Beyond the unknown: understanding prehistoric patterns in the urbanised landscape of Flanders

Abstract

Archaeological distribution patterns are often biased by cultural and environmental processes. These processes influence the preservation of archaeological phenomena in the landscape. Their impact starts when the site and structures are left or abandoned or objects are deposited or disposed of. However, in archaeological landscape research, these processes are seldom incorporated. Therefore, the potential impact of both environmental and cultural processes on the preservation of archaeological phenomena needs to be understood and their influence on the observed archaeological site distribution patterns needs to be measured. Furthermore the history, intensity and methodology of the archaeological research in the region influence the known archaeological distribution pattern and therefore an understanding of the archaeological practice in the region is necessary in the study of the past landscapes of that region. This paper presents a case study on the distribution pattern of Bronze Age barrows in the highly urbanised landscape of north-western Belgium. By integrating natural, cultural and archaeological processes in archaeological landscape research, the completeness and reliability of the archaeological dataset can be estimated. Efforts to estimate completeness and reliability of any dataset should be an integral part of every archaeological landscape research project, especially as biases or hiatuses in datasets can lead to serious misinterpretations or circular reasoning. Furthermore, knowledge of the biography of landscapes is not only important in the study and understanding of past archaeological landscapes, but also in the preservation of these landscapes and our ability to incorporate hidden past landscapes into the actual sustainable management of its cultural–historical heritage.