The place of archaeology in integrated cultural landscape management

Abstract

Across Europe, landscape is recognised as a frame through which societal values are defined and embedded. The European Landscape convention and wider research has drawn attention to the need for integrating a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure landscape sustainability. Archaeology is increasingly recognised as having an important place in integrated landscape management but often remains relatively peripheral. This paper examines the place of archaeology in specific European regions and the potential ways of integrating archaeological heritage in landscape management. Emerging from a project funded by the Joint Programme Initiative on Cultural Heritage (Resituating Europe’s FIrst Towns (REFIT): A case study in enhancing knowledge transfer and developing sustainable management of cultural landscapes), we explore the place of a set of common European heritage assets, Iron Age oppida, in the management of the landscape they are a part of and how they might be used better to engage and connect stakeholders. Using four case studies, we review the present integration of archaeology within landscape management and how this operates at a local level. From this we explore what challenges these case-studies present and outline ways in which the REFIT project has sought to develop strategies to respond to these in order to enhance and promote co-productive management of these landscapes.

Towards a Combined Use of Geophysics and Remote Sensing Techniques for the Characterization of a Singular Building: “El Torreón” (the Tower) at Ulaca Oppidum (Solosancho, Ávila, Spain)

“…The hill where the oppidum is located is embedded between the Picuezo River and Los Portillos Stream and is protected to the south by the peaks of the Sierra de la Paramera, while to the north it opens to the wide Amblés Valley (Figure 1a). In 1995, Ulaca was declared "Bien de Interés Cultural" (Asset of Cultural Interest); the highest level of protection for historical heritage in Spain [58,59]. The protected archaeological zone includes the oppidum and its cemetery.…”

Archaeological Sites’ Management, Interpretation, and Tourism Development—A Success Story and Future Challenges: The Case of Bibracte, France

“…In France, the importance of natural and cultural heritage has long been recognized by national heritage authorities [1,2], and the need for their management and development is well emphasized [3]. Historical landscapes, archeological sites, and natural parks are regarded, for example, as properties of scenic, political, social, and economic importance, and are related, in different cases, to national identity, collective memory, and tourism progress [4].…”

“…However, the different heritage management were not challenge-free in their implementation. It has been noted that despite the obvious branding of heritage sites the on local, national, and international levels, many current issues and future challenges exist [2,7], and these challenges may impact management, interpretation, and tourism development at archeological sites.…”

Landscape archaeology, sustainability and the necessity of change

“…There are various reasons for this: a disciplinary focus on past societies is probably one, and relatively weak engagement with policy makers another (Rockman and Hritz 2020). To address sustainability, it is crucial to go further towards a transdisciplinary approach where multiple stakeholders -public bodies, businesses, community members, scientists -come together to address problems (Nilsson Stutz 2018;Dymitrow and Ingelhag 2020;Moore, Guichard, and Sanchis 2020;Kristensen and Primdahl 2020). In this way, existing knowledge can be harnessed or new co-productive research can be designed to feed into effective and far-reaching strategies and decisions.…”

“…To maximize positive outcomes it will be crucial to work together with stakeholders and the public in order to inform broader understanding of landscape change and its potential directions (Dessein et al 2015;Richer, Stump, and Marchant 2019;Moore, Guichard, and Sanchis 2020). Future sustainability also depends on the realization that landscapes will have many functions and will be valued in different ways by different people.…”