Historical Landscape Evolution

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 23570

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Special Issue Editors

AIGeo, Italian Association of Physical Geography and Geomorphology, c/o Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: sedimentology; stratigraphy; geoarchaeology
Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: urban geomorphology; urban geomorphological heritage; geosites assessment methods; geoheritage mapping; earth sciences dissemination

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Several natural processes determine the landscape and its evolution in more or less long times. On the scale of human life, the evolution induced by common erosive-depositional processes or by transgressive-regressive phases can be considered slow compared to catastrophic events (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis or large mass movements). However, both can produce significant effects on human communities that respond, by adapting or migrating, to the natural modifications of the local landscape.

Since protohistory however, the increasingly planned use of the environment has made the human communities increasingly protagonists in the landscape change. Even more in the historical period, the landscape has changed and changes, more or less continuously, due to the overlapping of natural and man-induced processes. While on the one hand, man has been and is sometimes prone to the natural landscape change, in other cases, in an attempt to mitigate the risks; he has become an actor in the creation of a new landscape more suitable for his needs.

The purpose of the Special Issue (Historical Landscape Evolution) should be to highlight the variations of the landscape produced, in different locations and in defined time intervals and historical contexts, of the environment-human interaction, evaluating, where possible, their relative weight and positive and negative effects on both communities and the natural environment.

Prof. Bellotti Piero
Dr. Alessia Pica
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Anthropocene
  • climate change
  • cultural heritage
  • holocene
  • land use
  • sea level rise
  • urbanization

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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37 pages, 9624 KiB  
Article
A Cultural Landscape Emerges: Analyzing the Evolution of Two Historic North Pole Expedition Bases in Virgohamna, Svalbard, from Trash to a Protected Cultural Heritage Site
by Anne Cathrine Flyen
Land 2023, 12(8), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081481 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1002
Abstract
The identification and preservation of cultural landscapes worthy of protection is a challenging task, as their significance is often not immediately apparent. Analyzing the process through which a site or landscape became a heritage site and understanding the historical context and the factors [...] Read more.
The identification and preservation of cultural landscapes worthy of protection is a challenging task, as their significance is often not immediately apparent. Analyzing the process through which a site or landscape became a heritage site and understanding the historical context and the factors that contributed to its designation allows making informed decisions on the management and preservation of the site. To provide research-based knowledge, this paper aims to analyze the transformation of the degraded remains of the North Pole expedition bases of Andrée and Wellman in Virgohamna, Svalbard, into a protected historic landscape and the subsequent emergence of the site as a current popular tourist destination. Virgohamna serves as an illustrative case for examining the heritagization process of cultural heritage sites in Svalbard. This article adopts a multidisciplinary approach, drawing upon case studies, mapping and categorizing the historic and current landscape, the condition and vulnerability assessment of historic remains, behavior studies on visiting tourists and guides on-site, expert interviews, and document studies. The findings highlight the complex processes that have influenced the making of the cultural heritage landscape in Virgohamna, the enduring narrative associated with the site, and the need for continued efforts to ensure the preservation and dissemination of its historical significance. Analyzing the process through which Virgohamna has become a heritage site and understanding the historical context and the factors that have contributed to its designation as a heritage site has the potential to enhance comprehension regarding historical importance and heritage values. Furthermore, it might facilitate engaging stakeholders and formulating management approaches and provide insights for policy suggestions. The comprehensive examination serves as a foundation for responsible and sustainable heritage management, ensuring the preservation and promotion of Virgohamna’s cultural heritage for present and future generations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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20 pages, 20614 KiB  
Article
The Evolution of Historic Agroforestry Landscape in the Northern Apennines (Italy) and Its Consequences for Slope Geomorphic Processes
by Filippo Brandolini, Chiara Compostella, Manuela Pelfini and Sam Turner
Land 2023, 12(5), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051054 - 12 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2505 | Correction
Abstract
Historic agricultural practices have played a dominant role in shaping landscapes, creating a heritage which must be understood and conserved from the perspective of sustainable development. Agroforestry (i.e., the practice of combining trees with agriculture or livestock) has existed since ancient times in [...] Read more.
Historic agricultural practices have played a dominant role in shaping landscapes, creating a heritage which must be understood and conserved from the perspective of sustainable development. Agroforestry (i.e., the practice of combining trees with agriculture or livestock) has existed since ancient times in European countries, and it has been recognised as one of the most resilient and multifunctional cultural landscapes, providing a wide range of economic, sociocultural, and environmental benefits. This research explores aspects of the history, physical characteristics, decline, and current state of conservation of historic agroforestry systems on the Northern Apennines in Italy, using an interdisciplinary approach combining archival sources, landscape archaeology, dendrochronology, and GIS analysis. Furthermore, through computer-based modelling, this research aims to evaluate how the abandonment of this historic rural land-use strategy impacted slope geomorphic processes over the long term. The importance of environmental values attached to traditional rural landscapes has received much attention even beyond the heritage sector, justifying the definition of transdisciplinary approaches necessary to ensure the holistic management of landscapes. Through the integration of the Unit Stream Power-Based Erosion Deposition (USPED) equation with landscape archaeological data, the paper shows how restoring the historic agroforestry landscape could significantly mitigate soil mass movements in the area. Thus, the interdisciplinary workflow proposed in this study enables a deep understanding of both the historical evolution of agroforestry systems and its resulting effects for cumulative soil erosion and deposition in the face of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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16 pages, 14300 KiB  
Article
Research on Changsha Gardens in Ming Dynasty, China
by Weiwen Li and Chi Gao
Land 2023, 12(3), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030707 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2169
Abstract
Despite the growing interest in Chinese gardens, there is a lack of research on Changsha Gardens. Through document retrieval, review, and map analysis, we reconstructed the Changsha Gardens during the Ming Dynasty. Our findings reveal that gardening flourished in Changsha during this period. [...] Read more.
Despite the growing interest in Chinese gardens, there is a lack of research on Changsha Gardens. Through document retrieval, review, and map analysis, we reconstructed the Changsha Gardens during the Ming Dynasty. Our findings reveal that gardening flourished in Changsha during this period. The royal gardens, dominated by literati aesthetics, set the trend for development, while the landscaping techniques were influenced by Jiangnan Gardens. Private gardens placed more emphasis on artistic mood and cultural implications. Landscape architects incorporated towers, terraces, and suburban mountain gardening to borrow scenery. The use of spring water to create landscapes and the rectangular shapes of the water bodies reflected Neo-Confucianism and practical functions. Planting design focused on meaning over form, with landscapes used to commemorate sages and promote the farming and reading culture and other Confucian values. However, it relied too much on borrowing natural scenery and the pragmatism of the Hunan culture, which might have affected the progress of landscaping techniques and the development of Changsha Gardens. Changsha Gardens were not as skilled as Jiangnan Gardens, and the style was not as prominent as other regional schools of gardens. This might be the reason why Changsha Gardens have not become one of the regional schools of gardens in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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24 pages, 12297 KiB  
Article
The Multidisciplinary Approach in the Study of Landscape Evolution: The Fluvial Capture of the San Donato Creek (Gubbio, Central Italy), an Example of Hydrological Regime and Hydrogeological Risk Changes
by Corrado Cencetti, Filippo Paciotti, Ettore A. Sannipoli and Ubaldo E. Scavizzi
Land 2023, 12(3), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030694 - 16 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1844
Abstract
Historical maps, especially those at a small scale and rich in detail (e.g., the old “Cadastres”), represent an exceptionally important tool for understanding the recent historical evolution of landscapes. The note describes the example of the territory of Gubbio, in Umbria (Central Italy), [...] Read more.
Historical maps, especially those at a small scale and rich in detail (e.g., the old “Cadastres”), represent an exceptionally important tool for understanding the recent historical evolution of landscapes. The note describes the example of the territory of Gubbio, in Umbria (Central Italy), where a map from the end of the 16th century shows a drawing of the hydrographic network partially different from the current one. A multidisciplinary study based on field surveys, observations of satellite images, archaeological discoveries, and archival research proved useful to confirm what was reported by the cartographer at the time. The possible causes that led to this variation of the surface hydrography up to its current configuration are then discussed in the light of other documentary finds from the archives, taken from the chronicles of the time, which have made it possible to identify, with sufficient approximation, the period where this change occurred. All this leads to a highlighting of a profound evolution of fluvial and slope morphogenetic processes that have affected the study area in recent centuries, in which the regulation of surface waters and afforestation, conducted during the 20th century, have played a decisive role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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22 pages, 7635 KiB  
Article
Where the Second World War in Europe Broke Out: The Landscape History of Westerplatte, Gdańsk/Danzig
by Wojciech Samól, Szymon Kowalski, Arkadiusz Woźniakowski and Piotr Samól
Land 2023, 12(3), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030596 - 02 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3174
Abstract
The article describes the landscape history of the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdańsk (Poland) from the 17th to the 20th century presented as a complex process of the landscape’s environmental, urban and military transformations. Westerplatte is known as the symbolic place where the Second [...] Read more.
The article describes the landscape history of the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdańsk (Poland) from the 17th to the 20th century presented as a complex process of the landscape’s environmental, urban and military transformations. Westerplatte is known as the symbolic place where the Second World War in Europe broke out, and for this reason the current discourse is mainly concentrated on that period. Nonetheless, the history of Westerplatte includes many other important events involving Polish, German, Russian and even French politics over the last three centuries. Thanks to its location at the entrance of one of the main harbours on the Baltic Sea, it is cartographically the best-documented part of the Vistula river estuary. A comprehensive archival survey conducted in the Polish and German archives and cartographical analysis of over 200 selected historical maps allowed the authors to reconstruct its spatial history over three centuries. This case study of Westerplatte can be regarded as an example of the research modus operandi of a historical landscape which has been transformed multiple times. It might form the basis for establishing a new policy for its preservation, allowing a balance to be kept between fluctuations of the current historical politics and more universal requirements for the protection of tangible and intangible heritage. The article also stresses the importance of a holistic and interdisciplinary approach in the analysis of a historical landscape and the necessity of proper selection and critical verification of sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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11 pages, 38213 KiB  
Communication
Erosion Modelling Indicates a Decrease in Erosion Susceptibility of Historic Ridge and Furrow Fields near Albershausen, Southern Germany
by Johannes Schmidt, Nik Usmar, Leon Westphal, Max Werner, Stephan Roller, Reinhard Rademacher, Peter Kühn, Lukas Werther and Aline Kottmann
Land 2023, 12(3), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030544 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1711
Abstract
Ridge and furrow fields are land-use-related surface structures that are widespread in Europe and represent a geomorphological key signature of the Anthropocene. Previous research has identified various reasons for the intentional and unintentional formation of these structures, such as the use of a [...] Read more.
Ridge and furrow fields are land-use-related surface structures that are widespread in Europe and represent a geomorphological key signature of the Anthropocene. Previous research has identified various reasons for the intentional and unintentional formation of these structures, such as the use of a mouldboard plough, soil improvement and drainage. We used GIS-based quantitative erosion modelling according to the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to calculate the erosion susceptibility of a selected study area in Southern Germany. We compared the calculated erosion susceptibility for two scenarios: (1) the present topography with ridges and furrows and (2) the smoothed topography without ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows for the studied site reduce the erosion susceptibility by more than 50% compared to the smoothed surface. Thus, for the first time, we were able to identify lower soil erosion susceptibility as one of the possible causes for the formation of ridge and furrow fields. Finally, our communication paper points to future perspectives of quantitative analyses of historical soil erosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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17 pages, 8411 KiB  
Article
Evolving Cultural and Historical Landscapes of Northwestern Colchis during the Medieval Period: Physical Environment and Urban Decline Causes
by Galina Trebeleva, Andrey Kizilov, Vasiliy Lobkovskiy and Gleb Yurkov
Land 2022, 11(12), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122202 - 04 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1245
Abstract
In Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, both coastal and sub-mountainous parts of Colchis underwent rapid urbanization. In the 12th century, the processes of decline began: Large settlements were replaced by small farmsteads with light wooden buildings, and the economy transformed from [...] Read more.
In Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, both coastal and sub-mountainous parts of Colchis underwent rapid urbanization. In the 12th century, the processes of decline began: Large settlements were replaced by small farmsteads with light wooden buildings, and the economy transformed from commodity-based to subsistence-based. What caused this decline? Was it the social and political events linked to the decline of the Byzantine Empire and changes to world trade routes, or were there other reasons? This article provides the answer. The synergy of archaeological, folkloristic, historical cartographic, climatological, seismological, and hydrological data depicts a strong link between these processes and climate change, which occurred at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries. The beginning of cooling led to a crisis in agriculture. A decline in both farming and cattle breeding could not fail to affect demography. Seismic activity, noted in the same period, led to the destruction of many buildings, including temples, and fortresses, and changes in hydrological networks, which were directly linked to climate change and caused water logging, led to a loss of the functions of coastal areas and their disappearance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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18 pages, 2996 KiB  
Article
The Evolutionary Process and Mechanism of Cultural Landscapes: An Integrated Perspective of Landscape Ecology and Evolutionary Economic Geography
by Zhiqiang Gong, Zhuting Zhang, Jianqin Zhou, Jiami Zhou and Wenhui Wang
Land 2022, 11(11), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11112062 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2421
Abstract
Cultural landscapes are joint masterpieces of man and nature with outstanding universal value. Adequate knowledge of their evolutionary process and mechanism is crucial to their development, protection, and management. However, theoretical understanding about such has been limited as existing studies tend to focus [...] Read more.
Cultural landscapes are joint masterpieces of man and nature with outstanding universal value. Adequate knowledge of their evolutionary process and mechanism is crucial to their development, protection, and management. However, theoretical understanding about such has been limited as existing studies tend to focus on the descriptive and interpretative analysis of the evolutionary process and pay less attention to the underlying mechanism of the process. Integrating the traditional perspective of landscape ecology in cultural landscape research and theories of path dependence and path creation in evolutionary economic geography, this paper constructs a triple-layered integrated analytical framework of cultural landscape evolution and applies the framework to empirically examine the cultural landscape evolution of Mount Lushan. To grasp an accurate and full picture of the process, field observation and historical data collection were carried out, and a combination of thematic analysis and chronological organization was conducted. The research finds that the cultural landscape evolution of Mount Lushan has experienced three stages, i.e., coexistence and mutual influence of multiple cultures, conflict and integration of Chinese and Western cultures, as well as landscape transformation, revival, and expansion. Such evolution is a non-linear, dynamic, and complex process across which the elements, functions, and patterns of landscapes were constantly constructed and reconstructed. Fundamentally, it is the result of the synergistic effect of path dependence and path creation, and is driven by the interplay of the behavior of associated actors and the change of contextuality. The findings of this study can provide some strategic references for the management practice of cultural landscape heritage sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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25 pages, 3386 KiB  
Article
Walking in China’s Historical and Cultural Streets: The Factors Affecting Pedestrian Walking Behavior and Walking Experience
by Mimi Tian, Zhixing Li, Qinan Xia, Yu Peng, Tianlong Cao, Tianmei Du and Zeyu Xing
Land 2022, 11(9), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091491 - 05 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2159
Abstract
The urban street has evolved into an important indicator reflecting citizens’ living standard today, and pedestrian walking activity in the streets has been proved to be a major facilitator of public health. Uncertainties, however, exist in the factors affecting pedestrian walking behavior and [...] Read more.
The urban street has evolved into an important indicator reflecting citizens’ living standard today, and pedestrian walking activity in the streets has been proved to be a major facilitator of public health. Uncertainties, however, exist in the factors affecting pedestrian walking behavior and walking experience in streets. Especially, the factors affecting pedestrian walking behavior and walking experience in the historical and cultural streets. For the study of their main influencing factors, Hefang Street business block and Gongchen Bridge life block in Hangzhou are selected here as the study objects. Both non-participatory and participatory research methods are adopted to collect pedestrian information and observe pedestrians’ ambiguous behavior, specific behavior, and stopping behavior. According to the study result, walking preference, walking time, environmental characteristics, and land-use mix (LUM) significantly impact pedestrian walking motivation. The type differences between Gongchen Bridge life block and Hefang Street business block leads to the difference in pedestrians’ behaviors and their stopping time in business. Meanwhile, gender differences bring pedestrians’ significant differences in walking motivation. Pedestrian walking preference and walking time are positively correlated with walking motivation in both streets. Environmental characteristics and LUM have also been proved to be important influencing factors of pedestrians’ walking motivation. In this article, design and planning strategies are proposed for streets of different types in an attempt to provide reference for the revitalization and utilization of cultural heritage streets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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Review

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23 pages, 43253 KiB  
Review
Landscape Modifications Ascribed to El Niño Events in Late Pre-Hispanic Coastal Peru
by Marco Delle Rose
Land 2022, 11(12), 2207; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122207 - 05 Dec 2022
Viewed by 2112
Abstract
Coastal Peru, one of the driest deserts in the world, is a key region to investigate the connection between climate processes and Earth surface responses. However, the trends in space and time of the landscape effects of El Niño events throughout the last [...] Read more.
Coastal Peru, one of the driest deserts in the world, is a key region to investigate the connection between climate processes and Earth surface responses. However, the trends in space and time of the landscape effects of El Niño events throughout the last millennium are hard to outline. A deeper understanding of geological and archaeological data in pre-Hispanic time can help to shed light on some critical questions regarding the relationship between such a coupled atmosphere–ocean phenomenon and landscape modifications. The bibliographic sources required for this purpose are scattered throughout various disciplines, ranging from physical to human sciences, and thus comprehensive databases were used to identify and screen relevant studies. The performed examination of these documents allowed us to assess strengths and weaknesses of literature hypotheses and motivate additional studies on targeted research objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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Other

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3 pages, 1266 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Brandolini et al. The Evolution of Historic Agroforestry Landscape in the Northern Apennines (Italy) and Its Consequences for Slope Geomorphic Processes. Land 2023, 12, 1054
by Filippo Brandolini, Chiara Compostella, Manuela Pelfini and Sam Turner
Land 2023, 12(11), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112015 - 03 Nov 2023
Viewed by 355
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Historical Landscape Evolution)
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