Arqueología de alta montaña en la Cordillera Cantábrica: una biografía cultural de los pastizales de altura en Babia (León)

Too often described as pristine areas or 'natural paradises', upland landscapes in the Cantabrian Mountains reveal the impact of anthropogenic activities since Late Prehistory. The lifestyles of local communities can be read diachronically on mountainous landscapes to understand their socio-cultural traits. However, the archaeological information available for these areas is limited. Aiming to fill de voids in our knowledge and to develop an appropriate research strategy, archaeological research is being conducted in the summer pastures of the region of Babia (León) since 2017. Using remote sensing techniques, geophysical and pedestrian surveys, archaeological excavations, geospatial analysis, as well as considering available palaeoenvironmental and ethnographic datasets, we assess the role deployed by human groups in landscape formation. Based on the experience gathered in a pilot study area north of the villages of La Cueta and Torre de Babia (Cabrillanes, León), the methodology used is reviewed and preliminary results are presented.

Landscape Archaeology. Anthropization. Upland Archaeology. Pastoralism. Transhumance.