Our aim is to better understand the dynamics of the matter beneath our feet. To this end, we are looking for suitable soil chemistry analysis methods to meet current challenges and reconstruct past living environments (historical and prehistoric land use).

Our projects focus on the impact of humans on their environment – phenomena that are summarized under the term Anthropocene. To this end, we often work together with archaeologists and jointly create an idea of past living environments. In addition to past human-environment relationships, we are also interested in current and methodological issues relating to Soil Geography. To this end, we use analytical chemistry methods that are available to us in our geolab, where we take a close look at inorganic and organic molecules from the soil.

Are you interested? Please feel free to contact us for more information about Soil Geography at the University of Mainz. We look forward to hearing from you!

The experimental and analytical laboratory equipment is oriented towards the research units [im Rahmen der Forschungsinitiative 2008-11] and is used for qualified student training. The Soil Geography work group has laboratories and expertise for organic and inorganic soil/geochemistry and trace analysis. Field soil analysis equipment enables us to approach and sample soils in the field.

The Soil Science group offers courses as part of the following degree programs:

  • Geography (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor/Master’s degree in Education)
  • Climate and Environmental Change (Master’s degree)
  • Geosciences (Bachelor of Science)

Information about the respective degree programs can be found on the homepage of the Geography and Geosciences study offices.

In the summer semester the following courses are offered by the AG Soil Geography:

M6-MSc Lecture: New methods in soil sciences (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. S. Scherer)
M6-MSc Advanced seminar: Case-specific application of methods (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. S. Scherer)
M6-MSc Field practical course: Laboratory and field methods (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. S. Scherer)
GEOW 11 Soil Science field trip (1 day) (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. S. Scherer)

The courses in the winter semester are:

M8/M3ED Lecture: Introduction to Soil Geography (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. Sascha Scherer)
M1-MSc Lecture: Anthropocene – the Changing World (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. Sascha Scherer)
M8/M7*2016* Fieldwork Site Classification and Evaluation (Prof. Dr. S. Fiedler, Dr. S. Scherer)

SoilcastInformative and understandable podcast about soil. Have a listen! Also useful for exam preparation.

As part of various research and teaching projects, we always have topics for final theses (B.Sc./B.Ed./M.Sc./M.Ed.) and project studies (M.Sc.) in the fields of Soil Geography, organic and inorganic geochemistry, geo- and bioarchaeology. Co-authorships in scientific publications may also be possible. Browse our homepage and talk to us personally to find out about your options. We look forward to hearing from you!

  • Heterogeneity of lipid distribution on surfaces of archaeological ceramic vessels using the example of cooking experiments in modern replicas
  • Catalytic processes of the thermal decomposition of lipids: Investigation of stable decomposition products in archaeological ceramics
  • Lipid analysis of archaeological vessels from the Iron Age Albisheim (Rhineland-Palatinate)
  • The Rungholt trading post: Reconstruction of medieval land use on the coast of North Frisia (Schleswig-Holstein) (in collaboration with Dr. Hanna Hadler) Ausschreibung_Südfall_MSc
  • Were Middle Bronze Age (ca. 3500 BP) fire pits used as cooking pits? – On the fatty acid analysis of heatstones from SW Germany (Hegau).
  • Analysis of grain markers on a high-resolution, multi-layered profile near Hochdorf (Baden-Würtemberg)
  • Soil carbon stock and nutrient availability at the timberline – a hemispheric analysis in the Monostar project (in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Jan Esper and Dr. Frank Hagedorn) Call_Monostar

Not interested in a topic? We are always very happy to receive your own initiative and topics that you can work on as part of your final thesis!

  • Marie Ackermann (B.Sc.): Comparison of methods for the clause of different carbon pools
  • Jade Ulbrich, Sonja Braig (B.Sc.): Identification of phases of pedogenesis and weathering within dated colluvial stratigraphies
  • Fredericke Briem (project study): The influence of Soil Science factors on the small-scale variation in the vitality or mortality of beech trees in the Lennebergwald near Mainz
  • Julie Münster (project study): Investigation of two soil profiles in the Ober-Olmer Forest near Mainz and the possibilities of presenting the results to the public
  • Carima Eßinger (project study): Comparison of methods for the clause of different carbon pools
  • Moritz Leistner (M.Sc.): Grain marker analyses (miliacin, alkylresorcinols) for the investigation of prehistoric agriculture in the northern Alpine foothills (SW Germany)
  • Babelle Nguefo (M.Sc.): Analysis of factors influencing the distribution of colluvium in three model regions in southwest Germany (supervision with Dr. Felix Henselowsky)
  • Annemarie Bach (M.Sc.): Biomarker analyses for the reconstruction of land use at the Ostrowite Archaeological Complex (N-Poland)

We work side by side with archaeologists and use molecular biomarkers to derive information on the historical and prehistoric land use of farming communities (Which livestock were kept? Which crops were grown?). We extract these biomarkers from terrestrial, lacustrine and marine soils and sediments, as well as from archaeological pottery (Organic Residue Analysis). Our current research sites are located in different parts of Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg) and Europe (Greece – Olympia, Poland – Ostrowite)

Within the Soil Science subject in general, and biomarker analytics in particular, we conduct basic research to address laboratory analytical challenges and make laboratory processes more efficient and effective.

In cooperation with Landesforsten and the climatology working group, we are investigating the influence of physiochemical soil characteristics on the vitality and mortality of oak/beech and pine individuals in the Lenneberg Forest.

Together with the Digital Cultures working group, we are designing information boards that, in addition to investigated soil profiles in the Ober-Olmer Forest, are intended to present Soil Science knowledge to the public.

Cooperation with the Geomorphology working group is possible in many ways due to similar issues and the shared laboratory.

Grant: Tschira Foundation
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Wilfried Rosendahl and Dr. Ronny Friedrich (Curt Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie gGmbH, Mannheim)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sabine Fiedler
Collaborator: Kristina Reetz

Head: Prof. Dr. F. Sirocko (Institute of Geosciences, University of Mainz)
Staff: Kristina Reetz, Dr. Jago Birk

Funding: German Research Foundation (project number 518888884)
Head: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Schier (Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sabine Fiedler
Employees: George Janzen

Grant: NordForsk (project number 105204)
Head: Jan-Pieter Buylaert (Technical University of Denmark)
Supervisor: Dr. Jago Birk
Employees: Aljasil Chirakkal

Grant: German Research Foundation (project number 468729311)
Supervisors: Astrid Röpke, Silviane Scharl (both University of Cologne), Astrid Stobbe (University of Frankfurt)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Sabine Fiedler, Dr. Sascha Scherer