The project will research how archaeological and palaeoecological narratives of past land management and climate change adaptation can shape sustainable farming, regenerative agriculture, and rewilding strategies in the Cambridgeshire Fenlands. The nationally important agricultural area is extremely vulnerable to climate change, and the mentioned strategies are considered key mitigation options. Building on archaeological insights, the project will engage directly with local farmers to develop narratives of change that speak to farmers’ concerns and value, and co-design implementation plans for farming strategies. It will also create a framework on how to employ archaeology to inform land-use strategies, providing the discipline with its first steps towards influencing agricultural land management policies.
Funder
Leverhulme Trust/Newton Trust
