A landscape archaeologist is a person trained in archaeology, site excavation, or anthropology who has dedicated his or her career to understanding the role of physical spaces in bygone cultures or communities. Most of the time, the job involves primarily observation, though some exploration is often required. The main goal of this professional is to look for clues in the soil, in the land, and in the nearby surroundings in order to help to tell the story of who a certain people were. Studies can be nuanced or broad, but almost always center on integrated observation.
Traditional archaeology focuses on uncovering old buildings, ruins, or fossilized remains. The study sometimes takes general surroundings into account, but is usually devoted first and foremost to object identification. A landscape archaeologist, on the other hand, typically starts with the surroundings. He or she will actively look at how land has been used, exploited, and maintained in the past. The main job of any landscape archaeologist is to use the earth and its existing indicators to piece together the past.
When a landscape archaeologist observes a potential site, the first thing he or she usually does is evaluate the land. Slope, plant formations, and basic natural layout can all be signs of how a certain area once looked. It is reasonable to assume that large trees and established hedges have occupied their space for some time, for instance. Land that today is far more fertile than surrounding plots may have once been cultivated or heavily fertilized, just as seemingly natural depressions in the earth may have been irrigation trenches or ditches.
Some site excavation work is usually required, particularly when it comes to determining how specific spaces were used and by whom. The recovery of artifacts and structural foundations often helps shed light on the logic and organization of older civilizations. A landscape archaeologist is likely to work alongside cultural anthropologists and site specialists during the excavation portion of the job, but not always. Much depends on the scope and breadth of the project at hand.
A lot of a landscape archaeologist’s work is research-based. The professional must not only recognize what he or she observes, but must also be able to put it into context. This usually requires a lot of study and broad archaeologist training.
At times, the work of a landscape archeologist can happen remotely, particularly where primary studies and observations are concerned. Looking at aerial photos of far-off land masses is often the foundation of a landscape archaeologist’s work. People with this expertise are often also called on to consult with governments about the significance of certain sites, discoveries, or countrysides. Governments planning major agricultural or industrial overhauls are frequent consumers of this expertise, in large part to prevent the destruction of land that may look wild and unimportant, but is in truth holding a history of some significance.
Understanding how the land was once used can sometimes help modern landscapers and site planners, as well. Archaeologists with land use expertise often publish their findings both in journals of archaeology and of modern landscaping for this purpose. Although the earliest civilizations lacked contemporary land graphing and mapping technology, many did an eerily accurate job of locating and maximizing their natural resources, and making the best use of their surroundings. It is the goal of many a landscape archaeologist to uncover and publicize the knowledge and thinking of predecessor inhabitants.
