Title of the project: The environmental and Historical context of Water management systems in Terraced Landscapes (THISWATERLAND)
Description of the project:
Water management is recognized as a key technological advancement in human history. Across the globe, diverse water management systems (WMS) have been developed in response to environmental changes, climatic fluctuations, and agricultural needs. Water management systems in terraced landscapes represent some of the most significant human landscape modifications, resulting in unique and complex environmental conditions. Water management is a dynamic and integral element of these landscapes, intricately intertwined with terrace construction and use and shifting environmental and climatic conditions. Despite the crucial role water has in shaping the functionality, ecological characteristics, and erosion dynamics of terraces, challenges in reconstructing water availability and the history of water management systems in terraced landscapes have hindered an appropriate factoring in of this vital element. This is due to the complex environmental setting, the intricate nature of water management systems in terraced landscapes, and problems with accurately dating water management systems. The main objective of this Imπact project is to address these challenges by using innovative and interdisciplinary surveying and dating methods to gain insight into The environmental and Historical context of Water management systems in Terraced Landscapes (THISWATERLAND). Operating in conjunction with the VUB-KUL Terrace Project, which investigates the value of terraces as a sustainable and resilient land management strategy for past communities in overlapping study areas, this project will provide essential insights into the hydrological context of the terraced landscapes under investigation. By integrating the histories of water management and terracing within their broader environmental, climatic, socio-cultural, and economic contexts, this research will significantly advance our understanding of these multifaceted human-environment interactions. By studying these systems, we can gain insights into how societies adapted to changes in climate, hydrology, and landscapes. Understanding the successes and failures of past approaches can inform the development of more effective and sustainable water management strategies in the present and future. This knowledge is invaluable in the face of modern challenges such as climate change and shifting water availability.
Nationality: Dutch
VUB department and supervisor:
Archaeology, environmental changes & geo-chemistry Research Group
History, Archeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics
Prof. Dr. Ralf Vandam
Prof. Dr. Soetkin Vervust
Starting date: 15 April 2024