Historical classification of ridge and furrow cultivation at selected locations in Northern and central Germany using a multi-dating approach and historical sources

Ridge and furrow cultivation was a type of ancient agricultural technique once widespread in Northern and Central Europe. The age of this cultivation technique has been a controversial topic since the 19th century, and its start date remains unresolved to this day. The prevailing opinion is that ridge and furrow cultivation began in the 12th century, while some authors have argued that the technique could be much older, dating back as far as the Roman Period. In the research presented here, the authors addressed the ages of ridge and furrow cultivation samples, using a comprehensive dating program. For this purpose, a combination of dating methods (optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL), radiocarbon dating (C-14), and ceramics classification), and a historical survey (evaluation of historical written sources and maps, and studies of abandoned villages near study sites) were carried out at nine, well-preserved ridge and furrow sites, located in the Altmark and the SW Harz foreland regions of Germany. The results of OSL, C-14, and ceramics classifications showed different ages, which varied depending on the study site. The beginnings of some ridge and furrow cultivations dated back to the High and Late Middle Ages, as has often been assumed, while six ridge and furrow sites were dated earlier (to at least the 7th and 8th c. AD). This early dating was supported by the literature, and could provide indications of the still relatively unknown cultivation techniques practiced during the Early Middle Ages. The later cultivation phase dated forward up to Modern Times (19th century AD), proposing a long establishment record for this cultivation technique. The benefits of the multi-dating approach have been demonstrated, and its results represent a further step towards the reconstruction of German agricultural history.