2026/05/28 by Sam Mersch · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · Social Sciences · #Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics #Historical Studies of British Isles #Psychiatry, Mental Health, Neuroscience
paper · doi:10.1163/27723194-bja10060
openalex publication_date 2026/05/28 · openalex created_date 2026/05/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/24
Abstract This article deals with early and high medieval forest clearing from a toponomastic perspective within the territories that are nowadays the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Place names, or toponyms, are the linguistic expression of the cultural concept of perceived space, and they conserve past historical realities. Hence, names given to a specific place often bear testimony to how early societies viewed, and later on changed, landscape and can offer insights into cultural and ecological history. By focusing on names that refer to land clearing and comparing them using the method of quantitative linguistic cartography, statements of correlation between different name types can be made regarding trends in early settlement and the ecological history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Toponomastic data can furthermore offer insights beyond traditional historical and archaeological sources.