@phdthesis{Trappe2022,
  author    = {Trappe, Julian},
  title     = {The influence of medieval building activity on relief development within the Spessart uplands, Germany. A sedimentological, geophysical and GIS-based approach at different castle and mining sites},
  edition   = {1. Auflage},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-184-6},
  issn      = {0510-9833},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-185-3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-261499},
  school      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {XXI, 250},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {In the Spessart, a low mountain range in central Germany, a feud during the Middle Ages led to the construction of numerous castles in this region. This study analyzes the mutual influence of (paleo-)relief development and medieval building activity using a geomorphological and geoarchaeological multimethod approach to expand the knowledge of human-environmental interactions during this time. For this purpose, GIS-based terrain analysis and geophysical measurements were conducted and combined with sedimentological information to create 1D-3D models of the subsurface and to assess knowledge of the landscape and relief evolution at various medieval castle and mining sites. The interpretation of all these data led to the answering of numerous site-specific questions on various geomorphological, geoarchaeological, geologic, and archaeological topics that have been explored in this work and have greatly increased our knowledge of each study site. In addition to these key contributions to the archaeological and geomorphological interpretation of individual study sites, a quantification of the anthropogenic influence on the relief development was conducted, a generalized model of the influence was derived, and new methodological and interpretative approaches were developed. Overall, this study links geomorphological/geological and (geo-)archaeological investigations at five medieval sites and delivers important information on human-environmental interactions within the Spessart and beyond.},
  subject      = {Geoarch{\"a}ologie},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TrappeBuedelMeisteretal.2022,
  author    = {Trappe, Julian and B{\"u}del, Christian and Meister, Julia and Baumhauer, Roland},
  title     = {Combining geophysical and geomorphological data to reconstruct the development of relief of a medieval castle site in the Spessart low mountain range, Germany},
  series = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms},
  volume    = {47},
  journal   = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms},
  number    = {1},
  doi       = {10.1002/esp.5242},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257433},
  pages     = {228-241},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Within the Spessart low mountain range in central Germany, numerous castle ruins of the 13th century ce exist. Their construction and destruction were often determined by the struggle for political and economic supremacy in the region and for control over the Spessart's natural resources. Wahlmich Castle is located in a relatively uncommon strategic and geomorphological position, characterized by a fairly remote position and atypical rough relief. In order to reconstruct the local relief development and possible human impact, a multi-method approach was applied combining two-dimensional geoelectrical measurements, geomorphological mapping and stratigraphic-sedimentological investigations. This provides new insights into the influence of landscape characteristics on choices of castle locations. The combined geoelectrical, geomorphological and stratigraphic-sedimentological data show that the rough relief is of natural origin and influenced by regional faulting, which triggered sliding and slumping as well as weathering and dissection of the surface deposits. The rough relief and the lithology permitted intensive land use and building activities. However, the location of the castle offered access to and possibly control over important medieval traffic routes and also represented certain ownership claims in the Aschaff River valley. The economic situation combined with rivalry between different elites led to the castle being built in a geomorphological challenging and strategically less valuable location. Focusing on castles located in rare and challenging geomorphological positions may therefore lead to a better understanding of castle siting in the future.},
  language  = {en}
}