A historical ecology of the Ecrins (Southern French Alps): Archaeology and palaeoecology of the Mesolithic to the Medieval period

Walsh, Kevin; Court-Picon, Mona; Beaulieu, J.-L. de; Guiter, Frédéric; Mocci, Florence; Richer, Suzi; Sinet, Rémi; Talon, Brigitte; Tzortzis, Stéphan

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.08.060

Cited by 57 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These changes are associated with declining frequencies of birch. The Fagus (beech) curve start is consistent with its modest regional expansion observed in sites of lower altitude (Beaulieu, 1977;Brugiapaglia et al, 1998;Kharbouch, 2000;Walsh et al, 2014).…”

Section: Pollen Zonessupporting

confidence: 63%

“…Archaeological investigations conducted in the upper Durance valley have revealed continuous human presence in the subalpine area since the Mesolithic (Walsh et al, , 2014. Mining activities are well identified during the Medieval, Modern and Contemporary periods.…”

Section: Archaeological and Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The upper Durance valley (French Southern Alps) offers a unique opportunity to conduct such an approach thanks to numerous archaeological remains and natural proxies that have recorded human and natural imprints during the Holocene. These resources have led to the development of several multidisciplinary programmes based on human/environment interactions (Beaulieu et al, 2003;Walsh et al, 2014) and mining history (Py and Ancel, 2007;Ancel et al, 2010;Py, 2010). Here, we present a multidisciplinary synthesis of mining activities in the upper Durance valley and its influence on environmental changes since the Protohistory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

Véron

Édouard

et al. 2014

Quaternary International

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b s t r a c tThe upper Durance valley contains the largest silverelead mines of the French Southern Alps. We investigated the characterisation and impact of these mining activities and associated forestry in the Argentière (L'Argentière-La Bessée) and Faravel (Freissinières) districts using a multidisciplinary approach that includes archaeological, palynological, geochemical, anthracological and dendrochronological studies applied to mining remnants and a peat bog (Fangeas, in the Faravel district). More specifically, we studied the occurrence of lead contamination episodes, the chronology of mining activities and their link to the evolution in woodland cover. Our chronology is based on mining archaeology, radiocarbon dating of about thirty charcoal samples and the dendrochronological analysis of more than 170 specimens of exhumed waterlogged wood. The anthracological analysis was established with more than 10,000 charcoals from firesetting. The main geochemical approach was based on the analysis of lead and its stable isotopes in sediment fractions from a peat core. The combination of palynological records and lead isotope imprints were used to characterise (i) a Roman contamination episode unknown to archaeology, (ii) the development of medieval mining activities and (iii) the reactivation of mining during the Modern period and the Industrial Revolution. Medieval mining coincides with an extension of the high mountain agropastoral areas. The in situ continuous human activities in the same industrial territory led to rational communal management of subalpine forests, but also to their parcelling that reached its peak in the High Middle Ages. Mining during the Modern period coincides with significant stress on woodland areas that also appears to be related to lumber and fuel timber production for shipyards (French Royal Navy) as well as the functioning of several military fortresses. The mining reactivation during the 19th c. matched public measures of forest protection that took shape in the afforestation programme of the uplands.

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Section: Pollen Zonessupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Archaeological and Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

Véron

Édouard

et al. 2014

Quaternary International

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“…1) ont identiié les grandes phases de l'anthropisation, dans ce secteur et ses abords, et les changements de végétation associés (Py et al, 2014). Au-dessus de 2 000 m d'altitude, les investigations archéologiques ont mis en évidence une présence humaine continue dès le Mésolithique et son intensiication à l'Âge du Bronze avec le développement probable du pastoralisme Tortzis et al, 2008 ;Walsh et al, 2010Walsh et al, , 2014 (Faravel). À partir de l'étude des traces matérielles, leur relation avec l'activité minière n'a pas pu être clairement établie (Py, 2009, II, 905-945).…”

Section: Contexte Environnemental Et Archéologiqueunclassified

“…1), a été et continue d'être un terrain d'étude privilégié des interactions sociétés-environnements en haute montagne pendant l'Holocène (Beaulieu et al, 2003 ;Walsh et al, 2006 ;Py et al, 2014 ;Walsh et al, 2014). Depuis le tournant des années 2000, plusieurs enquêtes archéologiques, adossées à des projets interdisciplinaires, ont révélé la richesse et la diversité des vestiges matériels en haute montagne Walsh, 2005 ;Walsh et al, 2007Walsh et al, , 2010.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Les dynamiques de la végétation et des anthroposystèmes d’altitude cernées par l’anthracologie pastorale et minière à l’échelle d’un haut vallon alpestre (Freissinières, France)

Py-Saragaglia¹,

Durand²,

Ancel³

et al. 2015

archeosciences

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Cet article de synthèse propose une restitution des dynamiques de la végétation et des anthroposystèmes d’altitude, à l’échelle de la haute vallée de Freissinières (Hautes-Alpes), en s’appuyant sur l’analyse anthracologique de dépôts carbonisés miniers et (agro-) pastoraux datés de l’Âge du Bronze à la Renaissance. Les particularités archéologiques et chronologiques des différents contextes de dépôt et les méthodes d’échantillonnage et d’analyse en laboratoire sont explicitées. L’ensemble des données livrées est mis en perspective dans des diagrammes de synthèse et des tentatives de modélisation spatiale de la dynamique de la végétation et des aires d’approvisionnement en combustible pastoral et minier. De la sorte, l’étude cerne les grands changements floristiques subalpins opérés depuis l’Âge du Bronze, le développement des prés boisés et l’abaissement de la limite supérieure de la forêt dense associé à l’expansion des landes et des fourrés. En outre, elle caractérise l’évolution des pratiques d’approvisionnement et la gestion de l’inculte – en particulier durant le Moyen Âge – et saisit le cycle du fourrage de feuilles, attesté par les charbons de bois au tournant de l’ère moderne.

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Multi‐proxy reconstruction of the Holocene vegetation and land use dynamics in the Julian Alps, north‐west Slovenia

Caf

Sabatier

Šmuc

et al. 2022

J Quaternary Science

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Small mountain lakes are natural archives for understanding long-term natural and anthropogenic impact on the environment. This study focused on long-term (last ca. 13 000 years) vegetation changes and sedimentary processes in the catchment area of Lake Planina pri jezeru (1430 m a.s.l.) by using mineralogical, geochemical and palynological methods. Palynological results suggest that regional vegetation between 12 900 and 11 700 cal a BP was a herbaceous-forest tundra (Pinus, Artemisia, Poaceae). Climate warming at the beginning of the Holocene (ca. 11 700 cal a BP) caused the transition from a wetland (Cyperaceae) to an eutrophic lake with alternating anoxic (pyrite) and oxic conditions (gypsum). In addition, the surrounding area became forested (Picea, Larix, Ulmus). Fagus expanded at 10 200 cal a BP and Abies at 8200 cal a BP. Between 7500 and 4300 cal a BP, human impact on the environment was barely noticeable and mostly limited to grazing. During 4300-430 cal a BP human impact became more evident and gradually increased. The greatest influence was observed from 430 cal a BP onwards, when excessive exploitation of the surrounding area (logging and grazing) severely eutrophicated the lake.

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A historical ecology of the Ecrins (Southern French Alps): Archaeology and palaeoecology of the Mesolithic to the Medieval period

Cited by 57 publications

References 24 publications

Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

Les dynamiques de la végétation et des anthroposystèmes d’altitude cernées par l’anthracologie pastorale et minière à l’échelle d’un haut vallon alpestre (Freissinières, France)

Multi‐proxy reconstruction of the Holocene vegetation and land use dynamics in the Julian Alps, north‐west Slovenia

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