Prehistoric settlements and development of the regional economic area

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The aim of the archaeological sub-project is to receive answers about the extent to which the ancient human societies have reacted on coastal decline caused by climate changes, geological factors and to other changes of their natural environment by changes of their economic system, their social structures or their communication nets. The areas of research are the Wismar Bight as part of the Mecklenburgian Bight in the west and the coastal waters of the Isle of Rügen in the east. The period between 6000 and 2000 BC is of particular interest, since the rapid rise of the sea level during that period, that has caused great environmental changes, obviously must have affected the behaviour of human cultures. Several well preserved coastal settlement sites have recently been discovered in both areas of research, that need investigation and evaluation to produce the necessary proxy-data for other sub-projects of the research unit. Moreover, the localization and survey on late mesolithic and early neolithic sites in the bordering areas is necessary to clarify if it is possible to generalize the expected results. A detailed examination of those sites is planned for the phase 2 of the project. In addition individual coast-related settlement sites are known from the bronce and iron age as well as sites from the early and high Middle Ages, which cover the time span from 2000 BC to 2000 AD. Two important sites situated in the areas of our focus of attention, the Wismar Bight and Island of Rügen, have to be mentioned: the early-medieval coastal trade centres Gross Strömkendorf and Ralswiek. Both have produced comprehensive information about the changes of the sea level and the reactions of the affected inhabitants by intensive exploration. They shall be added to the investigation.