Groundwater under scrutiny: A hydrological aspect of human settlement strategy in the vicinity of the southern shoreline of Lake Balaton

Hydrological conditions in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant change in the wake of anthropogenic activities impacting the environment. The regulation and management of surface waters led to changes in the subsurface natural water systems. The depth and stability of the groundwater table are at least as important as the presence of surface water bodies among the parameters determining the locations suitable for human settlement. Discussed here are the effects of the relative groundwater table depth and its movement on human settlement, based on the insights provided by the comparative analysis of the data gained from the investigation of the multi-period archaeological site at Balatonkeresztúr-Réti-dűlő (site M7 / S35) and the static groundwater model constructed from the data provided by mechanical drillings and surveys ahead of the construction of the M7 motorway.