rye was one of the most important agricultural crops. Its properties of frost resistance, general resilience and resistance to many pathogens made it invaluable for medieval farmers. Rye has a distinct domestication history compared to other cereal crops and was not domesticated directly from its wild ancestors, like barley and wheat. Rye is considered to be a "secondary domesticate", i.e. a crop with domestication traits that initially evolved as an arable weed but eventually was intentionally sown and propagated as a crop. To study the history of rye domestication, genetic sequences of present-day plant populations as well as material from historical samples can provide insights into the temporal and spatial signatures of domestication. In this study we combined archaeobotanical methods and ancient DNA sequencing of well-preserved, historical rye material to study patterns of genetic diversity across four centuries. We first applied archaeobotanical methods to characterize rye material acquired from construction material ranging from the 14th to 18th century from different locations in Germany. Next, we extracted DNA to sequence complete chloroplast genomes of six individual samples. We compared the 115,000 bp chloroplast genomes of historical rye samples to chloroplast genomes of other cereal crops and identified 217 single nucleotide variants exclusive to historical samples. By comparing the aDNA chloroplast samples with modern rye chloroplasts, we show that the genetic variation in ancient rye populations was exceptionally high compared to samples from contemporary rye cultivars. This confirms that late domestication and selective breeding have reduced genetic variation in this important crop species only in the last few centuries. HighlightsO_LIHistorical plant material covering four centuries was obtained from half-timbered houses from five locations in Germany C_LIO_LIIntegrative archaeobotanical analyses and ancient DNA sequencing provided insights into genetic diversity of rye plants from historical farmland fields. C_LIO_LISequence analyses of complete assembled chloroplast genomes reveal expectational diversity in rye populations. C_LIO_LILate domestication of rye preserved genetic diversity over centuries. The more recent intensification of rye breeding has however conferred a considerable loss of genetic diversity in this important crop. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Transformation of cereal grains: Botanical and chemical analysis of food residues encrusted on pottery from the Funnel Beaker settlement of Oldenburg LA 77, northern Germany

An integrated botanical and chemical approach is used to study surface residues on Funnel Beaker ceramics from the site of Oldenburg LA 77, in northern Germany. Organic residues were discovered adhering to fragments of thick-walled, undecorated ceramic vessels (n=19) and ceramic discs (n=2). The surface residues were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to examine remains of cereals and other plant tissues that survived food preparation and cooking, and using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and direct time-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS), to chemically identify specific food components. The SEM results show a reoccurring presence of cereal grain (emmer and barley) and one case of co-occurrence of emmer and fat-hen seeds. The SEM evidence for the use of sprouted emmer grain and milk-ripe barley from the Oldenburg residues greatly enhances our understanding of Neolithic foodways in northwestern Europe. The ATR-FTIR results showed that roughly a third of the surface residues contain traces of the original foods prepared or processed and DTMS results confirm that most of the residues primarily contain polysaccharides and a minimal amount of plant protein and that they lack lipids. Only one residue presents minor indications for a (partly) animal origin. The ceramic vessels were thus used almost exclusively for the processing or cooking of cereal grains. This study offers an intimate view of the cuisine and cooking practices (and in some cases their seasonal timing) in an early agricultural village located in a marginal farming region on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Life and death in Trypillia times: Interdisciplinary analyses of the exceptional human remains from the settlement of Kosenivka, Ukraine (3700-3600 BCE)

We present an interdisciplinary analysis of finds from the Trypillia settlement of Kosenivka, Ukraine (ca. 3700-3600 BCE, Trypillia C1), that links information on human, faunal, and botanical remains with archaeological data to provide exceptionally detailed insights into life and death at a Trypillia mega-site. We obtained osteological, palaeopathological, and histotaphonomic data from human bone fragments; performed carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analysis of human and animal bone to calculate food webs with the software FRUITS; and modelled newly generated radiocarbon dates to refine the sites chronology. The biological profile of seven identified individuals, some of whom suffered from disease symptoms common in the Chalcolithic, represents a demographic cross-section of the population. The analysis of perimortem cranial trauma suffered by two individuals suggest cases of interpersonal conflict. Food web calculations demonstrate the large contribution of cereals to the protein component of the human diet, which is supported by dental observations, and we suggest that livestock were a major manure producer for crop cultivation. The most probable scenario for the formation of the Kosenivka find assemblage is a deathly fire event. This makes the site a rare example where the archaeological and osteological results can be used to reconstruct a minimum number of house inhabitants. Following a literature review, we contextualise our analysis by discussing the general lack of human remains from Early and Middle Trypillia sites. The individuals from Kosenivka form part of the less than 0.05% of the total estimated Trypillia population that is represented skeletally; its members were deposited within settlements in the Middle Trypillia stage (until C1), preceding the shift to extramural burials in its late phase (C2). Our detailed results indicate the huge explanatory potential that has yet to be unlocked in the rare and often poorly preserved bioarchaeological archives of the Cucuteni-Trypillia phenomenon.

evolutionary biology↗