Landscape archaeology, sustainability and the necessity of change

Abstract

For future landscapes to be sustainable, significant changes in land-use and management practices will be needed. This article argues that landscape archaeology can make distinctive contributions to sustainability in two ways: firstly, by researching what were and were not sustainable ways of life in the past, and secondly by using this knowledge to explain how landscapes of the past differed to those in the present, and in doing so to disrupt the invented connections between past societies, tradition, heritage and conservation. The article draws on three case-studies in China, the Mediterranean and the UK to suggest that archaeological knowledge could be used to help stakeholders imagine future landscapes which are better and more sustainable than those of today. To succeed archaeologists will need to make deeper commitments to transdisciplinary work.

Historical Agricultural Landforms—Central European Bio-Cultural Heritage Worthy of Attention

“…For example, during field observations in the Verneřice region, we found expected species such as the common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), or common oak (Quercus robur). Latocha et al [3] also noted that deciduous trees prevail in such structures. Thus, in present-day upland and highland landscapes, HALs can be observed as clearly discernible green islets within the "industrial" forests planted during the last few centuries during which the dominant species, European spruce (Picea abies), was repeatedly severely damaged by bark-beetle outbreaks throughout Czechia (e.g., Figures 9e and 14) and elsewhere in Europe [86], the most recent of which has occurred in the last few years.…”

“…Sediment transfer is a particularly strong and straightforward manifestation of such feedback on anthropogenic activities and results in some of the most rapidly created anthropogenic imprints in landscapes [1,2]. In non-fluvial landscapes, anthropogenically altered topography is most obvious on steep terrain subjected to terracing as a measure for sustainable farming [2,3]. Since the middle of the 20th century, the development of European farming has growingly been dictated by advanced post-war technological possibilities and unprecedentedly high expectations of persistently growing quality of life; however, that has in recent decades been modified by a return of emphasis on agricultural sustainability and food production safety [3,4].…”

“…In non-fluvial landscapes, anthropogenically altered topography is most obvious on steep terrain subjected to terracing as a measure for sustainable farming [2,3]. Since the middle of the 20th century, the development of European farming has growingly been dictated by advanced post-war technological possibilities and unprecedentedly high expectations of persistently growing quality of life; however, that has in recent decades been modified by a return of emphasis on agricultural sustainability and food production safety [3,4]. This paradigm change has brought recognition of more varied functions of land as essential for our future, and this, in turn, prompts for a better understanding of past agricultural solutions studied by archaeomorphology or landscape archaeology [2,3].…”

“…Since the middle of the 20th century, the development of European farming has growingly been dictated by advanced post-war technological possibilities and unprecedentedly high expectations of persistently growing quality of life; however, that has in recent decades been modified by a return of emphasis on agricultural sustainability and food production safety [3,4]. This paradigm change has brought recognition of more varied functions of land as essential for our future, and this, in turn, prompts for a better understanding of past agricultural solutions studied by archaeomorphology or landscape archaeology [2,3]. Their research can reveal both intended and unintended consequences of past farming and settlement activities for the actual future needs of man, which also include other than purely technological and commercial goals in landscape management, such as prevention of soil degradation and biodiversity decline [2,3,5].…”

“…This paradigm change has brought recognition of more varied functions of land as essential for our future, and this, in turn, prompts for a better understanding of past agricultural solutions studied by archaeomorphology or landscape archaeology [2,3]. Their research can reveal both intended and unintended consequences of past farming and settlement activities for the actual future needs of man, which also include other than purely technological and commercial goals in landscape management, such as prevention of soil degradation and biodiversity decline [2,3,5]. A relevance of historical anthropogenic shape of landscapes for future needs can be demonstrated by historical agricultural landforms (HALs), which are inseparable parts of the plužiny phenomenon.…”