N-LINK

"Normannitas: Landscape, Identity and Norman Kingdoms."

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main aim of N-LINK is to compare England and Italy before and after the Norman Conquest, exploring specific European case studies of historic landscape evolution. The research questions are whether, how and why the Normans changed the settlement patterns within their Kingdoms, specifying similarities and differences between both countries by applying and developing new interdisciplinary landscape-focussed methods and tools (especially GIS and HLC). I will investigate the role of the Normans in shaping and exploiting two border lands in their Kingdoms of England and Sicily (in the former kingdom of Northumbria, northern England, and the medieval Principality of Capua, Italy, both border lands which were controlled by Norman conquerors). The hypothesis I seek to investigate in my research proposal is whether a specific Norman Identity (‘Normannitas’) was expressed in the ‘building’ of conquered landscapes. Thus, I have chosen to compare two Norman territories, scientifically selected, analysing the effects of the conquest on both landscapes, using a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach integrating archive research and archaeological data through GIS. Research objectives are: to analyse: geomorphologic conditions and previous use of natural resources; pre-existing settlement organization and land exploitation; results from archaeological excavations and surveys; to identify Norman settlements and features, reconstructing their networks and defining Norman development phases in medieval settlements; to test and apply GIS-based HLC in this analysis. This is the first time that the same project has ever expressly aimed to tie together British and Italian landscapes, sharing methodologies and historiographical issues in order to develop a new method of research. Therefore, N-LINK has to bridge two different European academic approaches, building new links across ‘cultural European borders’.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

New knowledge about past landscapes has been generated. It shows how historical scholarship can respond to the need for awareness of the value of local territories, particularly those suffering from socioeconomic deprivation.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Landscape can be understood as an area where action and interaction takes place, including a historical process of transformation over time. As such, a link is created via similar dynamics encompassing different contexts. This is the case with England and Italy before and after the Norman conquest.

'Normannitas: Landscape, identity and Norman kingdoms' (N-LINK) is an EU-funded project that explored the similarities and differences between these two countries to find answers to whether, how and why the Normans changed their settlement patterns within their kingdoms.

New interdisciplinary landscape-focused methods and tools such as a geographic information system (GIS) and historic landscape characterisation (HLC) were used. Current landscapes were the starting point in the research, which included comparative analysis and case studies.

Project members aimed at understanding different perceptions of the same landscapes over centuries. Additionally, work was geared towards reconstructing political and historical events that were fundamental in forming the landscapes.

The project succeeded in bridging two different traditions of studies that include ancient topography and archaeology. The value of GIS and HLC was taken to a new level of potential for use in landscape management. Furthermore, the research was able to reconstruct medieval landscapes in areas of Italy and the United Kingdom.

N-LINK's results can be useful to public bodies and regional services in contributing to regional strategies for historic landscape management in Italy and the United Kingdom.