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Land
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Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II
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Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Archaeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 19756

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Paolo Biagi

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Guest Editor
Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy
Interests: landscape archaeology; prehistoric archaeology; shell middens; Indus Valley; high-altitude archaeology; lithic mining; hunter-gatherers; early farmers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Elisabetta Starnini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge, University of Pisa, 56128 Pisa, Italy
Interests: landscape archaeology; prehistoric archaeology; neolithization of Europe; raw material procurement and use; archaeometry of ceramics and stone artefacts; prehistory of the Indus Valley
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) which provide insights about the exploitation of the world's highland zones.

During the last few decades, problems regarding the exploitation of the highland zones have been analysed in better detail by many archaeologists worldwide. People have started to interpret mountain chains not exclusively as natural barriers, but also like territories which were systematically exploited and crossed during prehistory and history, not only when the ice melted and passes became accessible to move throughout different landscapes, but also for settling in different periods of the year, for different reasons.

It is well known that mountaineers in general show many affinities and habits independent from the country where they live, the language they speak and the dress they wear. Ongoing archaeological research has shown how important highland zones are for the study of human behaviour, human impact on the landscape and the exploitation of new territories and resources, among which are different varieties of functional and precious stone, as well as metal ores. When did people start to move across mountains and why? Why they were attracted by highland zones, and why do some mountains hide indelible iconographic traces of people’s beliefs, settling and living? How can we interpret traces of transhumance and pastoralism, the somewhat ephemeral traces of the way shepherds built their seasonal camps made of tents or stone-walled and wooden dwellings? Some mountain chains around the world show traces of the passage of Palaeolithic groups and the first modern humans during their spread across Africa, Eurasia, and the New Continent. What do we know at present about all of these events, how do we study them and how can we improve the level of our research in the highland zones in the world?

Prof. Dr. Paolo Biagi
Prof. Dr. Elisabetta Starnini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human impact on the landscape
  • coastal changes and sea-level rise
  • settlement pattern and site complementarity
  • radiocarbon dating
  • the exploitation of the highland zones

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 9520 KiB  
Article
New Realizations at the Archaeological and Funereal Park of Takino Cemetery in Hokkaido (Japan)
by Joseph Cabeza-Lainez, Victor Marquet-Saget, Inmaculada Rodriguez-Cunill, Cesar Puchol-Barcina and Miguel Gutiérrez-Villarubia
Land 2025, 14(5), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051124 - 21 May 2025
Abstract
For decades, in historical research, archeological vestiges have been linked with geomancy and cults of the mythical ancestors of a group of the population. This is particularly true in Eastern Asia and especially in China, Korea, and Japan. A fundamental problem of Japanese [...] Read more.
For decades, in historical research, archeological vestiges have been linked with geomancy and cults of the mythical ancestors of a group of the population. This is particularly true in Eastern Asia and especially in China, Korea, and Japan. A fundamental problem of Japanese archeology is that few of the remnants were realized in stone. One of the most important parts of archeological sciences is the study of Necropolises or ancient interments. From the 1970s onwards, in the relatively “new” and promising land of Hokkaido, cemeteries were built with the concept of landscape in mind; this is also due to the lavish vegetation features of this northernmost island of Japan. In the case of the Takino cemetery on the plains of Sapporo, Hokkaido, whose construction began in 1982, solemnity and religiousness were incorporated by producing exact stone replicas of famous funerary landmarks from antiquity as such materials were inexistent in the Nipponese Isles. This trend to grant eternity included traditional Buddhist funereal monuments like the Stupa, Seokguram grotto, and Kamakura sites, but at a certain and exuberant point, under the influence of Isamu Noguchi, it reached Stonehenge in England and the Moai from Easter Island in Polynesia (being after all located in a remote isle of the Pacific Ocean). In this article we will outline such process of generation and overall conception, analyzing the inclusion and architectural assembly of the different compounds and the recent and extraordinary additions projected and built by the celebrity architect Tadao Ando. We expect, in this manner, to facilitate the comprehension of the significance of venerable landscape sublimated through archeology for the Nipponese modern civilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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35 pages, 20819 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Gobi Wall: Archaeology of a Large-Scale Medieval Frontier System in the Mongolian Desert
by Dan Golan, Gideon Shelach-Lavi, Chunag Amartuvshin, Zhidong Zhang, Ido Wachtel, Jingchao Chen, Gantumur Angaragdulguun, Itay Lubel, Dor Heimberg, Mark Cavanagh, Micka Ullman and William Honeychurch
Land 2025, 14(5), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051087 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 128
Abstract
The Gobi Wall is a 321 km-long structure made of earth, stone, and wood, located in the Gobi highland desert of Mongolia. It is the least understood section of the medieval wall system that extends from China into Mongolia. This study aims to [...] Read more.
The Gobi Wall is a 321 km-long structure made of earth, stone, and wood, located in the Gobi highland desert of Mongolia. It is the least understood section of the medieval wall system that extends from China into Mongolia. This study aims to determine its builders, purpose, and chronology. Additionally, we seek to better understand the ecological implications of constructing such an extensive system of walls, trenches, garrisons, and fortresses in the remote and harsh environment of the Gobi Desert. Our field expedition combined remote sensing, pedestrian surveys, and targeted excavations at key sites. The results indicate that the garrison walls and main long wall were primarily constructed using rammed earth, with wood and stone reinforcements. Excavations of garrisons uncovered evidence of long-term occupation, including artifacts spanning from 2nd c. BCE to 19th c. CE. According to our findings, the main construction and usage phase of the wall and its associated structures occurred throughout the Xi Xia dynasty (1038–1227 CE), a period characterized by advanced frontier defense systems and significant geopolitical shifts. This study challenges the perception of such structures as being purely defensive, revealing the Gobi Wall’s multifunctional role as an imperial tool for demarcating boundaries, managing populations and resources, and consolidating territorial control. Furthermore, our spatial and ecological analysis demonstrates that the distribution of local resources, such as water and wood, was critical in determining the route of the wall and the placement of associated garrisons and forts. Other geographic factors, including the location of mountain passes and the spread of sand dunes, were strategically utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the wall system. The results of this study reshape our understanding of medieval Inner Asian imperial infrastructure and its lasting impact on geopolitical landscapes. By integrating historical and archeological evidence with geographical analysis of the locations of garrisons and fortifications, we underscore the Xi Xia kingdom’s strategic emphasis on regulating trade, securing transportation routes, and monitoring frontier movement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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21 pages, 38212 KiB  
Article
Revisiting Gubbio: Settlement Patterns and Ritual from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Roman Era
by Marianna Negro, Nicholas Whitehead, Caroline Malone and Simon Stoddart
Land 2024, 13(9), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091369 - 26 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1280
Abstract
The Gubbio Revisited project, initiated to reinterpret the archaeological evidence collected during the 1980s Gubbio Project, primarily by a conversion from a paper to a digital record, has revealed significant insights into the evolving settlement patterns and religious expression in the Gubbio valley [...] Read more.
The Gubbio Revisited project, initiated to reinterpret the archaeological evidence collected during the 1980s Gubbio Project, primarily by a conversion from a paper to a digital record, has revealed significant insights into the evolving settlement patterns and religious expression in the Gubbio valley in Central Italy. This reanalysis of the survey evidence underscores the rhythms of settlement and ritual practice from the Neolithic through the Bronze and Iron Ages, into Roman times. Key excavations in the 1980s at Monte Ingino, Monte Ansciano, San Marco Romano, and San Marco Neolitico added details not only of settlement activity but also of embedded ritual, evidenced by material culture including pottery, faunal remains, and votive offerings. The foundation myth of indigenous religious practices, even amidst Roman influence, is documented through the Iguvine Tables alongside the introduction of new cults, showcasing a blend of local and imperial religiosity, a common feature in the Roman world. This research enriches the understanding of Gubbio’s historical and cultural landscape, emphasizing the demographic rhythms of the valley alongside the integral role of ritual in its societal evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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21 pages, 3842 KiB  
Article
Living Together, Living Apart: Residential Structures in Late Bronze Age Shirenzigou, Xinjiang
by Meng Ren, Lixun Chen, Tongyuan Xi, Yue You, Duo Tian, Jianxin Wang, Marcella Festa and Jian Ma
Land 2024, 13(5), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050576 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423
Abstract
The spatial organization within ancient settlements offers valuable insights into the evolution of social complexity. This paper examines spatially and chronologically contextualized architectural structures and artifacts uncovered at the Late Bronze Age Shirenzigou site to explore the relationship between the use of space [...] Read more.
The spatial organization within ancient settlements offers valuable insights into the evolution of social complexity. This paper examines spatially and chronologically contextualized architectural structures and artifacts uncovered at the Late Bronze Age Shirenzigou site to explore the relationship between the use of space and underlying social dynamics in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang (China). Central to our findings is a distinctive centripetal compound structure, consisting of a larger non-domestic building surrounded by smaller dwellings. This arrangement, along with the variety and distribution of the artifacts, reveals a complex interplay between private and communal spaces at the site, reflecting a growing complexity within the social fabric of the community. The formation of conglomerates of houses around a central communal structure which occurs across the Tianshan Mountains appears to be a strategic adaptation in response to environmental challenges and socio-political transformations across this region at the end of the second millennium BCE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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25 pages, 7406 KiB  
Article
Encoded Landscapes: A Link between Inka Wall Orientations and Andean Geomorphology
by Nicolás Palacios-Prado, Fabiola Corominas-Sustach, Andrés Pérez, Danilo Verdugo and Tomaž Podobnikar
Land 2024, 13(4), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040463 - 5 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1697
Abstract
While some Inka structures and motifs align with astronomical and horizon markers, a significant portion of their constructions exhibit different patterns. We examined the potential correlation between the orientation patterns of the Inka walls and Andean geomorphology, aiming to uncover the extent to [...] Read more.
While some Inka structures and motifs align with astronomical and horizon markers, a significant portion of their constructions exhibit different patterns. We examined the potential correlation between the orientation patterns of the Inka walls and Andean geomorphology, aiming to uncover the extent to which the physical landscape guided these ancient architectural design methodologies. Using geospatial technology and specially developed peak detection and recognition software, we extensively and meticulously analyzed over 40,000 m of surveyed Inka walls and 20,000 mountain peaks across 11 distinct geographical areas. The analysis revealed a significant correlation between key wall orientations and the parallel peak alignment of the Andean Mountain Range. This suggests a purposeful encoding of landscape orientations into Inka architecture. These findings propose a novel perspective on the intricate relationship between Inka culture and the Andean highlands’ topography. Furthermore, this research introduces a distinctive methodological approach to exploring the impact of natural landscapes on architectural planning, establishing a foundation for comparative studies among other ancient civilizations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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20 pages, 4168 KiB  
Article
Older Is Not Necessarily Better: Decolonizing Ifugao History through the Archaeology of the Rice Terraces
by Stephen B. Acabado and Marlon M. Martin
Land 2024, 13(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020237 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 8858
Abstract
This study examines the intersection of archaeological data and community narratives in interpreting the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Long regarded as 2000-year-old symbols of an uncolonized cultural past, recent research challenges this view, suggesting a 16th-century [...] Read more.
This study examines the intersection of archaeological data and community narratives in interpreting the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Long regarded as 2000-year-old symbols of an uncolonized cultural past, recent research challenges this view, suggesting a 16th-century origin coinciding with Spanish contact. The longstanding characterization of the Ifugao Rice Terraces as 2000-year-old monuments cemented a perception of Ifugao culture as static and unchanging, overshadowing the dynamic cultural practices that have persisted and evolved over the centuries. It is crucial to recognize that these terraces are not frozen in time but are active representations of Ifugao’s living culture, which has continually adapted to social, environmental, and historical changes while maintaining its distinct identity. This paradigm shift, supported by radiocarbon dating and ethnohistorical analysis, aligns more closely with local oral histories and portrays the Ifugao not as passive inheritors of tradition but as active participants in their history. We argue for the integration of scientific data with community stories, presenting a holistic understanding of the terraces as dynamic elements of Ifugao resilience and identity. The findings advocate a move away from romanticized historical interpretations toward a narrative that respects the complexity and adaptability of Indigenous cultural landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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21 pages, 5677 KiB  
Article
Beyond Colonial Boundaries: Reimagining the Rozvi through Landscapes, Identities and Indigenous Epistemologies
by Lesley Hatipone Machiridza and Russell Kapumha
Land 2023, 12(8), 1625; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081625 - 18 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4006
Abstract
The land, ‘things’/objects, and memory in the form of narratives and metaphors are intricately bound together. They all constitute the iconography of a shared set of ideas, beliefs, feelings, values, practices, and performances that objectify collective identities. Respectively, these complex entangled tangible and [...] Read more.
The land, ‘things’/objects, and memory in the form of narratives and metaphors are intricately bound together. They all constitute the iconography of a shared set of ideas, beliefs, feelings, values, practices, and performances that objectify collective identities. Respectively, these complex entangled tangible and spiritual/invisible indices of identities situated in places deserve special archaeological devotion. However, since African archaeology and history remains trapped in Eurocentric colonial metanarratives, indigenous epistemologies and ontologies have somehow remained on the margins of knowledge production processes. This deliberate erasure and silencing continues to impede archaeology’s capacity to explore hidden meanings and values that people imbue to places and landscapes through time. Owing to this setback, multiple precolonial group identities in parts of Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique such as Torwa, Twamamba, Rozvi, Singo, and Venda, among others, remain vague and subjectively tied to the archaeology of Butua/Torwa (AD 1400–1644) and Rozvi (AD 1685–1830) state systems. The failure to read the landscape as both a repository of memory and an agent for collective identities continues to compound our archaeological challenges. Against this background, Rozvi oral narratives and the Insiza cluster Khami-phase sites in southwestern Zimbabwe are subjected to renewed scrutiny. Following a critical review of colonial archives and Rozvi traditions, it turned out that instead of contradicting ‘science’, oral traditions actually amplify our reading of the archaeological record, only if handled properly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeological Landscape and Settlement II)
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