Swamp, bog, mire, fenland, marsh, slack, morass, quagmire: our wetlands have many names, and they often have reputations which are uncertain, weird, scary and dangerous. Just think of wetlands in classic works such as Beowulf, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Lord of the Rings, where monsters and baddies hide out in hazardous, mysterious landscapes. Certainly, wetlands can be risky places for the unprepared or inexperienced, and it is not surprising that stories, myths and beliefs have built up over the years.
Scientists now understand more about how robust wetlands can help humankind. Bogs and peatlands hold huge amounts of water, releasing it slowly and thus preventing flooding. In coastal areas, swamps and marshland can protect from sea surges. Buried organic materials in peat hold carbon, helping reduce climate change. Wetlands provide refuges for birds, insects, mammals and other creatures, as part of the web of nature and they can also provide beautiful, intriguing landscapes for us to explore.
Here in South Bank, in prehistoric times we would have been surrounded by wetlands, particularly the Knavesmire and along the river Ouse; much of York is low-lying, with the earliest settlements on the higher land. People living here would have been skilled at moving through the wetlands and using its resources – plants, animals, water and soil – to survive and thrive. They would have understood and respected the land and probably believed that there were spirits here. Evidence for using ritual to communicate with the spirits is found in archaeological deposits throughout Yorkshire and the UK.
Nowadays, wetlands can seem distant and irrelevant to a city dweller (although in York, we’re lucky to have the beautiful Askham Bog nearby). With sea-level rises due to climate change over the coming centuries, more of the land around York will become wetland again. How will we live in this landscape? Can appreciating wetlands past and present help us think about living in a wetland future?
Find out more about prehistoric ritual deposits here [to follow]
Find out more about society and sea-level rises in future here [to follow]
