Perspectives of Landscape:

Views from Archaeology and Contemporary

Paganism

Paper for TAG 2008by William RathouseUniversity of Wales

Lampeter

Contemporary Pagans Paganism isn’t a unified religion, rather a field of related religions and spiritualities (Paganisms)

Main traditions: Wicca Shamanism Druidry Asatru

Common features Polytheism Recognises more than one deity Pantheism/Panentheism Sees the divine in the

material world Animism Belief in spirits or that all things are

alive Magic Belief in the ability of people to change

things through ritual or psychic activity

Archaeologists Like Paganisms there are many forms of Archaeology Contract/rescue archaeologists Academic Archaeologists

Practical and Theoretical Amateur archaeologists Heritage management professionals frequently have archaeological qualifications

This paper concentrates on Interpretive Academic Archaeologists with some reference to the work of Contract Archaeologists and Heritage Managers

What is Landscape? Where does the word come from?

A 17th Century Dutch word ‘Landschafe’ or ‘Landskap’

Landscape: Natural or imagined scenery as seen in a broad view (Pearsall & Trumble (eds) 2003:803)

A human conceptualisation of our environment. It is therefore a cultural construct

Landscape Archaeology? Archaeology is defined as:

The study of past human societies and their environments through the systematic recovery and analysis of material culture and physical remains (Darvill 2003:21)

Landscape Archaeology is therefore: A multidisciplinary approach providing a holistic approach to the study of historic and prehistoric societies by analysis of land conceptualisation and usage.

Types of Landscape Archaeology Descriptive & Interpretative

Types of Landscape Archaeology Descriptive & Interpretative

Mapping and plotting archaeological features… trying to work out their sequence and patterns of contemporaneity (Darvill 2003:221)

Types of Landscape Archaeology Descriptive & Interpretative

Concentrates on conceptualizations, attempting to get into the minds of ancient people using techniques such as Phenomenology and Hermeneutics with theoretical frameworks such as neo-Marxism, dwelling perspectives, and landscape as an economic proposition or mnemonic.

Contemporary Pagan ideas of Landscape The Earth as Deity

Landscape is therefore a part of the divine

The landscape as the abode of spirits Interactions with landscape may therefore be shaped by a desire to interact positively with the spirits who embody and dwell in that landscape

Green Issues A conservation ethos is greatly strengthened by this spirituality

Earth Mysteries Ideas stemming originally from academia but since abandoned there. Eg Ley Lines.

Contemporary Pagan ideas of Landscape (2)

Sacred Places Again partially inspired by academic theories, symbolism drawn from surviving cultures such as the idea of womb tombs

Ancestral Issues A desire to honour perceived ancesters.

Narratives in the landscape Following Australian aboriginal ideas of landscape, some Contemporary Pagans have tried to use Landscape as a narrative mnemonic.

Contemporary Pagan ideas of Landscape (3) Cosmologies and levels of existence Textual references to Scandinavian Pagan beliefs refer to cosmologies of other worlds above and below our own

Cross pollination and contestation Archaeological ideas filter into Contemporary Paganism A lot of these ideas are now out of date within academia

Conflict arises over issues such as Is Paganism a valid religion? Access to sites Excavation of/damage to sites Interpretations of the past Excavation and display of human remains

Archaeological concerns Charlatans and Dreamers Spurious pseudo-archaeology, Lack of academic rigour

Damage to sites Denial of research opportunities

Who OWNS the past?

Pagan grievances Active disrespect Insensitive Excavation Access to sites Exclusion of narratives favoured by pagans

Assessing Issues This research is at a very early stage so any assessments are subject to review and subsequent revision.

Perhaps there may be an input into archaeological theory from people who may share some aspects of belief with members of prehistoric societies

Not all pagan groups are unsupportive of an academic approach

Engagements with Contemporary Pagans by Heritage organisations have enjoyed some success

Cross fertilisation of ideas will continue to ensure an interactive relationship

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