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.Jeremy Korr, “A Proposed Model for Cultural Landscape Study,” Material Culture. Fall, 1997, 1-18.

Arguing that traditional material culture models are insufficient for studying landscapes because they focus on a dual relationship between artifact and humans, Jeremy Korr proposes adding a third dimension (nature), creating a three way relationship between humans, artifact (built environment), and nature.  By synthesizing many existing models and adding analytic tools of his own, Korr offers a systematic model for the interdisciplinary study of cultural landscapes.  In Korr’s own words: “Merging the anthropocentric ‘culture’ with the nature bound ‘landscape’ and invoking material culture’s emphasis on the dynamic relationships between humans and artifacts, creates the interdisciplinary cultural landscape.”  Korr’s model consists of a five step process which includes describing the cultural landscape under study, setting the boundaries in time and space, examining the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between the built environment, humans, and nature, understanding the various perceptions of the landscape and finally completing a  thorough cultural analysis of the site. Korr offers a comprehensive and exhaustive model for analyzing cultural landscapes and I might add for anyone conducting artifactual research.  There is much to learn and think about here for all material culture scholars.  By blending existing scholarship into a single methodological framework, Korr illustrates the strengths of an interdisciplinary approach. [J. Dusselier].