Table 1. Characterization of the study sites.

Region/ excavation site	Number of pits	Type of soil archive	Age of topsoil relicts	Geographical coordinates	MAPa mm	MATb°C	Soil parent material
Central Germany
Chernozem region
Kleingräfendorf	2	Pit alignment	Bronze Age	51° 22′ N, 11° 51′ E	<500c	8.5–9c	loess
Oechlitz	1	Pit alignment	Bronze Age	51° 19′ N, 11° 45′ E			loess
Jüdendorf	3	Pit alignment	Bronze Age	51° 18′ N, 11° 42′ E			loess
Phaeozem region
Prießnitz	2	Slot pit	Neolithic	51° 6′ N, 11° 46′ E	560–580c	8–8.5c	loess
Western Germany
Luvisol region
Merzeniche	6	Slot pit	Neolithic	50° 49′ N, 6° 32′ E	650–700d	10–11d	loess
Pulheim	2	Slot pit	Neolithic	50° 59′ N, 6° 48′ E			loess
Düren Arnoldsweiler (humic zone)e	1	Humic zone	Early Weichselian	50° 51′ N, 6° 30′ E			loess

^aMAP = mean annual precipitation;

^bMAT = mean annual temperature;

^cKropp et al. [133];

^dGenßler et al. [134],

^eexcavation sites were selected for steroid analyses.