Land-use development of cultural landscape of Slovak enclave Sari in Hungary (1696-2011)

Abstract

Landscape of Slovakian enclave Sara (hung. Sari) is an integral component of cultural heritage of lowland Slovaks. The paper is about reconstruction of land use in the examined area during the period 1696-2011. Relation modelling of the man - landscape (area) - culture - time we have realized by the secondary literature, maps (old maps from the year 1782/85 to 1882, satellite image from the year 2009) with results of field research (2011). Modern human intervention to the landscape structure of the investigated territory after the year 1696 necessitated a gradual transformation of the extensive land use of wetlands with a mosaic of forests and extensive pastures on the current arable-meadow landscape with floodplain forests islands and non-forest trees and scrub vegetation. Presented (historical-cultural and geographical) view of Slovakian enclave landscape Sara represents one of possible approach to the knowledge of the cultural Slovak heritage in Pest district.