European agricultural terraces and lynchets: from archaeological theory to heritage management. Issue 4 (7th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Antony; Walsh, Kevin; Fallu, Daniel; Cucchiaro, Sara; Tarolli, Paolo
• Is Part Of: World archaeology. Volume 52:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 566
• Page End: 588
• Publication Date: 2020-08-07
• Subjects: Agricultural intensification -- population density -- agricultural sustainability -- landscape change -- terrace classification -- remote sensing; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archéologie -- Périodiques; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00438243.2021.1891963
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-8243

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Terraces are highly productive, culturally distinctive socioecological systems. Although they form part of time/place-specific debates, terraces per se have been neglected – fields on slopes or landscape elements. We argue that this is due to mapping and dating problems, and lack of artefacts/ecofacts. However, new techniques can overcome some of these constraints, allowing us to re-engage with theoretical debates around agricultural intensification. Starting from neo-Broserupian propositions, we can engage with the sociopolitical and environmental aspects of terrace emergence, maintenance and abandonment. Non-reductionist avenues include identifying and dating different phases of development within single terrace systems, identifying a full crop-range, and other activities not generally associated with terraces (e.g. metallurgy). The proposition here is that terraces are a multi-facetted investment that includes both intensification and diversification and can occur under a range of social conditions but which constitutes a response to demographic pressure in the face to fluctuating environmental conditions.