Wallachian colonisation, peat bog, sedimentary sequence, absolute dating

Wallachian (shepherd) colonisation of the mountainous parts of the Western Carpathians during the 16-17th Centuries was one of the latest European colonisations affecting nearly pristine landscape. Despite the importance of this event, there is a lack of high-resolution chronological, sedimentological and pollen evidence to help decipher the potential geomorphic and ecological changes affecting mountain slopes caused by arisen landscape changes. We present ca. 2.1 ka record obtained from a peat bog situated in the Czech part of the Outer Western Carpathians. The sedimentary section enabled us to differentiate between conditions before and after this colonisation period. An abrupt increase in the percentage of herbs together with one-order higher accumulation rates, a decline in the organic content of the sediments and higher magnetic susceptibility values dated to 1520-1870 AD correspond to an increased runoff and acceleration of sheet erosion on deforested and grazed slopes. Deposition within the peat bog has declined slightly since ca. 1870, after intensive afforestation and the introduction of Picea abies monoculture. As confirmed by sedimentary record in the downstream alluvial plains, 16-17th Century colonisation of mountain slopes of the Western Carpathians not only affected the local slope sediment mobilisation, but also increased net aggradation of overbank deposits within valley floors.