This document summarizes the results of an experiment conducted at the Stone Age Park Albersdorf in Germany to demonstrate Neolithic agricultural methods, specifically slash-and-burn techniques. The experiment showed that burning vegetation increased soil fertility by concentrating charcoal and raising pH, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium levels. First crops of winter rye grew well. An unexpected outcome was the growth of bracken fern, an indicator of past slash-and-burn activities. The experiment will continue by manually removing fern plants and regularly burning the same fields to observe long-term soil changes.

1. A Slash-and-Burn-Experiment
in the Stone Age Park Albersdorf, Germany
Possibilities of the Demonstration of neolithic agricultural methods
– Experiences and Results –
Dr. Rüdiger Kelm
Archaeological-Ecological Centre Albersdorf

2. Rotation-System of the Slash-and-Burn-Technique and the
consequences for the landscape (modified after POTT 1990)

3. Slash-and-Burn in modern times: Museal Experiment in the Black Forest
in Southern Germany (from KLEIN et al. 1996)

4. Starting the fire at the (relatively dry) „bush-roll“ in Albersdorf

6. Public Demonstration/guided tours
Direction of the wind

7. After Burning: Concentration of Charcoal on the ground

8. Positive Effects of the Burning for the fertility of the soil
(Data H. Bitter, Landwirtschaftskammer Schleswig-Holstein)
vorher nachher
pH-Wert: 3,3 (saurer Nadelwaldboden) pH-Wert: 6,4
7 mg Phosphor je 100 g Boden 72 mg Phosphor je 100 g Boden
17 mg Kalium je 100 g Boden 58 mg Kalium je 100 g Boden
11 mg Magnesium 56 mg Magnesium je 100 g Boden

9. First results with Winter-Rye (Secale cereale spontaneum)

10. An effect which was not planned: Growing of Pteridium aquilinum

11. Development of the Temperature (in °C) when Burning (after VARESCH 1962)

12. Pteridium as Indicator for Slash-and-Burn in Northern Germany since the
Neolithic (after DÖRFLER 2001)

13. Continuation of the Experiment
 Manual Plucking of the Pteridium-plants on the fields
 Cutting of the young Pteridium-plants (before July)
 Regular Burning of the same field
 Observing of the changes in the soil-fertility in the following years

14. Thank you very much
for your attention!
Dr. Rüdiger Kelm
Archaeological-Ecological Centre Albersdorf
Bahnhofstraße 23
D - 25767 Albersdorf, Germany
www.steinzeitpark-dithmarschen.de