Shifting occupation dynamics in the Madriu–Perafita–Claror valleys (Andorra) from the early Neolithic to the Chalcolithic: The onset of high mountain cultural landscapes

A multidisciplinary study of the Madriu–Perafita–Claror Valley (Andorra) reveals that high mountain cultural landscapes began forming during the Neolithic period, driven by increasing population and sedentism. The research, combining archaeology and palaeoenvironmental data, identified over 400 archaeological structures and analyzed seven palaeoenvironmental sequences to trace human-landscape interactions from the Mesolithic to the 20th century. Findings indicate that early Neolithic groups were highly mobile, exploiting diverse altitudinal belts for grazing, hunting, fishing, gathering, and incipient agriculture. By the Middle/Late Neolithic, increased sedentism and pastoral pressure—including the first documented use of fire for grazing—led to landscape changes. Chalcolithic periods saw intensive deforestation and agriculture, marking a shift toward permanent landscape transformation.

Orengo, H. A., Palet, J. M., Ejarque, A., Miras, Y., & Riera, S. (2014). Shifting occupation dynamics in the Madriu–Perafita–Claror valleys (Andorra) from the early Neolithic to the Chalcolithic: The onset of high mountain cultural landscapes. Quaternary International, 353, 140–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.01.035