Zprávy památkové péče 2015, 75(6):546-552

Surface exploration of charcoal houses and other possible marginal archaeological relics in the southwestern part of the Drahanská Highlands

Alena Knechtová

The article deals with field surveys of marginal archaeological structures in the forested area of the Drahanská Highlands, specifically in the cadastral area of Ráječko where identification verified relics of charcoal burning (milířiště) in the slopes around the creeks Sloupečník and Chrábek. After identifying the charcoal houses and other possible relics nearby, data from airborne laser scanning was used that allowed for the accurate identification of other charcoal houses unknown in the terrain up to then. The article also addresses the destruction of the charcoal houses due to natural phenomena such as soil erosion, uprooting, and their artificial disruption especially due to forest road tracking, which represents a significant intervention in the forest landscape. Archaeological relics were recorded in the survey by drawings and photographic documentation, and for some charcoal houses in places where they were destroyed, microprobing was carried out for coals which were passed on for evaluation. In conclusion, the article discusses the issue of further protection for charcoal houses as part of forest management, including the possible declaration of selected intact charcoal houses as cultural properties for the preservation of part of the archaeological heritage of the Czech Republic in forested areas.

Keywords: marginal archaeological relics, charcoal house, field survey, Drahanská Highlands

Published: December 1, 2015  Show citation