Theories and Practice of Landscape Archaeology

3 units

The study of landscapes as a particular framework for understanding the archaeological record has become increasingly widespread in the discipline today. Yet the theoretical background for defining landscapes is commonly disconnected with the actual practical application of landscape archaeology. What exactly do we mean by landscape archaeology, what is its utility, and how do contemporary methods of analysis and interpretation change the way we consider archaeology through this conceptual paradigm? This course will explore the theoretical basis and current archaeological approaches to landscape and address its distinction to, and overlap with, other prevalent concepts such as environment, ecology, place, and space. The course will also place focus on concrete methodological and practical approaches that differentiate Landscape Archaeology from other approaches -- as well as illustrate their points of convergence.