Much of the upland and marginal landscapes of Wales are characterised by an abundance of abandoned houses and farmsteads. These remains are the tangible evidence that for many hundreds of years successive communities occupied and exploited rural areas that are now largely depopulated. This book presents evidence from a detailed field study project into the deserted rural settlements throughout Wales - exploring settlement morphology, monastic upland exploration, medieval and post-medieval settlement development and change, vernacular building traditions and environmental evidence. The volume establishes what is known about these settlements, their regional variations and national characteristics, and what future research could still uncover.