Holocene Drift-Sand Activity in the Netherlands from 5000 BC to 1700 AD

A new national overview of drift-sand occurrence and activity in the Netherlands for the period from approximately 5000 BC to 1700 AD. The dataset was compiled by H.J. Pierik of Utrecht University from overview studies, field studies, and new data. It provides up-to-date information to understand the interplay between humans and the landscape in the past.

Use Cases

• Modeling historical human impact on landscapes based on inferred anthropogenic causes of drift sand.
• Assessing past environmental threats to agriculture and settlements based on drift-sand activity timelines.
• Providing historical context for contemporary drift-sand areas considered valuable nature reserves.

Strengths

• Covers a long temporal range from approximately 5000 BC to 1700 AD.
• Compiled from multiple sources including overview studies, field studies, and new data.
• Provides a national overview for the Netherlands.

Limitations

• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Utrecht University

Collection Method

Compiled from overview studies, field studies, and new data.

Time Range

ca. 5000 BC to AD 1700

Geography

Netherlands