This paper deals with the relations between landscape rooms and monuments in an area north of Mönsterås in Kalmar län. After archaeological excavations had been carried out in the area 1991, an article promote it to the “Bronze Age district of Mönsterås” (Källström 1993). There are two main problems that I deal with in this paper. First: The relations between the natural places and the monuments or memorials. Secondly: The patterns with respect to the spread of certain monuments in the landscapes. My studies starts from the British landscape archaeology of Christopher Tilley and Richard Bradley, but also from a Scandinavian point of view with Terje Gansum et al.

<p>This paper deals with the relations between landscape rooms and monuments in an area north of Mönsterås in Kalmar län. After archaeological excavations had been carried out in the area 1991, an article promote it to the “Bronze Age district of Mönsterås” (Källström 1993). There are two main problems that I deal with in this paper. First: The relations between the natural places and the monuments or memorials. Secondly: The patterns with respect to the spread of certain monuments in the landscapes. My studies starts from the British landscape archaeology of Christopher Tilley and Richard Bradley, but also from a Scandinavian point of view with Terje Gansum et al.</p>

The large-scale field-systems, ubiquitous across upland and marginal parts of the Yorkshire Dales, are insecurely dated and poorly understood. Apart from some sporadic academic interest, the archaeology of this region has yet to receive the level of scholarly attention it deserves. The research presented here involved an intensive investigation of an area near Grassington, Upper Wharfedale, UK. Detailed field analysis revealed a section of one of these field-systems to be only a single element in a complex, multi-layered prehistoric landscape, which it is proposed may have roots as far back as the early Neolithic. Contextualisation of the survey area against palynological data, radiocarbon dates and comparative material moves the date of inception of the field-systems back to the middle Bronze Age, some 1000 years earlier than is currently assumed. The combination of empirical data and theoretical ideas has allowed a relative chronology to be determined in the survey area, together with the creation of a testable hypothesis surrounding the development of Upper Wharfedale and the wider Yorkshire Dales through prehistory. A sense of place and the veneration of natural places are key themes within this landscape and it was possible through these to draw out elements of prehistoric society and to show the evolution of ideas such as land tenure and monument significance. This dual empirical-theoretical approach is novel in upland landscape archaeology in the UK and is shown here to have significant merit.

Walking through time: a window onto the prehistory of the Yorkshire Dales through multi-method, non-standard survey approaches Keywords: Yorkshire Dales, prehistory, veneration, natural places, geophysical survey, walkover survey, field-system, clearance, land tenure The large-scale field-systems, ubiquitous across upland and marginal parts of the Yorkshire Dales, are insecurely dated and poorly understood. Apart from some sporadic academic interest, the archaeology of this region has yet to receive the level of scholarly attention it deserves. The research presented here involved an intensive investigation of an area near Grassington, Upper Wharfedale, UK. Detailed field analysis revealed a section of one of these field-systems to be only a single element in a complex, multi-layered prehistoric landscape, which it is proposed may have roots as far back as the early Neolithic. Contextualisation of the survey area against palynological data, radiocarbon dates and comparative material moves the date of inception of the field-systems back to the middle Bronze Age, some 1000 years earlier than is currently assumed. The combination of empirical data and theoretical ideas has allowed a relative chronology to be determined in the survey area, together with the creation of a testable hypothesis surrounding the development of Upper Wharfedale and the wider Yorkshire Dales through prehistory. A sense of place and the veneration of natural places are key themes within this landscape and it was possible through these to draw out elements of prehistoric society and to show the evolution of ideas such as land tenure and monument significance. This dual empirical-theoretical approach is novel in upland landscape archaeology in the UK and is shown here to have significant merit. / Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) collaborative doctoral award / The data and photo files are not available online.

The first paper is a two-phase mixed methods study that explored the relationship among nature connectedness, mental health, and childhood nature experiences in a sample of McMaster undergraduates. Study objectives were twofold: (1) to determine associations between measures of nature connectedness, positive childhood nature experiences, and mental health via an online survey (Phase One); and, (2) to compare, qualitatively, the self-reported childhood nature experiences of students who are more nature connected to those who are less nature connected via in-depth interviews (Phase Two). Quantitative findings from the Phase One survey (N=308) showed that nature connectedness is associated with higher levels of emotional and psychological well-being and also correlates positively with students’ self-recalled positive childhood nature experiences. Thematic analysis of qualitative findings from in-depth interviews held with students (n=12) in Phase Two showed that students who measured relatively higher in nature connectedness recall growing up in the vicinity of accessible, expansive, natural places, and being raised in families that modeled a love for nature and valued shared nature experiences. Overall, findings suggest that positive experiences in natural places growing up may have long-term mental health benefits through fostering a more ecological self. The second paper, an exploratory qualitative study, investigated the types of natural places that McMaster undergraduates consider beneficial to their mental health, and why. Twelve students were invited to photographically document a natural place that they consider mental health promoting. Thematic analysis of photographs and follow-up in-depth interviews revealed that students prefer familiar natural places that contain a variety of natural elements (especially mature trees and some form of water) and are separate from the context of everyday campus life (distanced from both the built and social campus environment). Overall, findings demonstrate the importance of acknowledging symbolic and social factors when assessing the potential mental health benefits of natural places for different groups and individuals. In the third paper, an argumentative essay, we argued that colleges and universities should take nature’s mental health benefits seriously by finding ways to foster student-nature relationships both on their campuses, and in their surrounding communities. We present and describe four geographically informed ways that this might be accomplished: (1) raising awareness; (2) planning for the availability and accessibility of natural spaces; (3) bringing nature indoors, and; (4) using nature-based therapies. While many students may be “bleeding at the roots”, it is not too late to graft them back onto the earth. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / The first paper explored associations among childhood nature experiences, nature connectedness (a measure of the degree to which an individual includes nature in her or his identity), and mental health in McMaster undergrads. Quantitative results showed that positive childhood nature experiences, nature connectedness, and mental health are all significantly related. Qualitative findings showed that students who are more nature connected remember growing up in nature loving families and in the vicinity of expansive natural areas (e.g., a conservation area). The second paper explored the types of natural places that McMaster undergrads consider beneficial to their mental health, and why. Twelve students were invited to visit a favourite natural place and take photographs of it. Qualitative findings showed that students’ prefer familiar natural places that contain a variety of natural elements and are separate from the context of campus life. In the third paper, four strategies that post-secondary institutions can use to connect students with nature are presented: (1) raising awareness; (2) planning for the availability and accessibility of natural spaces; (3) bringing nature indoors, and; (4) using nature-based therapies. While many students may be “bleeding at the roots”, it is not too late to graft them back onto the earth.

The schoolyard, an area that is used continuously during the day by teachers and students, becomes a natural area for students to form social relationships and activate themselves outside the classroom. The schoolyard's possibilities to create these relationships and activities is directly connected to how it is designed. This study deals with these possibilities and after-school educare teachers' perception of the schoolyard as a play area and the students' tendencies regarding the use of its various spaces. Previous research shows that varied spaces with directly intended purposes have an inspiring effect on students' play. The philosopher Henri Lefebvre writes about three dimensions of space, the materially perceived, the imagined, and the lived. The study uses these to form an idea of after-school teachers' and students' opportunities in the schoolyard. Semi-structured interviews with after-school educare teachers were carried out to find out their view of the schoolyard, taking into account the students' social relations, motor development and educational purpose. Also observations of the students' stay in the schoolyard were made to answer the study's research questions. The results show that after-school educare teachers want greater opportunities to use the schoolyard as a space for didactic work, with varying play spaces. It also shows that after-school educare teachers' approach has an important role in the students' social relations and motor development in the schoolyard. The discussion includes the spatial dimensions in relation to the students' social relationships and motor development in the schoolyard. In addition, it is discussed in relation to the schoolyard for educational purposes.

The Zionist type of churches under the African Independent Churches have proven to be a force to be reckoned with against the more organized ecclesiastical movements (in particular the Mission Churches). This can be seen in their emphasis around matters related to culture and its methods of healing. As s result this led to the migration of people from the mission churches to these churches and threatened their existence in Botswana. The mission churches have been experiencing the decline in their membership to the Zionist churches because of the lack of openness to the cultural and the value systems of Batswana in Botswana. Mission churches were left with an option of doing introspection and finally acknowledging their failures to contextualise their theology and Christianity among the people they serving. Mission churches ended up opening their doors to the needs of their members. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Church History)

The Zionist type of churches under the African Independent Churches have proven to be a force to be reckoned with against the more organized ecclesiastical movements (in particular the Mission Churches). This can be seen in their emphasis around matters related to culture and its methods of healing. As s result this led to the migration of people from the mission churches to these churches and threatened their existence in Botswana. The mission churches have been experiencing the decline in their membership to the Zionist churches because of the lack of openness to the cultural and the value systems of Batswana in Botswana. Mission churches were left with an option of doing introspection and finally acknowledging their failures to contextualise their theology and Christianity among the people they serving. Mission churches ended up opening their doors to the needs of their members. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Church History)