Summary
I envision Landscape Archaeology as a scientific programme, comprising interdisciplinary methods and theories, that rigorously analyses the long-term processes of landscape formation. This approach integrates archaeological, palaeoenvironmental, and ethnographic datasets to produce socially relevant knowledge about human behaviour, delving into the social, productive and symbolic aspects of societies. The potential of Landscape Archaeology for establishing theoretical connections with other disciplines among Social and Earth Sciences is broadly assumed by its practitioners, although it might not be clear enough beyond the boundaries of our field. Archaeologists should pay more attention to contemporary issues related to landscape management and policies. We can strengthen claims for the adoption of measures pursuing global citizenship and social justice, based on the promotion of critical thinking among better-informed citizens. We cannot leave behind local communities living in rural areas, usually ignored by governance bodies. This paper relies on my ongoing investigations of rural landscapes in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), examining the role of pastoralism in the anthropization of upland areas since Late Prehistory. It constitutes a fruitful horizon to inform policy-making on tourism, heritage and land-use management, challenging the nature/culture divide in public perceptions about landscapes, and enriching discussions around the Anthropocene or Rewilding.
Keywords
Landscape Archaeology. Upland Archaeology. Cultural landscapes. Pastoralism. Heritage. Tourism.