Arbeitskreis für historische Kulturlandschaftsforschung in Mitteleuropa

The Arbeitskreis für historische Kulturlandschaftsforschung in Mitteleuropa e.V. (ARKUM) is a registered association and the central international network for historical cultural landscape research in Central Europe. Since 1974 it has connected scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of geography, history and archaeology. Its membership spans Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, giving the association a genuinely transnational character. ARKUM's thematic focus is the genesis and change of cultural landscapes — understood as the entire environment modified by humans in historical times, including all settlements. The association promotes historical depth from prehistory and early history through antiquity, the Middle Ages and the early modern period into the present, with the aim of historical-geographical comparison. It fosters interdisciplinary cooperation and engages intensively with the methods and concepts of historical cultural landscape research, such as the interpretation of archival records, maps and images, and the integration of scientific findings and archaeological perspectives. A further concern is the continuous development of applied historical geography, translating basic research into planning processes and environmental education. To support scholarly exchange among its members and the interested public, ARKUM organizes a central annual conference each September on a specific thematic focus. It also publishes the journal Siedlungsforschung. Archäologie – Geschichte – Geographie, which has appeared since 1983 and is dedicated to the transdisciplinary fields of historical geography. Each volume is devoted to a thematic focus arising from the association's annual conferences, combining current discourse with outreach to a broad public. The range extends from basic research to applied examples, illustrated with numerous maps, graphics and photographs. The series is currently edited for ARKUM by Prof. Dr. Matthias Hardt (Leipzig) together with a team of co-editors, and submitted manuscripts undergo peer review. As a non-profit association, ARKUM operates as a scientific network rather than a commercial enterprise. Its activities are funded through membership and publishing activities, and its publications are distributed through Verlag Beier & Beran. The association remains active and continues to serve as a platform for transdisciplinary research on the historical cultural landscape of Central Europe.

The Arbeitskreis für historische Kulturlandschaftsforschung in Mitteleuropa e.V. (ARKUM) was founded in 1974 and has since developed into the central international network for historical cultural landscape research in Central Europe. From its inception, the association brought together scholars from geography, history and archaeology who shared an interest in the genesis and change of cultural landscapes. Over the decades, its membership expanded beyond Germany to include Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, reflecting the transnational scope of the field. A key milestone was the launch of the journal Siedlungsforschung. Archäologie – Geschichte – Geographie in 1983. Published by ARKUM, the journal became a flagship publication for transdisciplinary research in historical geography. Each volume is dedicated to a thematic focus derived from the association's annual conferences, and the series covers both basic research and applied examples, illustrated with maps, graphics and photographs. The journal is currently edited by Prof. Dr. Matthias Hardt (Leipzig) in conjunction with a team of co-editors from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Manuscripts undergo peer review. ARKUM has consistently organized an annual conference each September, providing a platform for members and the interested public to discuss current projects around a central theme. These conferences not only shape the journal's volumes but also foster the exchange of methods and concepts in historical cultural landscape research. The association emphasizes the interpretation of archival records, maps and images, and the integration of scientific findings and archaeological perspectives. It also promotes applied historical geography, aiming to translate basic research into planning processes and environmental education. As a registered association (e.V.), ARKUM operates as a non-profit scientific network. It does not pursue commercial goals but relies on membership contributions and publishing activities. Its publications are distributed through Verlag Beier & Beran. The association remains active, continuing to support transdisciplinary research and dialogue on the historical cultural landscape of Central Europe.

• 1983

  Journal Siedlungsforschung. Archäologie – Geschichte – Geographie begins publication.

• 1974

  ARKUM founded as the central international network for historical cultural landscape research in Central Europe.

International scientific network at the intersection of geography, history and archaeology

• Siedlungsforschung. Archäologie – Geschichte – Geographie

  Peer-reviewed journal published by ARKUM, dedicated to transdisciplinary research in historical geography.

1. 1Startseite - ARKUM – Arbeitskreis für historische Kulturlandschaftsforschung in Mitteleuropa e.V.arkum.org
2. 2Siedlungsforschung - ARKUM – Arbeitskreis für historische Kulturlandschaftsforschung in Mitteleuropa e.V.arkum.org
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org