DC8: Stone Age heritage as shared landscapes: Mapping concerns, actors and perspectives

DC8 investigates how existing and future archaeological activities in shared landscapes can be made locally relevant, sustainable, and attuned to contemporary dynamics at multiple scales. DC8 examines three case study areas across Europe (Norway, W-France, Latvia) that host coastal Stone Age hunter-fisher-gatherer heritage (excavated/not excavated), mapping different actors (such as local community heritage enthusiasts, municipal administrations, builders, planners, cultural heritage management actors, scientists, and environmental protection and conservation groups), interests, challenges and opportunities that may affect future management and use of these sites. 

Using anthropological and social science methods, DC8 provides an in-depth understanding of the socio-material dynamics that shape these shared landscapes, ranging from structural and economic conditions to social and cultural factors and environmental concerns. The comparative knowledge will be used to identify how prehistoric hunter-fisher-gatherer traces can best be integrated into future planning and use of these landscapes in a sensitive and inclusive manner, e.g., as places of learning in sustainable infrastructure development or tourism. DC8 fosters consciousness and reflexivity among site stakeholders (including researchers and other actors), both within and beyond the network, to strengthen public dialogue and inclusiveness. 

This project provides training for a career in sustainable natural and cultural resource management. Expected results consist of academic and popular science outputs, the former a dissertation and two co-authored journal articles. Data will be stored at UGOT.