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In the mainland of Northwest Europe generally only remnants of former peat landscapes subsist. Due to the poor preservation of these landscapes, alternative approaches to reconstruct peat initiation and lateral expansion are needed compared to regions with intact peat cover. Here we aim (1) to find explanatory variables within a digital soil mapping approach that allow us to reconstruct the pattern of peat initiation and lateral expansion within (and potentially beyond) peat remnants, and (2) to reconstruct peat initiation ages and lateral expansion for one of the largest bog remnants of the Northwest European mainland, the Fochteloërveen. Basal radiocarbon dates were obtained from the peat remnant, which formed the basis for subsequent analyses. We investigated the relationship between peat initiation age and three potential covariates: (1) total thickness of organic deposits, (2) elevation of the Pleistocene mineral surface that underlies the organic deposits, and (3) a constructed variable representing groundwater-fed wetness based on elevation of the mineral surface and current hydraulic head. Significant relationships were found with covariate (1) and (3), which were hence used for subsequent modelling. Our results indicate simultaneous peat initiation at several loci in the Fochteloërveen during the Early Holocene, and continuous lateral expansion until 900 cal y BP. Lateral expansion accelerated between 5,500 - 3,500 cal y BP. Our approach is spatially explicit (i.e., results in a map of peat initiation ages), and allows for a quantitative evaluation of the prediction using the standard deviation and comparison of predictions with validation points. The applied method based on covariate (1) is only useful where remnant peat survived, whereas covariate (3) may ultimately be applied to reconstruct peat initiation ages and lateral peatland expansion beyond the limits of peat remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of the Holocene large parts of the Northwest European mainland became overgrown with peat, only a fraction of which has survived to the present day. The diachronic relations between peatland expansion, human habitation trends and vegetation dynamics are poorly understood. Gaining detailed insights in the interrelations between these processes is essential to enhance interpretations of archaeological data on different spatial and temporal scales and to inform cultural heritage management and nature conservation and restoration. To achieve this goal it is key to develop interdisciplinary research designs in which the timing, pace and character of the relevant processes are analysed integrally. In this paper we present a study of the northern Dutch Fochteloërveen area, which is one of the largest and best preserved bog remnants of the Northwest European mainland. We integrate a recently published model on peatland initiation and lateral expansion with an inventory of extant archaeological data and new high-resolution palaeobotanical analyses (plant macro remains and pollen), which produces insights into the dynamic landscape history of this 'drowning' area in hitherto unparalleled detail. Two characteristic phases in the landscape history of the study area (the Late Mesolithic and Middle Roman period) are visualised by means of evidence-based artist impressions. The methodology and results of the study offer inspiration and important material for comparison for similar landscapes across the Northwest European mainland. • Interdisciplinary study improves insight in 'drowning' of Northwest European mainland. • Lateral peatland expansion accelerated between 5500–3500 cal BP. • Human landscape impact altered vegetation composition since the Middle Neolithic. • Peatland expansion mainly affected human habitation in the Iron Age and Roman period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]