Given, M. (2018) Conviviality and the life of soil. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 28(1), pp. 127-143. (doi: 10.1017/S0959774317000609)
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Abstract
Soils provide a striking demonstration of conviviality, thanks to the intensity and abundance of lively interaction seething within them. Soils constitute and generate life precisely through the symbiotic interaction, collaboration and competition of an enormous range of partners. Engaging with some specific soils in central Cyprus demonstrates how this conviviality works. Soil-places are created by very precise combinations of soil players, both non-human and human. Humans can join these partners in helping the soil to grow, through constructions of check dams to catch sediments and moisture. They can use soil to construct houses, demonstrating deep local knowledge and close partnership with the soils, and often recognizing the conviviality that provides a foundation for their lives in the landscape. As our soils today are catastrophically degraded and lost, the need to engage with the conviviality of soil is all the more urgent.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Given, Dr Michael |
| Authors: | Given, M. |
| College/School: | College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology |
| Journal Name: | Cambridge Archaeological Journal |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| ISSN: | 0959-7743 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1474-0540 |
| Published Online: | 11 September 2017 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2017 McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research |
| First Published: | First published in Cambridge Archaeological Journal 28(1):127-143 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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