This master's thesis deals with the natural environment of two selected deserted medieval localities - Jevany-Dubina (Prague-East District) and Hol (Capital City of Prague). This work consists of two relatively independent parts. The first theoretical part describes chemical processes occurring in forest soils, and anthropogenic impact on soil. The second part is the actual research associated mainly with the study of agricultural land use and the variability of the natural environment influenced by man. The research of the Jevany-Dubina site consisted of an additional geodetic survey, a description of all relics, a surface collection and a geophysical survey. Selected procedures partially helped to interpret the parts of the settlement and its function. We conclude that a farmstead with guardians was most probable. The main part of the thesis is devoted to a geochemical research in the intravilan and extravilan of the deserted medieval village Hol. The greatest attention was paid to the interpretation of phosphorus (P) distribution in soil. Another of the issues dealt with in this thesis was the extent to which residents fertilized their fields and gardens around the village. Higher values of anthropogenic P in soil have been documented only in the intravilan of the village. Farther away from the...

Starting from a simple observation of apparent neglect, this thesis aims to explore the heritage of the land of Villa Ada, a city park in Rome Italy. To do so, this study relates historical narratives regarding this piece of land, from the earliest human presence to formation of the current park. The narratives help engage the reader with the past of this land, and to anchor it into the current landscape. An online survey was conducted to address how the park is perceived today and what meaning the visitors and neighbors associate to it. By connecting the past to the present, and then looking forward, this thesis can contribute in opening a discussion about Villa Ada’s fate and the strategies that can be implemented for its effective long-term management. / Partendo da una semplice osservazione di apparente abbandono, questa tesi mira ad esplorare il patrimonio del terreno di Villa Ada, un parco urbano di Roma. Per fare ciò, questo studio mette in relazione narrazioni storico-ambientali riguardanti questo terreno, dalla prima presenza umana alla formazione del parco attuale. Le narrazioni aiutano a coinvolgere il lettore con il passato di questa terra e ad ancorarlo nel paesaggio attuale. Nel contesto di questo studio, è stato condotto un questionario online per valutare come il parco è percepito oggi e quale significato i visitatori e i vicini vi associno. Collegando il passato al presente, e quindi guardando avanti, questa tesi può contribuire ad aprire una discussione sul futuro di Villa Ada e sulle strategie che potrebbero essere attuate per una gestione efficace a lungo termine.

Ce mémoire s’inscrit dans un projet de recherche plus global sur l’évaluation du potentiel archéologique du mont Royal réalisé par l’Université de Montréal en partenariat avec la Ville de Montréal et le ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec. Plus précisément, il a pour objectif de mettre en œuvre et d’apporter une réflexion sur l’outil dans la gestion du patrimoine archéologique. Au Québec, malgré l’importance de cet outil à l’étape du diagnostic en archéologie préventive, il existe peu de connaissances empiriques sur son efficacité et sur la validité des différentes méthodologies employées. Nous avons donc voulu mieux comprendre la démarche de l’évaluation du potentiel à partir de l’approche du paysage culturel et de celle de l’écologie historique, et ce, afin de voir comment cela pouvait apporter une nouvelle façon d’envisager le potentiel archéologique. L’élaboration de notre cadre théorique s’est appuyée, notamment, sur une trentaine d’études de potentiel archéologique produite au Québec. À l’aide de ce cadre théorique, le potentiel archéologique du versant nord du Mont-Royal a été documenté sur une période allant de la fin du XVIIe siècle jusqu’au XXe siècle. La recherche théorique a été complétée par des inspections visuelles des zones, permettant ainsi de documenter plus finement certains éléments environnementaux, tels la topographie, le couvert végétal, l’hydrographie, etc. Dans la construction du paysage culturel, c’est l’aspect mythique et symbolique de la montagne qui nous intéresse. Nous en avons retenu trois thèmes principaux qui s’échelonnent dans le temps, c’est-à-dire la montagne pittoresque et le paysage forestier, la montagne agricole et l’industrie des tanneries et, enfin, l’arrivée des cimetières et des établissements religieux. Pour chacun de ces thèmes, des orientations de recherche sont énoncées en guise de réflexion sur les éléments d’intérêt archéologique présentés. Ces thèmes, nous le suggérons, pourront être pris en compte dans un contexte d’archéologie préventive. / This thesis is part of a broader research project on the archaeological potential of Mount Royal carried out by Université de Montreal in partnership with the City of Montreal and the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Quebec. More specifically, it aims to assess the utility and efficiency of archaeological potential studies as a tool in cultural resource management. In Quebec, despite the importance of this tool in preventive archaeology at the diagnostic stage, there has been very little empirical study of its effectiveness and the validity of the different methodologies used. We therefore wish to bring a better understanding to the assessment of archaeological heritage potential by using a cultural landscape and historical ecology approach, in order to see how this can bring about a new way of considering archaeological potential. The development of the theoretical framework for this paper was based on some thirty archaeological assessments produced in Quebec. It is through this theoretical framework that the archaeological potential of the territory under study, namely the northern slopes of Mount Royal, was documented for a period starting at the end of the 17th century up to the 20th century. The theoretical research was complemented by visual inspections of the geographical zones, thereby permitting a more precise documentation of certain environmental features such as the topography, the ground vegetation and tree cover, the hydrography, etc. In the construction of the cultural landscape, the mythical and symbolic aspects of the mountain retain our interest. We have chosen three main themes, namely the picturesque mountain and the forest landscape, the agricultural mountain and the tanning industries and, lastly, the arrival of cemeteries and religious institutions. For each theme, research orientations are formulated in order to reflect the elements of archaeological interest that we present. These themes may be taken into account for archaeological resource management.

Beginning in the early 1600s, dam construction in New England obstructed anadromous fish access to spawning grounds during migration. As a result, anadromous forage fish populations have declined, which has impacted freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. To determine the impacts of dams on anadromous forage fish and freshwater ecosystems, I used historical and current data to estimate population changes in alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) from 1600-1900. A significant reduction in spawning habitat occurred in New England as a result of 1,642 dams constructed between 1600 and 1900, resulting in 14.8% and 16.6% lake and stream habitat remaining by 1900, respectively. In eight New England watersheds, this translates to an estimated cumulative annual loss of 30 B juvenile alewives available as freshwater forage and 538 M year 1, 2 and 3 alewives available as marine forage. The cumulative annual lost number of adult return spawners was conservatively 17 M fish, or 3,642 metric tons. Lost marine-derived nutrients from adult return spawners were 11 T phosphorus, 64 T nitrogen, and 410 T carbon. A comparison of predator fish growth and condition in alewife and non-alewife lakes showed that white perch (Morone Americana) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) have higher condition in early summer in lakes with alewives. Predator growth rates (length-at-age) were significantly higher in early life stages (ages 1 and 2) when alewives were present, but significantly lower in late life stages (ages 3 and older). Results indicate a greater maximum length obtained by mature fish when alewives are absent, and an earlier age and length at maturity when alewives are present. These results indicate significant ecosystem impacts of lost anadromous forage fish, with bottom-up trophic effects across multiple time scales and biological processes. An ecosystem-based management approach should be used by inland and marine aquatic managers, and ecosystem connectivity and trophic interactions should be considered when managing migratory fish and prioritizing restoration goals.

Traditional agriculture has played an important role in shaping the landscape for thousands of years. Agriculture and interactions between humans and their surroundings have changed since the beginning of historic time in Sweden, approximately 1000 years ago. Through botanical macrofossil analysis of plant remnants found in an urban ditch in Sigtuna, Sweden, I examine which natural landscapes the town’s inhabitants may have interacted with in terms of resource collection in the beginning of the Medieval period. The results showed indications of predominantly nutritious wet grassland habitats, but also dry grassland and forests, as well as remnants of urban and cultivated species. The species indicate that the resources may have been used as winter fodder for animals, but possibly also as sustenance for humans as well as building material. The results indicated little change over time, regarding which landscape types were interacted with, but there were possible indications of a decrease in grassland resource collection in the youngest sample from 1150 A.D. Further research is needed to understand the indication. The material indicates that the Cyperaceae family will be instrumental in continuing this research.