Ongoing projectThe work is basic research (i.e., experimental and theoretical investigations) carried out to gain new insights into the relict charcoal hearths (RCHs). The principal aim of the project is to create a magnetic description of soils characterized by a charcoal-enriched horizon (CEH) as a result of a former charcoal production process and to compare it with reference soils (i.e., the same type of soil, but without the presence of a CEH). Moreover, the project will present magnetic measurement methods and techniques that will enable the detection of RCHs in the field.
Currently, there are no studies reporting RCHs using magnetic analyses, and this gap is addressed in this project. Thus, the importance of the proposed research is fundamental for geophysics, soil science, forestry, and archeology. The obtained data will serve as reference data for a variety of environmental magnetic studies, in particular a historical charcoal production characteristic as a unique precoal industrial and cultural heritage. Moreover, these data may influence the development of research into: (1) environmental magnetism (pyrogenic magnetic enhancement of soils); (2) forestry (the effect of charcoal on the properties of forest soils); (3) archeology (methods and techniques for archeological prospection).
Funding: National Science Centre
Competition: OPUS 27
Granted funding amount: 647 820 PLN
Project duration: 36 months
Project start date: 03-02-2025
Project end date: 02-02-2028
Project implementation:
Leader: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences
Consortium member: University of Agriculture in Kraków
Project manager: Marcin Szuszkiewicz, PhD, adiunkt
References:
Duhamel du Monceau, H.L., 1761. L`art du charbonnier ou manière de faire le charbon de bois. Descriptions des arts et des métiers. Desaint & Saillant.
Szuszkiewicz, M., Lasota, J., Szuszkiewicz, M.M., Błońska, E., 2025. Relict charcoal hearth magnetic fingerprints in the forest topsoil. Geoderma 460, 117458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117458
