摘要：In the Ardenne massif (south Belgium) many traces of metallurgical activity are present. An intensive development of iron
industry took place from the Middle Ages until the middle of the 19th century. Many small upland rivers powered water
wheel of forges and blast furnaces [1]. Among these rivers, the geomorphic evolution of the upstream part of the Aisne
River was studied. By means of microslag evaluation [2], topographic surveys and sedimentological analyses, the floodplain
history may be reconstructed, fine floodplain sedimentation and channel changes are identified. Analyses of slag
concentrations allowed us to reconstruct the evolution of the floodplain topography over the last centuries. In the upstream
part of the Aisne catchment, the floodplain aggradation is less than 17 cm since the 15th century, which corresponds to an
aggradation rate lower than 3 cm/century. Such rate is very low compared to other rivers [2] and to the lowest part of the
Aisne catchment [3]. Moreover, our results show that the thickness of fine alluvia on the low terrace is approximately 50
cm and the incision of the riverbed is of the same order (between 46 and 77 cm). It therefore appears that the floodplain
level has reached an equilibrium before the establishment of the ironworks in the valley (in the 15th century) and the
sedimentation does not appear to have continued since then.
关键词：fluvial geomorphology; floodplain; slag; Ardenne; Aisne River
