A spatiotemporal gradient in the anthropization of Pyrenean landscapes. Preliminary report

• Main Authors: Rull, V. (Author), Vegas-Vilarrúbia, T. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2021
• Subjects: Alpine areas; alpine environment; Bronze; Bronze age; Bronze Age; Central pyrenees; chronology; Elevational gradient; Elevational gradients; Landscape anthropization; landscape ecology; Middle ages; Middle Ages; mountain region; paleoecology; pastoralism; Pollen analysis; Preliminary analysis; Pyrenees; Roman era; spatiotemporal analysis; Spatio-temporal gradients; subalpine environment
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 A preliminary analysis of the timing of landscape anthropization in the southern-central Pyrenees shows the occurrence of an elevational gradient from the Bronze Age (basal belts) to the Middle Ages (alpine belts). This relationship is statistically significant and suggests an average anthropization rate of 40 m in elevation per century. The elevational gradient is most clear between the Bronze Age and the Roman occupation, suggesting a progressive upward anthropization trend from the south with the likely involvement of Iberian cultures. During the Middle Ages, a massive anthropization pattern of subalpine/alpine areas is observed; this pattern is chronologically consistent with the incursion of northern cultures crossing the Pyrenees and the development of extensive high-mountain pastoralism and horizontal transhumance. In general, the progression of upward anthropization has occurred during warm climatic phases. Further work is needed to confirm these observations, especially in areas with few available paleoecological studies, notably the basal and montane belts. It could be interesting to develop similar studies of other Pyrenean regions and other mountain ranges. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd