First Conference of the Limburg Landscape History, 16 June 2017
Landscape is increasingly recognised as a key element in heritage. An important moment in this respect was the European Landscape convention of 2000 – also called the Florence convention – which defines landscape in all its diversity as fundamental to European heritage. The way heritage is approached in this convention is closely linked to the FARO-convention of 2005, which is often seen as its complement.
Both conventions stress the importance of so-called heritage communities for whom the heritage involved has meaning. Both conventions suggest osmosis between the heritage expert and the public in dealing with heritage.
Within this framework, the committee Landscape History of the Royal Limburg Historical and Archaeological Society wants to promote research in landscape history in the province of Limburg and engage the public in the theme in such a way that academic researchers, landscape professionals and local heritage communities can be brought to work together in a fruitful and long term way.
Landscape history is, of course, a highly interdisciplinary field, in which archaeologists, historical geographers, historians, geologists and specialists from heritage studies and environmental studies have to be involved. Therefore, the first conference which acted as a kick-off of the project was organised by not only the LGOG (LGOG: Limburgs Geschied- en Oudheidkundig Genootschap), but also the Regional Archive of Limburg, the Archaeological Society of Limburg, the Limburg Museum and MACCH.
The theme of this first conference was ‘bridging the gap’. The aim of this collaborative approach was to identify common themes and create a sense of community among diverse stakeholders. In this respect, the conference seemed a success as all major institutions and universities, as well as a large number of heritage communities, were present, 115 in all. The results of the conference will be published in De Maasgouw, one of the journals of the LGOG. A promising form of research which could include local communities in academic research contexts was suggested by Jan Kolen, professor of Archaeology and Landscape History of Leiden University. A model could be created in which local oral history and newspaper analysis could be used to produce results which will also be relevant for academic research.
Other steps which have been taken are the production of a 14-episode television series on Landscape history of Limburg in cooperation with the Limburg Landscape (the largest Limburg landscape management organisation that manages many nature reserves throughout the entire province), the creation of a website which will act as a focal point of the new community and the creation of sophisticated digital cartographical tools which are essential for research in landscape history. Digitized maps will also play a key role in bringing together the results of all the individual projects.
The conference, at the Limburg Museum in Venlo, was a success both in numbers of participants as well as in enthusiasm, and in such a way that it was decided to have a follow up conference next year again.