Landscape history

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Landscape history is the study of the way in which mankind has changed the physical appearance of the environment - both present and past. It is sometimes referred to as landscape archaeology.

Contents 1 Origin and Scope 2 Techniques 3 Academic status 4 Journals and Books 5 Notes

[edit] Origin and Scope

Landscape history emerged as an academic discipline following the publication of The Making of the English Landscape by W. G. Hoskins in 1955, although some topics that are now considered part of landscape history had been identified earlier. Darby^[1], for example, gives many early examples of regional characterisation of landscapes.

Following Hoskins, landscape history expanded in various directions. There are published landscape histories of a number of English counties.^[2] Other authors have studied the landscape at earlier periods. ^[3] One productive avenue has been the study of specific landscape features such as fields, villages, managed woodland, and so on.. ^[4]

The scope of landscape history ranges from specific individual features to areas covering hundreds of square miles. Topics studied by landscape historians include:

• the form (morphology) of settlements - for example whether they are dispersed or nucleated;
• deserted medieval villages which provide evidence of earlier village forms;
• field systems which can be used to date landscape features as well as illuminating earlier landscapes;
• field boundaries or boundaries of larger units such as parishes or counties;
• place-names which have been used to illustrate landscape features, particularly Anglo-Saxon place-names.

[edit] Techniques

Two complementary approaches can be used to study landscape history - fieldwork and documents. Fieldwork involves physical inspection of the landscape to identify potential features. Documentary research involves finding references to landscape features in primary and secondary sources. Among the most useful documentary sources are maps.

[edit] Academic status

Few universities have a department of landscape history. Academic landscape historians are typically found within departments of archaeology, history, local history or continuing education. Landscape history courses are typically post-graduate or extra mural.

[edit] Journals and Books

Landscape History is the name of a refereed journal published by the Society for Landscape Studies. ^[5]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Some Early Ideas on the Agricultureal Regions of England, in The Agricultural History Review, 1954. http://www.bahs.org.uk/backnumbers/02fastview.pdf
2. ^ J Hunter, The Essex Landscape is one example.
3. ^ D Hooke, The Landscape of Anglo-Saxon England among others.
4. ^ J Morris, Churches in the Landscape is one of many with the title "... in the Landscape" or similar.
5. ^ http://www.landscapestudies.com/