Spatial variations in the preservation of Late Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows in the Low Countries explained by differences in soil formation, degradation processes and land use history

This study follows a multi-scalar interdisciplinary approach to reconstruct formation processes influencing the preservation of barrows. The southern Netherlands and northern/central Belgium were selected as pilot area. We arrive at three regional »sketches« signalling the most significant processes, which may serve as preludes for further modelling. Barrows in the cover sand areas of the Dutch and Belgian Campine region (sketch 1) are mainly affected by podzolisation, bioturbation, erosion and reclamations. Erosion is the most common soil formation process documented in the central Belgian loess belt (sketch 2). Finally, Belgian Sandy Flanders (sketch 3) witnessed very intense, prolonged tillage from the Middle Ages onwards, which led to the destruction of all barrows.This study follows a multi-scalar interdisciplinary approach to reconstruct formation processes influencing the preservation of barrows. The southern Netherlands and northern/central Belgium were selected as pilot area. We arrive at three regional »sketches« signalling the most significant processes, which may serve as preludes for further modelling. Barrows in the cover sand areas of the Dutch and Belgian Campine region (sketch 1) are mainly affected by podzolisation, bioturbation, erosion and reclamations. Erosion is the most common soil formation process documented in the central Belgian loess belt (sketch 2). Finally, Belgian Sandy Flanders (sketch 3) witnessed very intense, prolonged tillage from the Middle Ages onwards, which led to the destruction of all barrows.A