Nature, Ecology & Permaculture: Beliefs, Monuments and the Landscape

Humans have created a landscape for themselves that frequently extends beyond the requirements of food, shelter and the manufacture of material artifacts. We will consider the expression of humans in relation to their landscape in the symbolism of monuments created, beliefs, folklore, legends and aspects of social behaviour. The course will include discussion of pre-historic and historic cults, pilgrimage, continuity and change in cultures and in aspects of faith There will be critical reference of available evidence, with examples from megalithic monuments, cults of the saints, monasticism and legends including Arthurian matter the geographical focus will be on Britain and Ireland. The tutor will enable you to consider and debate the relationship between humans and the landscape from the earliest times- cave dwellers and the early hunter-gatherers, boundaries and megoliths in the Neolithic period and the importance of wetlands in the Bronze Age including burials and bog bodies, the impact of the Roman invasion, the influence of Germanic cults on the landscape in the early middle ages and pagan and Christian relationships with the landscape in the later medieval period, and the importance of the landscape to modern religious beliefs. No previous knowledge or experience of landscape history is necessary. Everyone is welcome to join this fascinating course.