See here the presentation of :

[Some more pictures here]

"PEDOANTHRACOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES"

This first workshop took place From the 14th to the 16th on June

►►►Communication proceedings will be publish in a special thematic issue "Pedoanthracology and environmental studies"

of Quaternary International, for the end of 2011, Editor Oliver Nelle (onelle@ecology.uni-kiel.de)

►►►The workshop book (including abstracts): download (pdf)

►►►Program / Programme: download (pdf)

Poster / Affiche (pdf - A4)

► Scientific Context

Thirty years ago a new ecological discipline was born at Marseille, allowing the reconstruction of ligneous ecosystems: pedoanthracology.

This discipline deals with the analysis (datation and anatomical identification) of charcoal pieces sampled not from archaeological context (archaeoanthracology), but from natural contexts: soils.

Today, this discipline is regularly applied in the framework of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, but also in current ecology as indicated by the increasing number of publications on the topic.

However, it is still difficult to find a standard description of the method concerning the notion of burying, charcoal conservation in soil and the interpretation of data in terms of vegetation reconstruction. No real synthesis has been done during these thirty years of using, in France and other parts of the world. This restrains the extension of the discipline.

The aim of this meeting is to collect experiences and opinions of researchers, working with or interested in pedoanthracology, to exchange points of view and try to harmonize the methodology and find a consensus about its relevance and its limits.

► Thematic

The communication and discussion will be centered about two main axis of reflection:

    1. How to use pedoanthracology: Methodological aspects “from the field to the lab”, field
sampling strategy, extraction process, identification, data interpretation, relevance and limits, taphonomical aspects, dating strategy, etc.
    2. Pedoanthracology contribution to multi-/interdisciplinary approaches: Role and place of the pedoanthracology in multi- and interdisciplinary approaches (interest and complementarity of pedoanthracology in multi- and interdisciplinary contexts, especially for environmental studies.

► Initiative and organization

This workshop is organized by IMEP and the Kiel University Graduate School "Human development in landscapes"

Brigitte Talon, IMEP - Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III, France

Contact: brigitte.talon@univ-cezanne.fr

Oliver Nelle, Institute for Ecosystem Research, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, and Kiel University Graduate School "Human Development in Landscapes", Germany

Contact: onelle@ecology.uni-kiel.de

► Scientific committee

- Brigitte TALON (IMEP-University Paul Cézanne, France)
- Michel THINON (IMEP-University Paul Cézanne, France)
- Claire DELHON (CNRS, CEPAM, France)
- Oliver NELLE (Institute for Ecosystem Research, GS "Human development in landscape", CAU Kiel, Germany)
- Peter POSCHLOD (Institute of Botany, University of Regensburg, Germany)
- Gaetano DI PASQUALE (University of Naples Federico II/ Portici, Italy)

► Organization committee

- Brigitte TALON (IMEP- University Paul Cézanne, France)
- Claire DELHON (CNRS, CEPAM, France)
- Oliver NELLE (Institute for Ecosystem Research, GS "Human development in landscape", CAU Kiel, Germany)
- Vincent ROBIN (Institute for Ecosystem Research, GS "Human development in landscape", CAU Kiel, IMEP, Germany)
- Maryse ALVITRE (IMEP-University Paul Cézanne, France)
- Christiane ROLANDO (IMEP-University Paul Cézanne, France)
- Pauline GUIOT (Student in media studies, Marseille, France)

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Excursion to Mont Ventoux

Wednesday, 16th: Going by bus, 8h departure (provisional back to the workshop place: 18h)

The mountain, Mont Ventoux (two hours from Aix-en-Provence, 1912 metres high), also called the “Giant of Provence”, stands sovereign over the region, as its nickname suggests. This mountain has become a myth in the history of Provence. From its summit you can discover one of the most splendid panoramas of Europe, taking in the Vallée du Rhône, the Baronnies and the Vaucluse plateau.

Its vegetation and landscapes, of particular interest, vary according to the altitude: 400 different flowers and more than a thousand types of plants adorn its slopes over five levels between 400 and 1900 metres. 

Classed by UNESCO, it is a reserve with the label MAB - Man and the Biosphere.

Pedoanthracological investigation has been done for the first time there few decades ago. An overview of it will be present during the day.

Moreover, the fertile land that spreads out from the foot of Mont Ventoux supports the character laden vineyards of the local wines with their Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) label, which we should taste, of course!