From Rackham to REVEALS: Reflections on Palaeoecological Approaches to Woodland and Trees

Abstract

In this paper we reflect on aspects of palaeoecological approaches to understanding past woodland environments. With increasing requirements for interdisciplinarity in research, and an increase in popular interest in the 'natural environment' such as 'new nature writing', we suggest that palaeoecology is potentially well situated to engage with other audiences and disciplines, and inform wider debates. However, in order to achieve this, we tentatively suggest that palaeoecology should be self-reflexive and examine how current methods, terminology and underlying theoretical perspectives inform (and inhibit) our practice. Using insights from Oliver Rackham's influential woodland studies as focal points, we examine selected aspects of method and theory in palaeoecology and suggest an approach to developing a praxis of woodland palaeoecology. In practical terms, this (1) incorporates other information and alternative perspectives, and is willing to question its methods and ways of thinking, (2) takes account of past and present, differences in the perceptions of the environment, (3) looks to build enriched accounts without privileging one perspective/set of 'data' over another by 'flattening out' knowledge hierarchies, potentially making the discipline more flexible in its outlook and applicability. A short case study from Shrawley Woods, Worcestershire, UK, illustrates the approach and includes the first example of historical documents and oral history accounts being used in the construction of a pollen diagram. ARTICLE HISTORY

Deep Pasts – Deep Futures A Palaeoenvironmental Humanities Perspective from the Stone Age to the Human Age

“…Many of us may be able to recognise these fuzzy borders in our own institu tions, where they retain reality in teaching, in research clustering and publi cation strategies (Jørgensen 2015). Encouragingly, some environmental ar chaeologists are seizing the opportunity to engage with the environmental humanities on their premises (Richer & Gearey 2017a, 2017b, while an increasing number of historical environmental studies are being published that take an explicit interest in the environment, and which also articulate directly with the broader trend of the environmental humanities and con temporary concerns of climate and environmental change (e.g. Souza & Costa 2018;de Keyzer 2016).…”

Quaternary Vegetation Dynamics – The African Pollen Database

“…A multiproxy approach that helps to elucidate the complexities of landscape history and people's role in shaping the environment can help to build a nuanced and inclusive understanding of landscape history that can provide cultural and local context for interpreting change and informing future sustainable management Marchant and Lane 2014;Mustaphi et al 2019;Richer and Gearey 2018). Though much palaeoecological research occurs in the lab and behind the microscope, a key component of our work can be in collaborating with stakeholders and listening to stakeholder perspective on ecosystem change (Wolfe et al 2007).…”

Landscape archaeology, sustainability and the necessity of change

“…Some researchers even argue that recently-rewilded woodland can rapidly become ecologically rich (Morel et al 2020). Deeper collaborations between archaeologists, ecologists and others could improve the identification and management of ecologically valuable woodlands and reveal the wider regimes of historic landscape management which contribute to enriching biodiversity (Barnes and Williamson 2006;Wright and Rotherham 2011;Richer and Gearey 2018). This research could also help inform the massive treeplanting schemes of the decades to come by illuminating those factors which have allowed diverse and resilient woodlands to flourish.…”