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

A significant elevational gradient in the anthropization of Pyrenean landscapes, particularly in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, has been identified, with human activity progressing upward at an average rate of 40 meters per century. This trend is most pronounced from the Bronze Age to the Roman occupation and during the Middle Ages, coinciding with warm climatic phases and the influence of Iberian and northern cultures. The study suggests a link between upward anthropization and historical cultural shifts, including the development of high-mountain pastoralism and transhumance. While the findings are preliminary, they highlight the need for further research to confirm these patterns, especially in less studied areas, and encourage comparative studies across other Pyrenean regions and mountain ranges.

Rull, V., & Vegas-Vilarrúbia, T. (2021). A spatiotemporal gradient in the anthropization of Pyrenean landscapes. Preliminary report. Quaternary Science Reviews, 258, 106909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106909