Goals (continued)

It seems now essential to define the word "landscape", which is used in common language, and can be sometimes be unclear because of its multiple connotations. Using an archaeological perspective, we will follow here Wilkinson's definition (2003): landscapes "can be recognized from their characteristic signatures that comprise arrangements of features such as field boundaries, artifact scatters, archaeological settlement sites, roads, canals, temples, and inscriptions. In turn, the landscape itself changes through time as social, economic, political, and environmental circumstances vary to include a complex range of interactions between human factors and the environment. [...] the development of different landscapes is contingent upon both local ecology and social or cultural factors."

The interaction between man and nature creates landscapes, which can be seen as the mirror of human actions and natural evolution. It is thus evident that, when trying to study ancient landscapes, archaeology has to be based on environmental sciences. Landscape archaeology is to be thought of as complementary to site analysis and is based on the three following assessments: