In my research, the main interest is to investigate the prehistoric landscape. In this I work with theories dealing with landscape complexity, the function of places in the landscape, how they relate to each other and to the surrounding landscape. Phenomenology is one of the main theories which I apply, as it includes the experiences of places. In order to combine phenomenological theory with archaeological material I use GIS methodology.
Current research
Rethinking Coastal Landscapes - A Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis of Neolithic sites in eastern Sweden. Postdoctoral project financed by the Swedish Research Council.
Description:
This project will undertake a large-scale regional GIS analysis of Neolithic sites in Uppland in order to identify general patterns in the properties of the sites.
In current archaeology, the landscape is one of the most promising areas of research. Many landscape studies use methodology based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GIS methodology has been refined considerably in recent years. Today, it is possible to compile and analyse large amounts of data and test patterns by tools, such as the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis. In addition, new forms of data are available today, such as Lantmäteriets (Land Survey) laser scanned elevation data (LIDAR), wind data compiled through wind energy projects, mapped areas with storm-felled trees from the forest inventory and the digital archaeological record (FMIS). This, together with the development of the research field of historical ecology(Balée 2006), aiming at understanding long-term transformations of landscapes, encourage this project's ambition to bridge different disciplines for posing new questions to the Neolithic.
The proposed project is partof the work group Rethinking Human Nature linked to the GIS laboratory at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University. The work group aims to develop humanistic cross-disciplinary research with a focus on GIS and landscape perspectives (Lindholm 2009; Löwenborg2009, 2010; Sinclair 2010).
Previous research
Längs med Hjälmarens stränder och förbi – relationen mellan den gropkeramiska kulturen och båtyxekulturen.
In December 2010 I defended my thesis “Along the shores of Lake Hjälmaren and beyond – the relationship between the Pitted Ware Culture and the Boat Axe Culture”.
Abstract
The nature of the relationship between the Pitted Ware Culture and the Boat Axe Culture has dominated Swedish Middle Neolithic research, since the question was raised a century ago. Basically, the debate is concerned with whether or not the two material cultures express two different ethnical groups. Proponents for the currently established perspective stress that the cultures represent two distinct ethnic groups. A large amount of research has focused on identifying differences between the two cultures in the archaeological record.
This study will test an alternative approach to the archaeology of the Middle Neolithic. Rather than presuming an antithetical relationship between the two cultures attention will be given to investigating the relationship between the Pitted Ware Culture and the Boat Axe Culture. This will be done by a landscape centered approach.
In the first case I will test the conventional opinion expressing that the two cultures are spatially separated to the coast and the inland. In addition, the analysis seeks to understand how different activities were located in relation to various landscape phenomena. In the second case study, phenomenology and current landscape theory combined with a viewshed GIS-analysis will form the basis for a discussion regarding the localisation and function of the Pitted Ware sites. In the third case I will discuss connective features of the Middle Neolithic landscapes in the Lake Hjälmaren area. Focus will be given to the long-term processes and the reproduction of the cultural landscapes over time.
Based on the results, I will propose that the Middle Neolithic archaeological record, rather than being the result of two ethnic groups, express a dynamic and active society that manifests itself through a variety of different places, which were maintained for specific purposes.
Publications
2012. The Creation of Regions: An Alternative Approach to Swedish Middle Neolithic Boundaries and Cultures, Norwegian Archaeological Review, 45:1, 52-75. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00293652.2012.671505
2012. Små båtyxor och äkta miniatyrer under mellanneolitikum i Svealand. Fornvännen 107, 1-15. http://uppsala.academia.edu/KimvonHackwitz/Papers/1595134/Sma_batyxor_och_akta_miniatyrer_under_mellanneolitikum_i_Svealand
2010. What Makes a Place? Feature Perspectives on Site Locations. Published in Å.M. Larsson & L. Papmehl-Dufay (eds), Uniting Sea II – Stone Age Societies in the Baltic Sea Region, OPIA 51, 195-210.
http://uppsala.academia.edu/KimvonHackwitz/Papers/173998/What-Makes-a-Place--Feature-Perspectives-on-Site-Locations
2009c. GIS-analyser i Närke – fornborgar, utsikt och forntida vattenspeglar. GIS-analyser i värdefulla natur- och kulturmiljöer. Länsstyrelsen Örebro Län. Publ.nr. 2009:52
http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/orebro/Publikationer/2009/2009_52_GIS_analyser_i_Narke.htm
2009b. Längs med Hjälmarens stränder och förbi. Relationen mellan den gropkeramiska kulturen och båtyxekulturen. Stockholm Studies in Archaeology 51.
http://su.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:275860
2009a. Changing Scenery. Historicity in the area around lake Hjälmaren, Sweden ca. 2800-2300 BC. Current Swedish Archaeology, Vol 15-16, 73-90.
http://uppsala.academia.edu/KimvonHackwitz/Papers/103751/Changing_Scenery._Historicity_in_the_area_of_Lake_Hjalmaren_Sweden_c._2800-2300_BC
2004. von Hackwitz, Kim & Lindström, Jonathan. Vem är stor och liten, brun och grå? Något om båtyxors fyndkontext, längd och färg. 2004. Aktuell Arkeologi VIII. SAR Nr 42, 21-30.
2000. Vem hade tillträde till Alvastra Pålbyggnad? Religion och Ritual. Kontaktstencil 42, 85-96.
