Fire, once a vital tool for early human survival and landscape management, has become one of today’s most significant natural hazards, especially in fire-prone regions. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, understanding the long-term relationship between humans and fire is more critical than ever. This session explores cultural pyroscapes: landscapes shaped by the interactions between societies and fire over time. We invite transdisciplinary contributions that use palaeoecological, archaeological, and environmental records to investigate past fire regimes and human responses. Relevant approaches include charcoal and pollen analysis, biochemical proxies, and palaeodemographic data. We particularly welcome studies on Indigenous cultural burning and traditional fire practices that contributed to historical and pre-historical fuel management. Contributions led by or co-designed with Indigenous communities are also encouraged. By highlighting methodological innovations and theoretical advances, this session aims to deepen our understanding of past fire stewardship and its relevance for developing sustainable wildfire mitigation and landscape resilience strategies today.
Ewa Zin