All we are is dust in the wind | Social vulnerabilities to the hazard of sand

Dr. Maïka de Keyzer, ERC project Coordinating for Life, Economic and Social History, Utrecht University

 A large part of Europe is covered and defined by sand. The European coversand belt stretches from Breckland in England across continental Europe to Russia. It created a zone of remarkably similar ecosystems, where societies faced similar natural challenges and opportunities. When overexploited, sandy soils could start to drift and destroy entire villages and productive land. Some societies however, were able to prevent such disastrous floods while others suffered the full blow. In addition, drift sand phases occurred in different time frames throughout the coversand belt. What can explain these differences? How were some societies able to create subcultures of coping, while others were not? By combining archaeological data, OSL studies and archival material I will advance that we have to alter the current paradigm concerning the causes of sand drifts. Not population growth nor the level of agricultural exploitation alone can explain the occurrence of drift sand phases, but rather the exploitation regime and prevention measures implemented by societies is vital to explain societal vulnerabilities. Premodern Breckland (England) and the Campine area (Belgium), will function as case studies to illustrate this hypothesis. 

Settlements and sand drift in Thy

Charlotte Boje H. Andersen, Curator, Museum Thy

Presentation of the preliminary results of the excavations at the deserted manor Nebel, which was moved at least twice because of impairment of the land. Discussion of the perspectives in the investigation of sand covered farmland, roads, dykes, watermills etc. - and of churches and ecclesiastical sources as source material in localization of medieval settlements and mapping of the changes of settlements due to sand drift.

Settlements and sand drift in Northern Sealand

Kjartan Langsted, Curator, Museum Nordsjælland

 Sealand suffered heavily from drift sand during the latter part of the 16^th and throughout the 17^th centuries. Sand drift was particularly prevalent in the Tisvildehegn area. Here, the Medieval villages of Torup and Tibirke as well as the manor of Asserbo were given up and deserted owing to the invading sand. This presentation will present the overarching situation and the sand drifting process, and will zoom in on the village of Torup, where several years of archaeological investigations have revealed four deserted farmsteads. The Torup farms have not been disturbed significantly by recent building works and thus offer a snapshot of these locales at the time of desertion, which in turn can contribute to understanding the development of the farmstead over time.  

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