Reading historical landscapes Att läsa landskap
What is landscape? Landscape: all the visible features of an area of land Cultural landscape: the combined works of nature and of people that are illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under the influence of the physical constraints and/or opportunities presented by their natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural forces, both external and internal (UNESCO)
Experiencing through living in and visiting places the landscape is a lot older than often thought, and its story can be unravelled by close and careful observation of its characteristics (Hoskins, 1955)
Archaeological field surveys: non-intrusive and above the ground Field walking: mapping possible sites and architectural remains Aerial photography
Archaeological field surveys: non-intrusive and beneath the ground Geophysical surveys (geophysical instruments, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistance meters, sensors, etc., can detect buried archaeological features when they electrical or magnetic properties contrast with their surroundings)
Archaeological field surveys: intrusive Collecting samples: - Stratigraphy of cultural layers
Archaeological field surveys: intrusive Soil chemistry (phosphate analysis) phosphate accumulates as a result of the deposition and decomposition of human wastes and animal bone
Archaeological field surveys: Paleobotanical and palynological analyses: to determine changes in vegetation due to human activities and climate change intrusive
Historical documents, e.g. tax records, land charters (jordbocker, landbocker), chronicles, diaries, travelogues (reseskildringar), wills. Many documents collected in Diplomatoria Archival analyses
Sketches, architectural plans, photography Archival analyses
Example: Fort St. George, Popham Colony, Northern America Plan of St George drawn by John Hunt 1607 Overlay of the Hunt Map on an 1865 topographic map Details of hearth and post holes at the Raleigh Gilbert house
Archival analyses Maps Development of carthography from ca 1600 onwards Different kinds of maps different information Biases and difficulties
Värpinge by before agrarian reform (before introduction of enskifte )
Värpinge by after agrarian reforms (with division of fields according to enskifte )
Military maps: topography, strategic points, roads
Maps, written documents and surveys. Example: Järrestad Järrestad
Klungby Radby Platsby
Ortnamn
Ortnamn: -inge = inbyggarbeteckning äldre eller mellersta järnålder t.ex. Heddinge -stad = plats äldre eller mellersta järnålder t.ex. Ystad -löv (-lev) = lämnat (gods) äldre eller mellersta järnålder t.ex. Odarslöv (Ottars arvegods) -by = samling gårdar vikingatid t.ex. Stångby -torp, -arp = nybygge, avgärda enhet vik/medeltid t.ex. Flackarp
-tuna -bo av tun = inhägnat jordstycke möjl. äldre järnålder t.ex. Skeppstuna, Hälsingtuna, Stora Tuna inbyggarnamn (-boar) = bygd t.ex. Delsbo -boda av bodarna (bodland) = filialgård trol. medeltid t.ex. Lingbo -vall(a) -tomt(a), -tofta -böle -sved -arv =jämn, gräsbevuxen plats, ofta fäbodar, men också Kyrkvallen, Tingsvallen =plats för byggnad, där byggnad har stått t.ex. Björtomta av bol = nybygge t.ex. Kårböle (Kåres nybygge) = bränningsröjd mark, svedja t.ex. Kvarnsveden som löv = arvegods t.ex. Domnarvet
-vi -åker -harg = förkristen kultplats t.ex. Frövi = kultplats t.ex. Torsåker, Frösåker, Stavåker =kulthus t.ex. Harg Oppi- /Uti- Över-/Ytter- Bortre/ Hitre Oppigår n /Utigår n Bortre / Hitre Överhogdal /Ytterhogdal
Varningstext: Norra Nöbbelöv 1300 Nybøle
What territory is shown on this map?
Where to find historic maps? Lantmäteriet: historiska kartor (database Arken) Landsarkivet
Institutet för språk och folkminnen Dialekt- och ortnamnsarkivet i Lund (DAL) http://130.235.143.140/beb/sokharad.aspx
Where to find information about archaeological research? Riksantikvarieämbetet http://www.fmis.raa.se/cocoon/fornsok/search.html
Tools and sources for studying historical landscapes Archival: - Historical sources - Historic maps and sketches - Place name studies Field (non-destructive): - Interviews with local inhabitants - Surveys (field walking) - GPRs and geomagnetic surveys - Aerial photography Field (destructive) - Soil chemistry, palynology - Excavation