In our study recently published in Human Ecology, we aimed to explore the cultural values associated with ancient burial mounds, provide an overview of the landscape changes on and around the kurgans during the past 280 years, and explore the plant biodiversity of the kurgans. Based on our results, we evaluated factors that can support or endanger the grasslands on kurgans and assess whether there are synergies or trade-offs between cultural and natural values.
The citation of the paper:
Deák, B., Bede, Á., Süveges, K., Dózsai, J., Ormsby, A.A., Dixon, A., Valkó, O. (2024): Synergies and trade-offs between cultural and natural values of sacred sites – A case study of ancient burial mounds in Central Europe. Human Ecology https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-024-00515-3
The paper is open access and can be downloaded from the journal homepage (please click here).
Kurgans, ancient burial mounds, hold significant cultural and spiritual value across the Eurasian steppes, reflecting a deep connection of local societies and these important landscape elements. These mounds, built by various steppe cultures like the Yamnaya, Sarmatians, Avars, and Hungarians, have served as cultural and spiritual landmarks for millennia. Their enduring cultural significance is evident through archaeological finds and the continued use of these sites for religious and communal activities.
Humka Kalvarija (‘Calvary Mound’; Kanjiža; Serbia)
Our study focusing on kurgans in Hungary, Romania, and Serbia reveals that these mounds are still regarded as sacred by local communities, who maintain graves and other spiritual objects on them. This cultural respect has helped preserve the kurgans, preventing destructive land use changes that could have altered their original state. In the past, kurgans also served practical purposes, such as acting as sentinel points, border markers, or flood refuges, further contributing to their preservation.
Despite significant landscape changes over the past three centuries, with much grassland converted to agricultural or urban use, the grasslands on kurgans have often remained intact. This preservation is likely due to the cultural importance of the kurgans, as land users consciously chose to protect these sites as part of their cultural heritage. Similar patterns of preservation due to cultural significance have been observed in other sacred sites around the world, such as sacred groves in India or land around monasteries in Italy. Kurgans are valuable for biodiversity, acting as refuges for grassland species that have become rare or endangered in surrounding landscapes. The relatively undisturbed state of these mounds, combined with their cultural significance, allows them to maintain high levels of plant species diversity. This makes kurgans important biodiversity hotspots in otherwise human-transformed landscapes. The microclimates created by the varying slopes and aspects of the kurgans contribute to this biodiversity by providing different habitats for various plant species.
Temető-halom (‘Cemetry Mound’, Iratoșu, Romania)
However, the maintenance of cultural values on kurgans can also lead to trade-offs. The construction of new religious and cultural structures can reduce the area of natural grassland, and the introduction of non-native or invasive species can threaten the existing biodiversity. In some cases, the lack of maintenance can lead to the accumulation of litter and an increased risk of fire, further endangering the natural values of the kurgans.
The study suggests that the cultural recognition of kurgans by local communities plays a crucial role in their preservation. This ‘bottom-up’ approach, driven by respect for historical and cultural heritage, can be more effective than formal protection measures. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining traditional cultural practices associated with kurgans to support the conservation of both their cultural and natural values. In conclusion, kurgans are essential biocultural hotspots that contribute to landscape-scale biodiversity conservation. Their preservation is vital not only for their cultural heritage but also for maintaining the ecological integrity of the landscapes they inhabit. By fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural and natural values associated with kurgans, we can better protect these ancient mounds and the biodiversity they support.
Humka Kalvarija (‘Calvary Mound’; Kanjiža; Serbia)
Abstract
In the Eurasian steppes, ancient burial mounds called ‘kurgans’ are among the most widespread manmade structures. These sacred sites hold cultural values and often provide safe havens for grassland-related plant species. We established links between kurgans' cultural and natural values through a comprehensive multi-layered evaluation of human and landscape history, cultural attributes, and botanical composition on selected mounds in Hungary, Romania, and Serbia. We evaluated factors that can support or endanger the grasslands on kurgans and assessed whether there are synergies or trade-offs between the presence of cultural and natural values. We found that kurgans act as cultural hotspots in transformed landscapes, and we found the following evidence for the synergies between cultural and natural values: i) Extensive land use and management connected to the cultural functions could considerably contribute to the preservation of grassland specialist plants on the mounds. ii) Over the past three centuries, most grasslands we studied were converted to cropland, but the cultural importance of the kurgans could hinder their destruction through ploughing or construction works. However, we also found that built cultural objects decreased the grassland cover area and supported the establishment and spread of several weedy and invasive species. Consequently, to preserve the valuable biocultural systems, it is essential to focus efforts on the maintenance of the already existing traditional cultural functions and not the establishment of new objects.
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