The Lower Rhine (Germany) in Late Antiquity: a time of dissolving structures

A re-evaluation of archaeological, sedimentological, and palynological data from the Rhine plain reveals that most meanders with Roman settlements were part of the main river stream until Late Antiquity (end of 3rd century AD), challenging the long-held assumption that these sites were protected by oxbow lakes. The study shows that Roman infrastructure, including harbors and bank protections like 'Packwerk,' relied on stable undercut banks but faced increasing fluvial dynamics as maintenance declined during the Late Antiquity crisis. This shift in river morphology suggests an anthropogenic trigger linked to the collapse of the Roman Empire, reshaping our understanding of late Roman landscape dynamics.

Gerlach, R., Meurers-Balke, J., & Kalis, A. J. (2022). The Lower Rhine (Germany) in Late Antiquity: a time of dissolving structures. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 101. https://doi.org/10.1017/njg.2022.11