Modelling transhumant routes in French Alps. An application of GIS based methods to understand ancient mobility and pastoral archaeological sites location

Abstract

In this paper I study possible transhumant pathways used to move people and animals from the lowlands in Low Provence in Winter to summer grasslands in summer. These seasonal movements are attested from at least Late Middle Ages. But even when we know the existence of transhumance and his role to structure the landscape but usually it is difficult to identify the trace of the paths. In this contribution I present some possible pathways modelised with digital tools taking in account physical constraints to the movement as slope, altitude or water courses. In the second part of the paper I used the same models in the Ubaye Valley in order to explore possible paths to connect different plateaus. The location of archaeological sites is compared with the layouts of these pathways generated by GIS. The main goal is to explore how the mobility structures the social landscape in the Alpine Regions.