The relationship between humans and the environment : 5,000 years of human actions and activities around Lina Mire, Gotland

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse and discuss landscape use during the Mesolithic – Pre-Roman Iron Age, with a focus on the Bronze Age and adjacent periods around Lina mire on Gotland. The timespan consists of several periods of which very little is known or in which there are large research gaps. Since very few Bronze Age settlements are known on Gotland, a simple prediction model is created to help discuss the landscape use during that period. The prediction model covers the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age – Pre-Roman Iron Age on account of the similarities with the adjacent periods. As relatively little is known about these time periods in regard to settlements, this is believed to benefit the model. The area around Lina Mire will then be used as a case study for the model, to see if it can contribute any knowledge about the settlement pattern of the Bronze Age. In addition to the prediction model, several other spatial analyses are used to discuss landscape use. The analyses utilise elevation data and historical maps from the Swedish National Land Survey, geological data from the Geological Survey of Sweden, as well as information about ancient monuments and stray finds from the Swedish National Heritage Board’s register of ancient monuments or different research catalogues.To answer these questions, I apply two different theoretical perspectives, practice theory and historical ecology, to determine how humans have affected and are affected by the environment in regard to the Anthropocene. The main theoretical perspective considers conscious and unconscious actions with or without consequences and how these actions affect the environment. For example, a conscious action could be the act of bringing an animal to the island, which in turn will have unconscious consequences on how it will affect the environment. At the same time, I employ practice theory to identify actions in which the agent is culture (i.e. the construction of a cairn). These actions will be used in the predictive model.The result shows that humans have affected the environment around Lina Mire for an extensive period of time through both conscious and unconscious actions. Further, the results demonstrate how the various cultures that existed in the region have impacted and changed the landscape in different ways. For example, the introduction of several animals to the island. In addition, I discuss the problems that arise with the making of the prediction model and spatial analyses of Gotland and suggest various solutions to achieve a better understanding of Bronze Age settlement and settlement patterns.I Tjelvars fotspå