The Home Turf team enjoys working with students who are interested in writing their BSc or MSc thesis on peatland-related topics. This has led to a number of interesting projects on a wide variety of topics. A small selection is highlighted below. Interested in doing your own research with us? Contact us!
Sacrificing with wet feet? An environmental reconstruction of the Bolleveen area (Drenthe, The Netherlands) in the Roman period (12 BC – AD 400) (Anouk Timmerman)
Various Dutch bogs have produced spectacular and well-preserved archaeological finds, often retrieved during peat-cutting. Even though such finds have received a lot of attention, they often lack a proper physical geographical contextualisation. This project focuses on the Bolleveen site (province of Drenthe), where various Iron Age and mainly Roman-period finds (wheel fragments, animal bones, pottery) were done in the first half of the 20th century. A wide variety of archaeological and geological sources are used to reconstruct the site, on different spatial scales.
Excavation at the Bolleveen site (1940s) © GIA
Various Dutch bogs have produced spectacular and well-preserved archaeological finds, often retrieved during peat-cutting. Even though such finds have received a lot of attention, they often lack a proper physical geographical contextualisation. This project focuses on the Bolleveen site (province of Drenthe), where various Iron Age and mainly Roman-period finds (wheel fragments, animal bones, pottery) were done in the first half of the 20th century. A wide variety of archaeological and geological sources are used to reconstruct the site, on different spatial scales.
Excavation at the Bolleveen site (1940s) © GIA
What’s in a name? Typical geographical names in a raised bog landscape and the relation with environmental conditions (Lotte Mathu)
One way to study the cultural history of peatlands is by means of toponomy. The goal of this project is to compare peatland-related geographical names to the (past) environmental and cultural conditions. This is done by means of a case-study of the Drouwen region (province of Drenthe). Special attention is given to the dynamics of peatland toponyms and the insights they provide into the perception of peatlands.
One way to study the cultural history of peatlands is by means of toponomy. The goal of this project is to compare peatland-related geographical names to the (past) environmental and cultural conditions. This is done by means of a case-study of the Drouwen region (province of Drenthe). Special attention is given to the dynamics of peatland toponyms and the insights they provide into the perception of peatlands.
Best practices for creating high-resolution 3D pre-peat landscapes (Dillen Bruil)
This project aims to find the best practice for creating a high-resolution 3D pre-peat landscape. The pre-peat landscape (the landscape present before peat inception) is reconstructed using legacy data and new collected data with Ground Penetrating Radar. Different geo-statistical approaches are used and assessed on quality. Pilot area is the Bargerveen, which is the best preserved part of the vast former Bourtanger Moor.
This project aims to find the best practice for creating a high-resolution 3D pre-peat landscape. The pre-peat landscape (the landscape present before peat inception) is reconstructed using legacy data and new collected data with Ground Penetrating Radar. Different geo-statistical approaches are used and assessed on quality. Pilot area is the Bargerveen, which is the best preserved part of the vast former Bourtanger Moor.
Effects of peat burning on the physical landscape (Vera Omtzigt)
Between the 17th and 19th century, peat burning for the production of buckwheat was a common practice in the northern Netherlands and Germany. Even though it must have had a devastating effect on the environment, this practice and its effects on the physical landscape are hardly studied yet. In this project, the exact process of peat burning is reconstructed using historical sources. Its effects on the soil are estimated by consulting different types of soil data. Consecutively, a comparison is made with present use of peat burning in Indonesia.
Between the 17th and 19th century, peat burning for the production of buckwheat was a common practice in the northern Netherlands and Germany. Even though it must have had a devastating effect on the environment, this practice and its effects on the physical landscape are hardly studied yet. In this project, the exact process of peat burning is reconstructed using historical sources. Its effects on the soil are estimated by consulting different types of soil data. Consecutively, a comparison is made with present use of peat burning in Indonesia.