Theme:
5. Theories and methods in archaeology: interactions between disciplines
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Interaction in Action: Human and Societal Adaptability in Response to Changes in Climate and Environment in Medieval Europe
Content:
The aim of this session is to bring together researchers working on landscape and settlement development in relation to climate and environmental changes. We are especially interested in papers dealing with how humans and society adapted to and mitigated changes in climate and environment in Europe from Late Antiquity to Early Modern period.
New evidence from tree ring records, vegetation historical analyses, ice cores and climate models have indicated several abrupt changes in climate, as well as other environmental consequences related to climate change and human impact on European history. However, we have yet to identify and understand the long-term responses to these shifts. In this session, we wish to emphasize mitigation and adaptation strategies of communities, and the interplay between social and environmental factors regarding different regions of Europe.
Large-scale archaeological excavations and surveys have generated a vast amount of scientific materials (e.g. radiocarbon dates, pollen data and macrofossils) for further research. In addition, large archaeological databases have been digitised, making available descriptions and spatial information for millions of archaeological finds and sites. We are at a point where this data is readily available and can be synthesised to gain an overarching view of socio-economic developments. Similarly, the research on the anthropogenic landscape and human – nature interaction represents one of the most interdisciplinary fields of archaeology considering its subjects and methods. We therefore especially welcome papers handling big data and presentations on interdisciplinary studies.
Keywords:
Environmental change, Adaptation, Settlement development, Landscape, Medieval period
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Kjetil Loftsgarden (Norway) 1
Co-organisers:
Eva Svensson (Sweden) 2
László Ferenczi (Hungary) 3,4
Frode Iversen (Norway) 1
Affiliations:
1. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
2. Karlstad University
3. Central European University, Budapest - alumnus
4. New Europe College, Bucharest - post-doc fellow
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