People and Agrarian Landscapes: An Archaeology of Postclassical Local Societies in the Western Mediterranean

Edited by Juan Antonio Quirós Castillo Edited by Josu Narbarte Hernández

Book cover: People and Agrarian Landscapes: An Archaeology of Postclassical Local Societies in the Western Mediterranean

Extent: 234 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Medieval Studies, Mediterranean Archaeology

Series: Historical Archaeologies Series

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(April 2023)

ISBN: 9781803274379

7.99 x 10.87 inches

Price: $54.00

In stock

This book provides an overview of the driving theories, methodologies and main topics that have been addressed to date regarding agrarian archaeology. The text is presented as an introduction for students, a critical reading guide for other scholars, and an informative instrument aimed at a wide audience.


People and Agrarian Landscapes aims to offer the reader a series of keys to understand why agrarian archaeology has become one of the most dynamic, experimental, and innovative sectors of the discipline in southern Europe, providing an overview of the driving theories, methodologies and main topics that have been addressed to date. In this way, the text is presented as an introduction for students, a critical reading guide for other scholars, and an informative instrument aimed at a wide audience. Most of the results of agrarian archaeology are to be found in highly specialized journals and venues that are not always easily accessible, and thus the volume presents the works, tools, and conceptual frameworks that have been developed by some of the main research groups active in the south of Western Europe to study rural societies throughout history, considering the materiality of agricultural activities.

Sunflowers, Agrarian Capitalism and Traditional Landscapes. Agrarian Archaeology in the postclassical age - Juan Antonio Quiros Castillo Medieval Agrarian Landscapes seen by French School of Archaeogeography - Magali Watteaux Defying limits. Archaeology of social landscapes in high mountain areas of the Central Pyrenees - Ermengol Gassiot Ballbe A historical context for rural landscapes: the contribution of Environmental Resources Archaeology (ERA) (NW Italy) - Roberta Cevasco, Carlo Montanari, Diego Moreno, Alessandro Panetta, Valentina Pescini, Anna Maria Stagno Archaeology of the agrarian landscapes in al-Andalus: new paths towards integrated interpretation - Jorge A. Eiroa Archaeology of forest and mountainous areas: The Zigoitia Research Project (Basque Country) - Jose Rodriguez Fernandez, Angel Martinez Montecelo Agrarian Archaeologies in the Basque Country. Long-term agrarian landscapes and practices in a social context - Juan Antonio Quiros-Castillo, Josu Narbarte Hernandez, Eneko Iriarte The archaeological study of agricultural sustainability: the cases of Konso (S Ethiopia) and Engaruka (N Tanzania) - Cruz Ferro-Vazquez; Daryl Stump, Sunflowers, Agrarian Capitalism and Traditional Landscapes. Agrarian Archaeology in the postclassical age – Juan Antonio Quirós Castillo Medieval Agrarian Landscapes seen by French School of Archaeogeography – Magali Watteaux Defying limits. Archaeology of social landscapes in high mountain areas of the Central Pyrenees – Ermengol Gassiot Ballbè A historical context for rural landscapes: the contribution of Environmental Resources Archaeology (ERA) (NW Italy) – Roberta Cevasco, Carlo Montanari, Diego Moreno, Alessandro Panetta, Valentina Pescini, Anna Maria Stagno Archaeology of the agrarian landscapes in al-Andalus: new paths towards integrated interpretation – Jorge A. Eiroa Archaeology of forest and mountainous areas: The Zigoitia Research Project (Basque Country) – Jose Rodríguez Fernández, Ángel Martínez Montecelo Agrarian Archaeologies in the Basque Country. Long-term agrarian landscapes and practices in a social context – Juan Antonio Quirós-Castillo, Josu Narbarte Hernández, Eneko Iriarte The archaeological study of agricultural sustainability: the cases of Konso (S Ethiopia) and Engaruka (N Tanzania) – Cruz Ferro-Vázquez; Daryl Stump

  • Edited by Juan Antonio Quirós Castillo
  • Edited by Josu Narbarte Hernández

'In summary, this cohesive and rewarding volume presents very interesting overviews of some of the most significant and current trends in Agrarian Archaeology which have emerged in parts of the Mediterranean West: it highlights the methodological and theoretical tools and strategies needed for studying pre-industrial societies effectively, and it shows how we need to recognise that modern landscapes are a material product of and link to the past and, accordingly, we should understand these equally alongside developing a fuller awareness of present-day agrarian policies and issues (whether threats, sustainability, losses and climate impacts).' – Pilar Diarte-Blasco (2023): Medieval Archaeology vol 67.2