Archaeological and environmental heritage of historical parcel boundaries in the Czech Republic–interaction between culture and environment

The traditional field patterns and field boundaries structure (the spatial organization of parcels, often highlighted by physical objects – like hedgerows, walls or paths) are an important landmark of the cultural landscape of Central Europe. These landscape structures are essential from the environmental point of view as well as from the cultural one, and they also create the “image of the landscape”. Within the last decade, several research projects have focused on this topic from various points of view (archaeological, ecological, etc.) in the Czech Republic. The presentation will offer an overview of the values and importance of these landscape features and the results of archaeological research (including dating and mapping).