Summary
The alpine and subalpine landscapes of the Cantabrian Mountains (in the north of the Iberian Peninsula) have been shaped by productive activities developed by local communities since the Late Prehistory (ca. 6000 BP). Subsequently, the long-term impact of human activities on the environment has resulted in significant changes to upland landscapes, including the clearance of forests to create seasonal pastures. In contrast with the prevailing perception of mountains as predominantly wild, remote and marginal regions, our archaeological research in Babia (León, Spain) has revealed compelling evidence for the long-term occupation of these areas, predominantly associated with seasonal pastoralist activities. The groups exploiting the uplands established seasonal settlements, which were typically located in areas offering favourable conditions for shelter and the care of their livestock. Some of these sites are still in use by transhumant shepherds, who reside there each summer in recently constructed cabins surrounded by a variety of ruined enclosures and shelters that have traditionally been regarded as ‘ethnographic’ remains. This has the effect of hindering their archaeological consideration. This paper presents the findings of archaeological research conducted since 2017 in the sources of the River Sil near La Cueta (Cabrillanes, León). Our investigations have focused on a number of sites, including the summer farm of Covalanchu. We have conducted remote sensing and pedestrian surveys, archaeological prospection utilising geophysics, and the excavation of test pits at selected structures. This line of research demonstrates the diverse occupation of these upland areas across a range of chronological periods. Our current research agenda is focused on the assessment of the specific strategies employed by pastoralist groups across different chronological periods, and relating those diachronic readings with the available palaeoenvironmental regional datasets.
Keywords
Landscape Archaeology. Cultural landscapes. Upland landscapes. Transhumance.