Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OutNorth (New Frontiers in an Old World? Revealing the Role of North-West Europe's ‘Peripheral’ Outlands in the Growth of Capitalism, c.1400-1900)
Reporting period: 2021-10-15 to 2023-10-14
This project sought to highlight the importance of 'peripheral' rural areas of north-west Europe during the emergence of capitalism (AD1400-1900). A large body of research in economic history and agrarian history has been devoted to this subject but most of this work has focused on urban-industrial centres and their agricultural hinterlands. More distant rural areas such as the west of Ireland and Boreal Sweden have received less attention. Yet recent archaeological and palaeo-environmental fieldwork in these places suggests that they were once quite valuable and could sustain complex livestock-rearing systems. The aim of OutNorth was to start developing a more periphery-centred approach that can help scholars to examine these rural areas and their economic importance before the 20th century. This involved identifying and integrating different forms of evidence (archaeological, palaeoecological and historical). As an intial study, it used one upland area in Ireland as a case study, with comparative research on forest farming in north-central Sweden. OutNorth has acted as an important methodological stepping stone, showing that it is possible to trace the history of farming in these areas and examine the adaptability and agency of their inhabitants in wider change.
At the same time, OutNorth has provided the researcher with vital further training in remote sensing, digital survey, Geographic Information Systems and integrated landscape analysis. It also provided them with teaching and supervision opportunities and helped them to achieve working fluency in Swedish.
At the same time, OutNorth has provided the researcher with vital further training in remote sensing, digital survey, Geographic Information Systems and integrated landscape analysis. It also provided them with teaching and supervision opportunities and helped them to achieve working fluency in Swedish.
Work focused (a) on training and (b) on case study research in south-west Ireland. The first area of training was in photogrammetry. This is used in digital humanities to survey cultural objects and archaeological sites in detail rapidly. The researcher learned to use Agisoft Metashape and used it to create digital 3D models of key sites in the main study area. The researcher also undertook further training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), adding to their existing knowledge in this area. For example, the researcher learned how to anchor photogrammetric models into GIS maps and undertake multi-criteria predictive modelling of historic landscape change. During training, the researcher also received mentorship and career guidance.
The other important area of training and career development was in teaching and particularly postgraduate supervision. Uppsala University runs a Masters in Global Environmental History and the researcher was invited to partake. In addition to teaching on the course, 'Historical Ecology', the researcher supervised two masters theses to completion and examined a third. This was supported by a course in research supervision that the researcher undertook.
Lastly, the researcher undertook classes in Academic Swedish, which helped in undertaking historical research on Sweden.
The second major area of progress was in the researcher's main case study in Kerry, Ireland. The researcher assembled all available data (archaeological, historical and palaeoecological) for this landscape and brought them together in GIS. They also used satellite imagery and orthophotography to find and map out previously-unrecorded archaeological sites related to late medieval/early modern settlement, livestock herding and/or trade contacts with the coast and with towns. They then visited the area and created 3D photogrammetry models of a small number of herders' huts which likely date to the late medieval and early modern periods.
To contextualise and understand the land-use history of this region, the researcher undertook wider reading in European economic, agrarian, labour and climate history. Furthermore, they began comparative research on late medieval and early modern livestock farming in the forests of central Sweden.
In terms of dissemination, an article was published in Historical Methods. This considered how we might detect adaptability amongst late medieval and early modern upland farmers in north-west Europe, against the backdrop of the Little Ice Age (which emerged as an important factor along with economic change). An initial review of upland archaeology in south-west Ireland was finalised for publication in a volume on the history of settlement in Ireland, while the results of remote sensing and digital field survey in Kerry are being prepared for the Journal of Field Archaeology. An article on the origins of gendered work in livestock farming in the north of Europe was started. Lastly, the researcher co-wrote the first draft of an article on the environmental history of early modern agriculture (to be submitted in 2023). They also peer reviewed for Rural History and Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
The researcher gave 7 invited lectures at universities in Ireland, Sweden and the UK and 10 conference/workshop talks (to historical, archaeological and anthropological audiences). The researcher also organised a one-day symposium in Dublin in March 2022 called, ‘Forgotten Histories of Early Modern Ireland, 1450-1750’.
The other important area of training and career development was in teaching and particularly postgraduate supervision. Uppsala University runs a Masters in Global Environmental History and the researcher was invited to partake. In addition to teaching on the course, 'Historical Ecology', the researcher supervised two masters theses to completion and examined a third. This was supported by a course in research supervision that the researcher undertook.
Lastly, the researcher undertook classes in Academic Swedish, which helped in undertaking historical research on Sweden.
The second major area of progress was in the researcher's main case study in Kerry, Ireland. The researcher assembled all available data (archaeological, historical and palaeoecological) for this landscape and brought them together in GIS. They also used satellite imagery and orthophotography to find and map out previously-unrecorded archaeological sites related to late medieval/early modern settlement, livestock herding and/or trade contacts with the coast and with towns. They then visited the area and created 3D photogrammetry models of a small number of herders' huts which likely date to the late medieval and early modern periods.
To contextualise and understand the land-use history of this region, the researcher undertook wider reading in European economic, agrarian, labour and climate history. Furthermore, they began comparative research on late medieval and early modern livestock farming in the forests of central Sweden.
In terms of dissemination, an article was published in Historical Methods. This considered how we might detect adaptability amongst late medieval and early modern upland farmers in north-west Europe, against the backdrop of the Little Ice Age (which emerged as an important factor along with economic change). An initial review of upland archaeology in south-west Ireland was finalised for publication in a volume on the history of settlement in Ireland, while the results of remote sensing and digital field survey in Kerry are being prepared for the Journal of Field Archaeology. An article on the origins of gendered work in livestock farming in the north of Europe was started. Lastly, the researcher co-wrote the first draft of an article on the environmental history of early modern agriculture (to be submitted in 2023). They also peer reviewed for Rural History and Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
The researcher gave 7 invited lectures at universities in Ireland, Sweden and the UK and 10 conference/workshop talks (to historical, archaeological and anthropological audiences). The researcher also organised a one-day symposium in Dublin in March 2022 called, ‘Forgotten Histories of Early Modern Ireland, 1450-1750’.
The action progressed beyond the state of the art in two main ways. Firstly, it has taken a first step in the development of a periphery-centred approach to agrarian commercialisation. Pastoral uplands tend not to have a lot of documentary records so the lack of an interdisciplinary approach has prevented us from understanding their role in the wider world. Bringing archaeological and environmental data together with written evidence in a case study has helped to progress this, showing that it is possible to identify trends in livestock farming and land organisation which relate to wider economic change. Continued research will continue to bridge the gap between rural 'peripheries' and markets. Secondly, this action has contributed to the internationalisation of research on rural societies and environments in early modern Europe. Studies in agrarian history and archaeology have traditionally been quite regional or national in focus. This action has started to highlight the comparative value of Sweden for Ireland and vice versa.
Another impact was to reach out to local farmers, communities and ecologists. During fieldwork in Kerry, the researcher made contact with several people in the local community and discussed their research on the history of livestock farming and the landscape with them. Furthermore, the researcher had several walking meetings, in the landscape, with ecologists from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Findings also reached a wider audience. In September 2022, the researcher made a detailed submission to Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. Also in 2022, the researcher gave a radio interview to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and took part in filming and consultation for a TV documentary on the history of peasants in Europe, to be aired on ARTE. In addition, several of the researcher's invited lectures were open to the public.
Lastly, it should be said that this MSC action has had a positive career impact for the researcher, in terms of training, building connections in Sweden, and laying the basis for future research. Ultimately it helped the researcher to win a permanent position as lecturer in University College Cork. (This is why the action was terminated early.)
Another impact was to reach out to local farmers, communities and ecologists. During fieldwork in Kerry, the researcher made contact with several people in the local community and discussed their research on the history of livestock farming and the landscape with them. Furthermore, the researcher had several walking meetings, in the landscape, with ecologists from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Findings also reached a wider audience. In September 2022, the researcher made a detailed submission to Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. Also in 2022, the researcher gave a radio interview to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and took part in filming and consultation for a TV documentary on the history of peasants in Europe, to be aired on ARTE. In addition, several of the researcher's invited lectures were open to the public.
Lastly, it should be said that this MSC action has had a positive career impact for the researcher, in terms of training, building connections in Sweden, and laying the basis for future research. Ultimately it helped the researcher to win a permanent position as lecturer in University College Cork. (This is why the action was terminated early.)