Past Landscapes

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:PrefacePast Landscapes: The Dynamics of Interaction between Society, Environment, and CultureAnnette Haug, Lutz Käppel, and Johannes MüllerIntroductionFrom Theories, Concepts and Practices on Human Development in LandscapesAnnette Haug and Johannes MüllerLandscape and the GSHDL 2007-2017: Ten Years of ResearchJohannes MüllerI: Past Landscapes - Theories and ConceptsThe Disentanglement of Landscapes: Remarks on Concepts of Socio-Environmental Research and Landscape ArchaeologyJohannes MüllerOn Melting Grounds: Theories of the LandscapeAntonia DavidovicRitual and Landscape: Theoretical ConsiderationsV.P.J. Arponen and Artur RibeiroII: Past Landscapes - Concepts and PracticesPutting Things into Practice: Pragmatic Theory and the Exploration of Monumental LandscapesMartin Furholt, Martin Hinz and Doris MischkaWho Is In Charge Here? - Material Culture, Landscapes and SymmetryChristian Horn and Gustav WollentzUrban Landscapes and Urban Networks - Some Thoughts on the Process of Writing within the Mediaeval Urbanization of Central EuropeGerhard Fouquet and Gabriel ZeilingerVisual Concepts of Human Surroundings: The Case of the Early Greek Polis (10th-7th century BC)Annette HaugThe Cultural Significance of PlantsWiebke KirleisIII: Past Landscapes - Concepts, Space and HistoryMid-Holocene Environment and Human Interaction in Northern Central EuropeMara WeineltFrom Hunting to Herding? Aspects of the Social and Animal Landscape during the Southern Scandinavian NeolithicMartin HinzBorders: Developments of Society and Landscape during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age - Face Urns as a Case StudyJutta KneiselThe Iron Age in Southwestern GermanyOliver NakoinzThe 'Iranian' Period in the Near East: A Landscape Studies ApproachJosef WiesehöferThe Bronze Age in the East - The Hittites and Their EnvironmentWalter DörflerNature and Perception of a Greek Landscape: StymphalosIngmar UnkelScenes and Actors of Historical Crises between Generalizing Synthesis Formation and Postmodern FragmentationUlrich Müller and Donat Wehner