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: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 9379
Special Issue Editors
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
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
Related Special Issue
- Archaeological Landscape and Settlement in Land (15 articles)
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Revisiting Gubbio: Settlement Patterns and ritual from the Neolithic to the Roman Era
Authors: Simon Kenneth Stoddart; Marianna Emilia Negro; Nicholas Whitehead; Caroline Ann Malone
Affiliation: University of Cambridge
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. 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.