Landscape History and Archaeology: Fees Only PhD Studentship: Mapping the Historic Landscape Character of the South Wales Region

The successful candidate will be charged with developing a range of innovative digital methods for mapping the historic and cultural character of place. These methods will be tested through a number of period specific case studies designed to address research questions relating to the development of the South Wales landscape from the early medieval period onwards. It is expected that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will play a key role in this project, serving as the primary means by which methods are developed and data is managed, manipulated, visualised and interpreted.

Perceptions of the historic and cultural landscape are fundamental to how societies relate to and interact with their environment. This PhD would seek to develop an approach that would be of value to regional processes of planning and economic development in both the private and public sector. Innovative approaches to landscape characterisation would meet with the first aim of the Council of Europe’s European Landscape Convention; ‘to encourage States to introduce a national landscape policy that is not restricted to the protection of exceptional landscapes but also takes everyday landscapes into consideration’. It would also facilitate the identification of both the significance and distinctiveness of historic landscapes; stated aims of Historic England’s Action Plan for 2015 – 2018 (2.2) and CADW’s current Welsh Historic Environment Action Plan (1.2 and 2.1).

The successful candidate will be expected to work with a range of datasets including, but not limited to, Ordnance Survey MasterMap, Historic Digimap data, LiDAR data, Historic Environment Records, Tithe maps, aerial photographic data and existing Historic Landscape Characterisation datasets. For the period specific case studies, candidates will need to demonstrate a competent understanding of the relevant historical and archaeological data sources. The position will be based at Swansea University’s Singleton Park campus and will be supported by both the Department of History and Classics and the interdisciplinary Centre on Digital Arts and Humanities.

Eligibility

Both UK/EU and international students are welcome to apply for this scholarship.

Candidates must be highly motivated and should have an MA degree in a relevant subject area (such as Landscape History, Landscape Archaeology, Historical Geography and/or Medieval History), as well as an excellent undergraduate degree. Relevant work experience may be considered in place of an MA qualification.

Applicants should be highly proficient in the use of Geographic Information Systems and database management. Evidence of this proficiency will be required during the interview stage.

These positions are open to all, but please note that only UK/EU tuition fees will be covered by the scholarship. International students are welcome to apply, but will be required to pay the difference between the UK/EU fee level and the international fee level.