Welcome to the Dark Side

    Project aims:

  • Micromorphological study and re-evaluation of a series of core sites in European towns (e.g. Belgium, Switzerland, Germany).
  • Standardised data acquisition and a direct exchange of micromorphological data through I-GEOARCHrec.
  • Development of an open access onlinedatabase I-GEOARCHive that allows sharing of data and images.
  • Testing of geochemical methods such as phosphate, RAMAN, SEM analyses on urban Dark Earth.
  • Creating a unified theoretical and methodological approach to understand Dark EarthDevelopment of a "Dark Earths First Aid Manual", which will provide assistance on excavations and for communication with authorities.
  • Promotion of Dark Earth research in Europe and the improvement of the current excavation and evaluation practice of Dark Earth findings.
Illustration of the project’s workflow.
Analysing a Dark Earth deposit in the field.
Polished section of a Dark Earth deposit from Basel Martinsgasse.
I-GEOARCHrec our data acquisition tool
…thin section scans (e.g. Dark Earth deposit at Spiegelhof in Basel).
…thin section scans (e.g. Dark Earth deposit at Spiegelhof in Basel).
Testing of geochemical methods such as phosphate, RAMAN, SEM analyses on urban Dark Earth
A first glimps at our rescue book "Dark Earths First Aid Manual".
Raising awareness on Urban Dark Earth deposits.
Illustration of the project’s workflow
Grain distribution output of Malvern