Landscape archaeology of the Pyrenean commons:Continuity and change in high-altitude transhumance

Ludomir Lozny

I dedicate this paper to the memory of Stéphane Lévêque,

a Parisian who loved the Pyrenees

In brief In brief Evidence of enduring patterns of cooperative arrangements and participatory governance of high-altitude pastures were identified using nondestructive methods of landscape archaeology and confirmed by the linguistic and historical records

Currently these patterns are susceptible to centralized decision-making and new economic conditions

Project’s locationProject’s location

The Labas/Bouleste Valley

Pastures: Bouleste and les Pastures: Bouleste and les Artigues Artigues

Toponymy related to high-altitude Toponymy related to high-altitude commonscommons

Cuyéou - this term is widely present in the toponymy of the study area. It is the equivalent of coueyla in Aspois, of cujala in the Ossau dialect, or even courtau from the valley of Adour, or courteous, sometimes Gallicized to curtail – spatial unitFormadgere - translated as “dairy” (spatial unit) or as “cheese maker” (fiscal unit)

Les Artigues, two structures Les Artigues, two structures ((courteous)courteous)

Les Artigues, leytés of the local formadgeresormadgeres

Clusters of structures (N=44) : cluster 1, Upper Bouleste Clusters of structures (N=44) : cluster 1, Upper Bouleste four structures;four structures;

cluster 2, Bouleste 10 structures; cluster 3, Les Artigues 30 cluster 2, Bouleste 10 structures; cluster 3, Les Artigues 30 structures structures

Six large-area structures: 200 mSix large-area structures: 200 m22 at 1801 m (Upper Bouleste); 77 m at 1801 m (Upper Bouleste); 77 m22 and 600 and 600 mm22 between 1700 m and 1750 m (Bouleste); 620 m between 1700 m and 1750 m (Bouleste); 620 m22, 560m, 560m22, and 221 m, and 221 m22 at or at or above 1550 m (Les Artigues). All represent above 1550 m (Les Artigues). All represent courteouscourteous and the three from les and the three from les Artigues also Artigues also formadgeresformadgeres

Upper Bouleste

Bouleste

Les Artigues

Bouleste, modern Bouleste, modern cabanacabana and remains and remains of of courteouscourteous

Bouleste, modern Bouleste, modern shepherd shepherd

Current use of high-altitude Current use of high-altitude pasturespastures

ConclusionConclusionss

Communal (collective) use of high-altitude pastures in Hautes-Pyrénées is supported by archaeological, linguistic, and historic data

Mountain summer pastures represent territorial units (districts)

The rules about the commons regulate inter and intra-group interactions and diffuse conflicts

Centralization of decision-making weakens communal cooperatives and contributes to local economic and social crisis

Participatory polycentric governance (local sphere of authority) is a viable alternative

CreditCreditss

The data used in this paper relate to the research conducted in the Upper Lavedan, Campan and Lesponne Valleys by Andrzej Boguszewski, Fred Guédon, Stéphane Lévêque and Ludomir Lozny