THE SKREA PROJECT
Purpose


The Skrea Project primarily aims to reach a deeper understanding of the long term change in settlement pattern and cultural landscape during the period 1200 BC - AD 500. This is done primarily as a case study conducted within the framework of rescue archaeology. Consequently, the location for the intensive part of the field work has is to be found within the limits of the exploitation. In the Skrea area, due to extensive rearrangement of roads etc., several sites had to be excavated which made an intensive study of this area suitable. Here we had several closely located settlement displaying a variety of size and character.  
  The study of the relationship between settlement pattern and agrarian landscape implies an integration between different disciplines. Within the Skrea Project "traditional" archaeologists has worked with environmental archaeologist (University of Umeå) and human geographers (University of Stockholm). Some of the more concrete object of study are:
size and durability of settlements aiming at establishing the diversity of settlements within a limited area,

studies of the change of the cultural landscape, especially the soil deterioration and the effect upon farming techniques, settlement pattern etc.

attempts to discern variations in house functions as a mean to define farm units,

collecting and analyzing relevant local and semi regional pollen sequences in order to reveal the impact on the landscape caused by farming during the period of interest.

 
  The project also has dealt with the methods of dating building remains which in this area usually consists of roof bearing postholes, with no remains of timber or other building material.

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©larslundqvist Revised: december 13, 1998. (96-05)