Richer, Susan orcid.org/0000-0002-8293-9526 and Gearey, B.R. (2017) From Rackham to REVEALS:Reflections on Palaeoecological Approaches to Woodland and Trees. Environmental Archaeology. ISSN 1461-4103
Abstract
In this paper we reflect on aspects of palaeoecological approaches to understanding past woodland environments. With increasing requirements for interdisciplinarity in research, and an increase in popular interest in the ‘natural environment’ such as ‘new nature writing’, we suggest that palaeoecology is potentially well situated to engage with other audiences and disciplines, and inform wider debates. However, in order to achieve this, we tentatively suggest that palaeoecology should be self-reflexive and examine how current methods, terminology and underlying theoretical perspectives inform (and inhibit) our practice. Using insights from Oliver Rackham’s influential woodland studies as focal points, we examine selected aspects of method and theory in palaeoecology and suggest an approach to developing a praxis of woodland palaeoecology. In practical terms, this (1) incorporates other information and alternative perspectives, and is willing to question its methods and ways of thinking, (2) takes account of past and present, differences in the perceptions of the environment, (3) looks to build enriched accounts without privileging one perspective/set of ‘data’ over another by ‘flattening out’ knowledge hierarchies, potentially making the discipline more flexible in its outlook and applicability. A short case study from Shrawley Woods, Worcestershire, UK, illustrates the approach and includes the first example of historical documents and oral history accounts being used in the construction of a pollen diagram.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Author(s) |
Keywords: | Palaeoecology,ARCHAEOLOGY,Oral History,WOODLAND,pollen analysis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York) The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 24 Feb 2017 09:20 |
Last Modified: | 08 Feb 2025 00:21 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2017.1283765 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/14614103.2017.1283765 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:112787 |
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