Abstract:

Past Landscapes presents theoretical and practical attempts of scholars and scientists, who were and are active within the Kiel Graduate School “Human Development in Landscapes” (GSHDL), in order to disentangle a wide scope of research efforts on past landscapes. Landscapes are understood as products of human-environmental interaction. At the same time, they are arenas, in which societal and cultural activities as well as receptions of environments and human developments take place. Thus, environmental processes are interwoven into human constraints and advances.

This book presents theories, concepts, approaches and case studies dealing with human development in landscapes. On the one hand, it becomes evident that only an interdisciplinary approach can cover the manifold aspects of the topic. On the other hand, this also implies that the very different approaches cannot be reduced to a simplistic uniform definition of landscape. This shortcoming proves nevertheless to be an important strength. The umbrella term ‘landscape’ proves to be highly stimulating for a large variety of different approaches.

The first part of our book deals with a number of theories and concepts, the second part is concerned with approaches to landscapes, whereas the third part introduces case studies for human development in landscapes. As intended by the GSHDL, the reader might follow our approach to delve into the multi-faceted theories, concepts and practices on past landscapes: from events, processes and structures in environmental and produced spaces to theories, concepts and practices concerning past societies.

Contents

Preface

Past Landscapes: The Dynamics of Interaction between Society, Environment, and Culture
Annette Haug, Lutz Käppel, and Johannes Müller

Introduction

From Theories, Concepts and Practices on Human Development in Landscapes
Annette Haug and Johannes Müller

Landscape and the GSHDL 2007–2017: Ten Years of Research
Johannes Müller

I: Past Landscapes – Theories and Concepts

The Disentanglement of Landscapes: Remarks on Concepts of Socio-Environmental Research and Landscape Archaeology
Johannes Müller

On Melting Grounds: Theories of the Landscape
Antonia Davidovic

Ritual and Landscape: Theoretical Considerations
V.P.J. Arponen and Artur Ribeiro

II: Past Landscapes – Concepts and Practices

Putting Things into Practice: Pragmatic Theory and the Exploration of Monumental Landscapes
Martin Furholt, Martin Hinz and Doris Mischka

Who Is In Charge Here? – Material Culture, Landscapes and Symmetry
Christian Horn and Gustav Wollentz

Urban Landscapes and Urban Networks – Some Thoughts on the Process of Writing within the Mediaeval Urbanization of Central Europe
Gerhard Fouquet and Gabriel Zeilinger

Visual Concepts of Human Surroundings: The Case of the Early Greek Polis (10th–7th century BC)
Annette Haug

The Cultural Significance of Plants
Wiebke Kirleis

III: Past Landscapes – Concepts, Space and History

Mid-Holocene Environment and Human Interaction in Northern Central Europe
Mara Weinelt

From Hunting to Herding? Aspects of the Social and Animal Landscape during the Southern Scandinavian Neolithic
Martin Hinz

Borders: Developments of Society and Landscape during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age – Face Urns as a Case Study
Jutta Kneisel

The Iron Age in Southwestern Germany
Oliver Nakoinz

The ‘Iranian’ Period in the Near East: A Landscape Studies Approach
Josef Wiesehöfer

The Bronze Age in the East – The Hittites and Their Environment
Walter Dörfler

Nature and Perception of a Greek Landscape: Stymphalos
Ingmar Unkel

Scenes and Actors of Historical Crises between Generalizing Synthesis Formation and Postmodern Fragmentation
Ulrich Müller and Donat Wehner