Molecular Ecology of Medieval European Landscapes

Introduction

MEMELAND will pioneer the creation of Europe's first species-level ecological history, spanning the Roman era to the present day. Our research will unveil the persistent medieval influences in contemporary landscapes and biodiversity. This historical insight will inform proactive land management, conservation, and heritage-informed restoration, crucial for climate change mitigation.

Research Approach

Our approach involves:

1. Sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA)
2. Lipid biomarkers
3. Multi-method chronologies
4. Archaeobotanical analysis

These methods will be applied at 50 strategically selected lake-pairs across northern and central Europe within three archaeological zones. Additionally, we will go deeper in time and investigate medieval landscape-lake interactions in 3 of the lake pairs.

Biodiversity Exploration

We'll reveal species-level biodiversity for:

• Plants
• Animals (livestock, fish, birds, and invertebrates)
• Plants-animal-soil pathogens (hologenomic level)

Additionally, we'll explore sub-species and landraces within critical taxa (e.g., cereals and domestic livestock).

Historical Context

The geography of present biodiversity is a testament to:

• Medieval and early-modern agronomy
• Population dynamics
• Elite influence (lordship, ecclesiastical)
• Cultivation systems (open-field system)
• Technology (heavy plough)
• Natural ideologies

By using pairs of lakes, one associated with a high-status site and a nearby lake with little archaeology, we'll generate geographically representative biodiversity data. This data will enable us to test hypotheses against archaeological, pollen, and climate records, and reveal the geographic reality of the ‘medieval agricultural revolution’.

Significance of the Project

Recent advances in sedaDNA analysis and molecular preservation in temperate climates make MEMELAND a groundbreaking project in both Archaeology and European ecological history. Our work promises to reshape our understanding of the historical interplay between culture and nature and provide critical insights for sustainable land management and climate change mitigation in Europe.