Working Groups

The production processes of PoTaRCh materials show both similarities and differences that have not yet been fully identified and described at European level, including their areas of application. These processes can be traced thanks to archaeological research and historical written sources. Their survival is primarily ensured by local producers (especially in ITC and outside Europe), non-governmental organizations and associations dealing with the protection of intangible cultural heritage.

• Identification of cultural heritage related to PoTaRCh,
• Develop and implement measures to protect both tangible (historical places of production) and intangible (traditional knowledge) cultural heritage related to PoTaRCh at European level,
• Promoting the PoTaRCh heritage and ensuring its preservation for the future, while strengthening the social and economic position of the tradition bearers,
• Identification of PoTaRCh-related measures and policies that can benefit the tourism industry as well as local and regional development.

The characterization of PoTaRCh materials enables the identification of their chemical and structural composition, monitoring of compositional changes over time, detection of decomposition products, and analysis of interactions with environmental factors such as soil. This detailed understanding offers extensive opportunities to determine the sources and types of raw materials for PoTaRCh production, production conditions and methods, and storage and usage methods. Consequently, this knowledge allows for a comprehensive interpretation of PoTaRCh’s impact on communities, the economy, and the environment on both regional and global scales.

• Exploration the origins and traditional technologies by compositional analysis of PoTaRCh materials,
• Exploration of chemical/analytical approaches to characterize PoTaRCh materials based on analytical and archaeological chemistry as well as both organic and inorganic material characterization,
• Developing methodological approaches (including methods able to provide information on the biological origin of natural materials, technological and possible anthropogenic modifications) and analytical protocols as well as defining new research questions based on literature review, current production and experiments.

The production of charcoal and tar has left significant traces in the soil across many European cultural landscapes, while the production of potash is more challenging to trace archaeologically and often survives only in field names. Despite significant research identifying and assessing historical production sites, there is a lack of coordinated research at the European level.

• Identifying the archaeological remnants of PoTaRCh production sites in the soil („soil monuments”),
• Designing and implementing a standardized methodological approach for data exploration, validation, and characterization across Europe,
• Identifying and documenting the presence and absence of PoTaRCh sites and complexes in European cultural landscapes, while also understanding the contributing factors.

The environmental history of PoTaRCh, including the relationship between the environment, society, sustainable development and the socio-ecological system along with related changes from the local to the global level, remains largely unknown. The production technology of PoTaRCh is influenced, among other factors, by natural conditions. PoTaRCh production technology has not yet been systematically compared on a local to European scale within the context of the natural environment.

• Reconstruct and investigate the short- and long-term consequences of PoTaRCh production and use on socio-ecological systems in Europe and beyond,
• Identify human and non-human actors, examine knowledge transfer among producers and across different fields, investigate transportation and mobility aspects, and political and economic dimensions to promote sustainable management of natural resources,
• Compare PoTaRCh production technologies on various scales, from local to European.

COST Action EU-PoTaRCh asks the question: how can PoTaRCh products contribute to global challenges related to reducing reliance on fossil carbon sources? There are a few renewable sources of chemicals that can effectively compete with fossil sources, and PoTaRCh products represent a potentially promising alternative. WG5 (FUTURE PERSPECTIVE) explores how trade in forest by-products can meet global challenges.

• Assessing the future economic prospects of the PoTaRCh heritage,
• Defining current and potential future products and methods relevant to the bioeconomy,
• Highlighting potential threats and challenges stemming from tradition and history