Eirik Gottschalk Ballo

• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Augland, Lars Eivind; Hammer, Øyvind & Svensen, Henrik (2019). A new age model for the Ordovician (Sandbian) K-bentonites in Oslo, Norway. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.  ISSN 0031-0182.  520, s 203- 213 . doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.01.016 Full text in Research Archive.

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• Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Høeg, Helge I.; Bakke, Jostein; Støren, Eivind N.; Loftsgarden, Kjetil; Iversen, Frode; Hagopian, William Martin; Jahren, Anne Hope; Svensen, Henrik Hovland & Krüger, Kirstin (2021). Instability or adaptation of the pre-Viking society to the climate variability of the Late Antiquity?. Show summary

  Understanding how agricultural societies were impacted and adapted to past climate variations is critical to adapt to contemporary climate change and guaranty the food security. However, linking climate and change in the behaviour of a population are difficult to evidence. Here, we studied the climate variations of the period between 200 and 1300 CE and its impact on the pre-Viking and Viking societies in south Norway. We used a retrospective approach combining a multi-proxy analysis of lake sediments, including geochemical and palynological analyses, to reconstruct past changes in temperature and agricultural practices during the period 200-1300 CE. We associated variations in Ca/Ti ratio as a result of change in lake productivity with the temperature. The periods 200-300 and 800-1300 CE were warmer than the period between 300 and 800 CE, which is known as the “Dark Ages Cold Period” in the Northern Hemisphere. During this colder period, phases dominated by grazing activities (280-420 CE, 480-580 CE, 700-780 CE) alternated with phases dominated by the cultivation of cereals and hemp (before 280 CE, 420-480 CE, 580-700 CE, and after 800 CE). The alternation of these phases is synchronous of temperature changes. Cold periods are associated to livestock farming, and warmer periods to crop farming. This result suggests that when temperature no longer allowed crop farming, the food production specialized in animal breeding. The development of activities reached a maximum between 400 and 550 CE and a minimum between 680 and 800 CE, in agreement with archaeological findings. The Viking Age (800-1000 CE) started with an increase in temperature and corresponds to the warmest period between 200 and 1300 CE, allowing a larger development of the agriculture practices and society. Our results prove that the pre-Viking society adapted their agricultural practices to the climate variability of the Late Antiquity and that the Vikings expanded with climate warming.

• Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein; Høeg, Helge Irgens; Loftsgarden, Kjetil; Iversen, Frode; Hufthammer, Anne Karin & Krüger, Kirstin (2020). Record of climate and environmental changes in a dead-ice lake close to Gardermoen told by a 10 000 years old freshwater fish and a Viking King. Show summary

  We studied a six-meter long sediment sequence retrieved from the kettle lake Ljøgottjern, close to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport, to reconstruct environmental and climate changes during the last millennia. The lake is 18 m depth and located at 185 m a.s.l., under the maximum postglacial sea level. The largest burial mound of Northern Europe was built in the mid-6th century on the shore of this lake allegedly for King Rakni and makes this place ideal to study human-environment interactions in a paleo-perspective approach. Using a multi-proxy sedimentological analysis of this record, including 14C dating, paleo-secular variations, XRF and CT scans, and pollen, this study highlights different climate patterns throughout the Holocene. At the bottom of the core, a carbonated sandy-clayey layer with centimetric twigs overlays an organic rich black peaty-type layer, suggesting a continental environment. On top of that, a disturbed clay layer containing fish bones from a freshwater Carpinidae species was found. The fish could have been buried by the massive (70 cm) sandy carbonated deposit covering it. A sharp transition separates a clay cap on top of the deposit and the start of a finely laminated lacustrine sedimentation dated 9.3 ka cal. BP. The massive deposit could be associated to the outburst flood from the glacial lake Nedre Glomsjø dated 10-10.4 ka cal BP (Longva, 1984; Høgaas and Longva, 2016). A major change in the sedimentation occurred around 8 ka cal. BP, with darker sediments and a lower sedimentation rate. This change could be related to a warming climate and stabilization of the catchment by soil and forest development around the lake in the mid-Holocene. The sedimentation rate increased again between 2000 and 3000 years cal. BP as a result of the development of first human activities and major change in the vegetation (Høeg, 1997). We reconstructed temperature changes during the first millennia and compared it to societal dynamics. The period between 300 and 800 years cal. CE is colder than the period 800-1300 years cal. CE. After 1600 years cal. CE, an increase in erosion could be associated to the extension of the population and agriculture in Scandinavia and revealed a chronicle of the major floods in this area. The presence of freshwater fish older than 9,3 ka attests of their early and natural colonization of Scandinavian lakes. The comparison of this record with archaeological data will allow us to discuss socio-environmental dynamics following the deglaciation in the area. References: Smith, A.A. 2010. CO2 stor¬age. Journal of Sciences 32, 10-20. Høeg, H.I., 1997. Pollenanalytiske undersøkelser på Øvre Romerike : Ullensaker og Nannestad, Akershus fylke : Gardermoprosjektet, Varia (Universitetets oldsaksamling : trykt utg.). Universitetets oldsaksamling, Oslo. Høgaas, F., Longva, O., 2016. Mega deposits and erosive features related to the glacial lake Nedre Glomsjø outburst flood, southeastern Norway. Quat. Sci. Rev. 151, 273–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.09.015 Longva, O., 1984. Romeriksmjelen danna ved ein storflaum på Austlandet for vel 9000 år siden. Norges geologiske undersøkelse, Årsmelding 1984 8–11.

• Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein; Høeg, Helge Irgens; Loftsgarden, Kjetil; Iversen, Frode & Krüger, Kirstin (2020). Volcanic Eruptions and their Impacts on Climate, Environment, and Viking Society in 500-1250 CE.
• Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein; Høeg, Helge Irgens; Loftsgarden, Kjetil; Iversen, Frode; Svensen, Henrik & Krüger, Kirstin (2020). Tracing socio-environmental dynamics and climate changes in the period 300-1300 CE in Scandinavia from lake sediments. Show summary

  Understanding large volcanic eruptions impacts on environments and societies is necessary to consider future climate and socio-environmental interactions. Lake sediments can record these dynamics on a continuous long time scale and include at the same time footprints from volcanic eruptions, climate changes and human activities. We analysed the sediments of Lake Ljøgottjern, located southeastern Norway. The largest burial mound of Northern Europe was built in the mid-6th century on the shore of this lake and makes this place an ideal site to study human-environmental interactions throughout the last millennia. Using a multi-proxy analysis of this sedimentary record, including 14C dating, geochemistry, as well as palynological data, we reconstructed temperature and socio-environmental changes in this area between 300 and 1300 CE (Common Era). We associated changes in Ca/Ti ratio with changes in temperature. The period between 300 and 800 CE was colder than the periods 200-300 and 800-1300 CE. Five abrupt cooling events seem to be linked to weakened positive NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) phases, and two of them can also be linked to the two largest volcanic events of the period (i.e. the 536/540 CE double event, and 1257 CE eruption of Samalas). Palynological data indicate a decrease of the human activities and reforestation of the area in the 6th century. This abandonment is consistent with archaeological findings and could be related to the 536/540 cooling event. Very little activities are then recorded between 700 and 850 CE. Agricultural activities start again strongly in the Viking age with increase in temperature.

• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Bakke, Jostein & Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel (2019). Reconstructing climate and socio-environmental changes using lake sediments.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Bakke, Jostein & Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel (2019). Reconstructing climate and socio-environmental changes using lake sediments.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Bakke, Jostein & Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel (2019). Reconstructing climate and socio-environmental changes using lake sediments.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein & Svensen, Henrik (2019). High-resolution lacustrine records of environmental changes in Scandinavia: a focus on the Migration period and the Viking age.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein & Svensen, Henrik (2019). High-resolution lacustrine records of environmental changes in Scandinavia: a focus on the Migration period and Viking age.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein & Svensen, Henrik (2019). High-resolution lacustrine records of environmental changes in Scandinavia: a focus on the Migration period and Viking age.
• Ballo, Eirik Magnus Gottschalk; Bajard, Manon Julietto Andree; Støren, Eivind Wilhelm Nagel; Bakke, Jostein & Svensen, Henrik (2019). High-resolution lacustrine records of environmental changes in Scandinavia: a focus on the Migration period and Viking age.

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