New challenges for old commons: The role of historical common land in contemporary rural spaces

In Scotland, as elsewhere in Western Europe, many examples of historical common land have endured to the present day, but are under major pressure from the economic restructuring, socio-cultural recomposition and changing policy context that characterise contemporary rural change. For the crofting common grazings of Scotland, two particular challenges have arisen in the form of: (1) the growing difficulty of gaining sufficient livelihood contributions from traditional agriculturally-based activities; and (2) the increasing heterogeneity of rights-holders. This paper elaborates the findings of a recent survey, which sought to identify the main implications of these challenges for common grazings use and governance. An overall decline in levels of use of common grazings was identified, as well as decreasing involvement and investment in associated local institutions. This informs a discussion of the factors shaping the role of historical common land in contemporary rural spaces, an area neglected in the common property literature.     

A Lithic Provisioning Model as a Proxy for Landscape Mobility in the Southern and Middle Kalahari

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory - Humans occupy a wide range of environments, including those that experience water stress. Our species has a long history of mitigating arid and...     

Notes on Names of the Thorn

CROW TEXTS. Collected, translated, and edited by ROBERT H. LOWIE, University of California Press and Cambridge U.P., 1960. Pp. xiii, 550. Price 52s. Reviewed by Geoffrey Turner.

STORIES FROM UIST, TOLD BY ANGUS MACLELLAN. Translated by J. G. CAMPBELL. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1961. Pp. xxix, 254, 1 photograph. Reviewed by Ellen Ettlinger.

THE EVERLASTING CIRCLE. English Traditional Verse from the MSS of S. Baring-Gould, H. E. D. Hammond and George B. Gardiner, By James Reeves. Heinemann, London. Pp. 303, 5 illus. Price 25s. net. Reviewed by H. J. Rose.

THE TIGER'S WHISKER, AND OTHER TALES AND LEGENDS FROM ASIA AND THE PACIFIC. Collected by HAROLD COURLANDER. Methuen &; Co. 12s. 6d. Reviewed by K. M. Briggs.

GREEK CALENDAR CUSTOMS. By GEORGE A. MEGAS. Press and Information Department, Prime Minister's Office, Athens, 1958. Pp. 159 + 24 plates. Reviewed by Wilfrid Bonser.

HIGHLAND FOLK WAYS. By I. F. GRANT. Routledge &; Kegan Paul, London, 1961. Pp. xiii, 377, 77 text illustrations. Reviewed by Ellen Ettlinger.

THE PSYCHOANALYTICAL STUDY OF SOCIETY. Vol, I. International Universities Press, Inc., New York, 1961. Reviewed by E. Baker.

SEASONAL FEASTS AND FESTIVALS. By E. O. JAMES. Thames and Hudson, 1961. 35s. Reviewed by E. P. Baker.

JOURNAL OF THE ENGLISH FOLK DANCE AND SONG SOCIETY. Vol. 9, No. 1, December 1960. Reviewed by W.B.

ANCIENT BALLADS TRADITIONALLY SUNG IN NEW ENGLAND, Vol. I, University of Pennsylvania Press. Reviewed by C. H.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE. Reviewed by Christina Hole.