European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) holds significant importance as a forest tree species throug... more European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) holds significant importance as a forest tree species throughout the Alps and in certain regions of central Europe. Its extensive use as construction timber has made it a subject of substantial interest in dendroarchaeological studies aimed at understanding the long-term interactions between human societies and forests. Precise dating of felling phases, accurate estimation of the age of harvested wood, and information on the geographical origin of wood play a crucial role when it comes to characterize these interactions. In this study, we compiled a large dataset of L. decidua samples from across the European Alps to provide a robust statistical model that predicts the cambial age of L. decidua trees based on the number of heartwood rings. By extension, this model can be used to estimate the number of sapwood rings so as to approximate the felling date and to more precise date archaeological larch timber. The model requires almost complete heartwood sequences (<5 missing rings) to achieve accurate estimations. Our results also evidence that the ratio between the number of sapwood and heartwood rings varies across the Alps. At the same time, the indicator developed in this work is not suitable for a determination of wood origin, raising doubts about the effectiveness of attempts aimed at dendroprovenancing L. decidua based on sapwood.
International Journal of Wood Culture, Brill, 2022
A dendrochronological study of Courbons, a village in the southern French pre-Alps, was conducte... more A dendrochronological study of Courbons, a village in the southern French pre-Alps, was conducted to improve our understanding of its history, strengthen the reference chronologies, and reconstruct the outlines of historical forests. A total of 20 buildings were subjected to dendrochronological sampling. The 145 sampled wood pieces were of nine different species, 44 of which are dated from larch, fir, and deciduous oak. Two main construction phases were identified (from the 13th–16th century CE and from the 18th–20th century CE ), separated by a hiatus during the 17th century CE . A scarcity of resources could be the cause of the hiatus. We noticed that oak trees were only used before the 16th century CE and that trees felled after the 17th century CE grew better than those that were felled before this period. Based on historical published data, we assumed that demographic variations, trees reserved for shipbuilding, and pressures from pastoralism could explain the dendrochronological results.
Numerous dendroarchaeological studies have been carried out in buildings in the southeastern quar... more Numerous dendroarchaeological studies have been carried out in buildings in the southeastern quarter of France, which has enabled us to lay the foundations for a first regional restitution of forest stands in the medieval and modern periods, based on the species, diameters, ages and growth rhythms of the trees used by humans. The 2369 pieces of dated softwood timber are mainly larch and fir from the Massif Central and the Alps mountains. Larch seems to have been used mostly locally in the Alps, whereas fir was certainly exported from the two regions to the lowland towns. Very little felling has been identified in the historically troubled 13th–14th century. For the moment we have not identified any fir trees used before the 15th century in the Alps, whereas they are present in the Massif Central from the 12th century. Growth of fir timbers show little variation over time while larch timbers present an increase in growth between those felled until the 12th century and those felled from the 15th century onwards. Finally, since firs from the Massif Central show a higher age trend than those from the Alps, this can serve as a model for identifying the source forests of the timber used in the Rhône valley.
In the Southern French Alps, the Cervières Valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in ... more In the Southern French Alps, the Cervières Valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in which wood plays an important role, both in the buildings’ structures and in the activities of the humans who lived there. The six studied farms bear witness to an architecture perfectly adapted to the mountain environment and to the daily and seasonal activities of the inhabitants. Dendrochronology has revealed four major phases of logging from the 16th to the 19th century. The 90 sampled timbers are from larch and Scots pine type, and are of similar age and calibre. The choice of species for building was probably made on the basis of their proximity to the building site. However, until now we have not yet identified any Scots pine t. from before the 18th century in the buildings: does this represent a sampling bias or forest reality? Future historical and pedo-anthracological studies should provide answers. Although archaeological Scots pine is a recalcitrant species in dendroarchaeology in the Southern Alps, probably due to the presence of too many missing rings, in this study a Scots pine t. average has been dated on a larch reference chronology for the first time. This dating is supported by archaeological observations.
Bioarchéologie : minimums méthodologiques, référentiels communs et nouvelles approches, 2021
Dendrochronology, a dating method that studies the variation in the tree-rings width, is usually ... more Dendrochronology, a dating method that studies the variation in the tree-rings width, is usually used in archaeology to obtain an absolute dating. Dialogue and data sharing between different actors of the discipline are necessary in order to make the results reliable. However, archaeological woods analyses is not limited to dating and new approaches are emerging, allowing new fields of research and filling spaces and chronologies gaps. In this context, dendrochronology contributes to a better understanding of silvicultural practices and state of forests, but also to their location in areas with few or no human presence. Tree selection, forest exploitations and their evolution over time, as well as the provenance of woods, are as much information that can be put into perspective between an archaeological site and its environment. More specifically, the aim of this article is to present these new dendrochronological approaches and their issues in the framework of archaeology.
Le bois dans tous ses états en haute Provence du XVIe au XIXe siècle, actes de la journée d’étude du samedi 1er décembre 2018, organisée aux archives départementales des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2020
With Sandrine Claude.
Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeast... more With Sandrine Claude. Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France and allowed systematic dendrochronological analyses. 144 fir timbers (Abies alba Mill.) were examined and dated between 1303 and 1933. They highlight three felling phases (Medieval period, 17th-18th century, and 19th century). The best documented one corresponds to the 17th-18th centuries and coincides with significant building activity connected to the status of Aix, which is the parliamentary capital of Provence. Around Aix-en-Provence, it is difficult to find timbers with good dimensions. Our results show that timbers were transported from the Alps to Aix's buildings. Potential testimonies of this timber trade have been found, such as raft assemblage marks, and carved signs and letters. A dendroprovenancing case study shows that between 1810 and 1890, some of Aix's timbers could have come from the Northern French Alps or the Verdon-Durance region. Finally, the lack of timbers with good dimension and the difficulties of timber supply contributed to the development of reuse economy and technical innovation. These results are the foundation of a future well-established dendroprovenancing approach in the Southern Alps.
Des ressources et des Hommes en montagnes, actes du 142e Congrès national des sociétés historiques et scientifiques, Pau, 2017, 2019
Cette étude sur le bois de construction dans les Alpes du sud s’appuie sur des données récentes i... more Cette étude sur le bois de construction dans les Alpes du sud s’appuie sur des données récentes issues d’un travail de thèse interdisciplinaire. Le bassin versant de la Durance et la Basse Provence, principalement aux xviie et xviiie siècles, servent de cadre à cette étude. Au cours de cette période, le bois a été employé localement par les montagnards, mais également par les militaires dans le cadre des fortifications briançonnaises. La Marine, grosse consommatrice de bois de construction a procédé à plusieurs inventaires des arbres des Alpes du sud et est à l’origine de forts prélèvements dans les forêts de cette région. Les populations civiles ne sont pas en reste puisque les bois de Haute et Moyenne Durance ont été achetés par des marchands et transportés vers les zones situées en aval. La destination de ce bois d’œuvre exporté peut être illustrée par le cas de la ville d’Aix-en-Provence où de nombreuses poutres portent des marques, témoins des échanges entre la montagne et la plaine.
A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of t... more A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of the Faravel mining site (Southern French Alps, between 1950- and 2150m a.s.l.). 232 of these timbers were sampled for dendrochronological analysis and 67% of them were dated. These 156 larch (Larix decidua Mill.) series, crossdated against existing reference chronologies, were averaged for a site chronology spanning from 777 to 1243. From this dataset, 33 timbers with (almost) complete sapwood allowed us to obtain tree felling years with seasonal resolution. The chronological distribution of these felling years highlights nine distinct mining phases that occurred between 1059 and 1243, revealing a discontinuous exploitation of the study site during the medieval period. In addition, the presence of late wood in the vast majority of complete samples, demonstrates that logging mainly occurred during late fall and early winter. These results, combined with historical, palynological and archaeological investigations, plead for short, seasonal, and low-intensity, mining campaigns, mainly carried out after the bulk of agropastoral activities using rudimentary techniques with limited impact on the forest cover.
ARCADE. Approche diachronique et Regards croisés :Archéologie, Dendrochronologie et Environnement, 2019
Dans le cadre d’une campagne de restauration menée entre 2012 et 2014, l’église des Prêcheurs d’A... more Dans le cadre d’une campagne de restauration menée entre 2012 et 2014, l’église des Prêcheurs d’Aix-en-Provence (actuelle église de la Madeleine) a fait l’objet d’une étude architecturale et dendrochronologique, et d’une recherche documentaire. Édifiée à la fin du XIIIe siècle, cette église connaît, jusqu’à la Révolution plusieurs grandes campagnes de travaux et de multiples interventions d’entretien et de réaménagements difficiles à saisir aujourd’hui. L’un des principaux apports de l’exploitation conjointe des différentes sources documentaires a été de restituer la complexité architecturale de cet édifice largement restauré à la fin du XVIIe siècle et d’en proposer un phasage.
ARCADE. Approche diachronique et Regards croisés :Archéologie, Dendrochronologie et Environnement, 2019
La déconstruction d’un ensemble immobilier, au centre du bourg médiéval de Riez, a été l’occasion... more La déconstruction d’un ensemble immobilier, au centre du bourg médiéval de Riez, a été l’occasion, en 2013, de réaliser une étude de bâti préventive d’urgence sur deux hôtels particuliers, autrefois remarquables pour leurs façades en encorbellement et leurs gypseries de l’époque médiévale et moderne. Cette opération offrait également la possibilité, rare, de pouvoir prélever une importante quantité de bois architecturaux (612 individus). Malgré leur difficile localisation au sein de l’ensemble, il a été possible de préciser la datation de certains éléments de ces édifices, érigés entre le XIIIe siècle et le XVIe siècle et d’établir une nouvelle chronologie du sapin, sur plus de deux siècles et demi (1272-1533). Cela permettra, à terme, de mieux comprendre l’histoire de la gestion forestière dans cette région.
A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of t... more A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of the Faravel mining site (Southern French Alps, between 1950- and 2150 m a.s.l.). 232 of these timbers were sampled for dendrochronological analysis and 67% of them were dated. These 156 larch (Larix decidua Mill.) series, crossdated against existing reference chronologies, were averaged for a site chronology spanning from 777 to 1243. From this dataset, 33 timbers with (almost) complete sapwood allowed us to obtain tree felling years with seasonal resolution. The chronological distribution of these felling years highlights nine distinct mining phases that occurred between 1059 and 1243, revealing a discontinuous exploitation of the study site during the medieval period. In addition, the presence of late wood in the vast majority of complete samples, demonstrates that logging mainly occurred during late fall and early winter. These results, combined with historical, palynological and archaeological investigations, plead for short, seasonal, and low-intensity, mining campaigns, mainly carried out after the bulk of agropastoral activities using rudimentary techniques with limited impact on the forest cover.
A 796 years chronology spanning the period 1214–2009 has been built. Data can be used for dating... more A 796 years chronology spanning the period 1214–2009 has been built. Data can be used for dating projects, paleoecology studies and climate reconstructions. Datasets access at https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01528324. Associated metadata available at: https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/a74b4869-318c-458c-a5fe-f9ff44a5082c Abstract A 796 years tree-ring master chronology (1214-2009) was compiled for Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). This data was collected from 515 living trees and archaeological timbers, in 31 sites in Northern Alps (Maurienne) to Southern Pre-Alps (Ventoux). The results are 31 site chronologies with good correlations, even at long distance The master chronology is available and can be accessed through a website database. This information can be used for numerous projects, such as historical dating, paleoecology studies, and climate reconstruction. It is the hope of the authors that this information can be widely utilized and continuously updated to benefit future research.
Wine presses of la Vignette (village of St-Martin-de-Queyrières) are among the last marks of the ... more Wine presses of la Vignette (village of St-Martin-de-Queyrières) are among the last marks of the ancient wine activity in the southern French Alps (Mallé, 1999, Pogneaux, 2001). An archaeological excavation has been conducted but the results are limited (Segard, 2000). Since 2012 we have been working on the dendrochrono-ecological analysis of the Durance valley constructions, that is why we have been studying these win presses. The first aim of our study was to inventory the structures containing presses in good state of preservation. The second was to date them. And the third aim was to understand the type of woods used to build these presses and therefore to picture the ancient forests. On the site of la Vignette we studied eight structures with win presses in good state and, another one situated close by (Shindo, 2012). Contrary to what was thought until now, the wooden structure of the presses is not only made of larch because some of the sampled levers are in Scots pine. The study of Scots pine pieces helped to build a long floating chronology. As for larch pieces, they have been dated (Edward, 2010) and the occupation of la Vignette dates back to the 17th century. On the Scot pine pieces, there are up to 334 tree-rings, for an average circumference of 1.70 m: they were big and old trees at the time of their fellings. Dendrochronology has demonstrated the modern occupation of the site and showed a use of two species: larch and Scots pine. This shared use is found in several local farms. All these buildings are located around 1000 m high, where the Scot pine is plentiful. It is used because of its availability as the larch. Finally, this study shows the contribution of dendrochronology to the scientific knowledge of an original heritage, witness of the daily life of men, which produced their wine at high altitude.
European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) holds significant importance as a forest tree species throug... more European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) holds significant importance as a forest tree species throughout the Alps and in certain regions of central Europe. Its extensive use as construction timber has made it a subject of substantial interest in dendroarchaeological studies aimed at understanding the long-term interactions between human societies and forests. Precise dating of felling phases, accurate estimation of the age of harvested wood, and information on the geographical origin of wood play a crucial role when it comes to characterize these interactions. In this study, we compiled a large dataset of L. decidua samples from across the European Alps to provide a robust statistical model that predicts the cambial age of L. decidua trees based on the number of heartwood rings. By extension, this model can be used to estimate the number of sapwood rings so as to approximate the felling date and to more precise date archaeological larch timber. The model requires almost complete heartwood sequences (<5 missing rings) to achieve accurate estimations. Our results also evidence that the ratio between the number of sapwood and heartwood rings varies across the Alps. At the same time, the indicator developed in this work is not suitable for a determination of wood origin, raising doubts about the effectiveness of attempts aimed at dendroprovenancing L. decidua based on sapwood.
International Journal of Wood Culture, Brill, 2022
A dendrochronological study of Courbons, a village in the southern French pre-Alps, was conducte... more A dendrochronological study of Courbons, a village in the southern French pre-Alps, was conducted to improve our understanding of its history, strengthen the reference chronologies, and reconstruct the outlines of historical forests. A total of 20 buildings were subjected to dendrochronological sampling. The 145 sampled wood pieces were of nine different species, 44 of which are dated from larch, fir, and deciduous oak. Two main construction phases were identified (from the 13th–16th century CE and from the 18th–20th century CE ), separated by a hiatus during the 17th century CE . A scarcity of resources could be the cause of the hiatus. We noticed that oak trees were only used before the 16th century CE and that trees felled after the 17th century CE grew better than those that were felled before this period. Based on historical published data, we assumed that demographic variations, trees reserved for shipbuilding, and pressures from pastoralism could explain the dendrochronological results.
Numerous dendroarchaeological studies have been carried out in buildings in the southeastern quar... more Numerous dendroarchaeological studies have been carried out in buildings in the southeastern quarter of France, which has enabled us to lay the foundations for a first regional restitution of forest stands in the medieval and modern periods, based on the species, diameters, ages and growth rhythms of the trees used by humans. The 2369 pieces of dated softwood timber are mainly larch and fir from the Massif Central and the Alps mountains. Larch seems to have been used mostly locally in the Alps, whereas fir was certainly exported from the two regions to the lowland towns. Very little felling has been identified in the historically troubled 13th–14th century. For the moment we have not identified any fir trees used before the 15th century in the Alps, whereas they are present in the Massif Central from the 12th century. Growth of fir timbers show little variation over time while larch timbers present an increase in growth between those felled until the 12th century and those felled from the 15th century onwards. Finally, since firs from the Massif Central show a higher age trend than those from the Alps, this can serve as a model for identifying the source forests of the timber used in the Rhône valley.
In the Southern French Alps, the Cervières Valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in ... more In the Southern French Alps, the Cervières Valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in which wood plays an important role, both in the buildings’ structures and in the activities of the humans who lived there. The six studied farms bear witness to an architecture perfectly adapted to the mountain environment and to the daily and seasonal activities of the inhabitants. Dendrochronology has revealed four major phases of logging from the 16th to the 19th century. The 90 sampled timbers are from larch and Scots pine type, and are of similar age and calibre. The choice of species for building was probably made on the basis of their proximity to the building site. However, until now we have not yet identified any Scots pine t. from before the 18th century in the buildings: does this represent a sampling bias or forest reality? Future historical and pedo-anthracological studies should provide answers. Although archaeological Scots pine is a recalcitrant species in dendroarchaeology in the Southern Alps, probably due to the presence of too many missing rings, in this study a Scots pine t. average has been dated on a larch reference chronology for the first time. This dating is supported by archaeological observations.
Bioarchéologie : minimums méthodologiques, référentiels communs et nouvelles approches, 2021
Dendrochronology, a dating method that studies the variation in the tree-rings width, is usually ... more Dendrochronology, a dating method that studies the variation in the tree-rings width, is usually used in archaeology to obtain an absolute dating. Dialogue and data sharing between different actors of the discipline are necessary in order to make the results reliable. However, archaeological woods analyses is not limited to dating and new approaches are emerging, allowing new fields of research and filling spaces and chronologies gaps. In this context, dendrochronology contributes to a better understanding of silvicultural practices and state of forests, but also to their location in areas with few or no human presence. Tree selection, forest exploitations and their evolution over time, as well as the provenance of woods, are as much information that can be put into perspective between an archaeological site and its environment. More specifically, the aim of this article is to present these new dendrochronological approaches and their issues in the framework of archaeology.
Le bois dans tous ses états en haute Provence du XVIe au XIXe siècle, actes de la journée d’étude du samedi 1er décembre 2018, organisée aux archives départementales des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2020
With Sandrine Claude.
Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeast... more With Sandrine Claude. Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France and allowed systematic dendrochronological analyses. 144 fir timbers (Abies alba Mill.) were examined and dated between 1303 and 1933. They highlight three felling phases (Medieval period, 17th-18th century, and 19th century). The best documented one corresponds to the 17th-18th centuries and coincides with significant building activity connected to the status of Aix, which is the parliamentary capital of Provence. Around Aix-en-Provence, it is difficult to find timbers with good dimensions. Our results show that timbers were transported from the Alps to Aix's buildings. Potential testimonies of this timber trade have been found, such as raft assemblage marks, and carved signs and letters. A dendroprovenancing case study shows that between 1810 and 1890, some of Aix's timbers could have come from the Northern French Alps or the Verdon-Durance region. Finally, the lack of timbers with good dimension and the difficulties of timber supply contributed to the development of reuse economy and technical innovation. These results are the foundation of a future well-established dendroprovenancing approach in the Southern Alps.
Des ressources et des Hommes en montagnes, actes du 142e Congrès national des sociétés historiques et scientifiques, Pau, 2017, 2019
Cette étude sur le bois de construction dans les Alpes du sud s’appuie sur des données récentes i... more Cette étude sur le bois de construction dans les Alpes du sud s’appuie sur des données récentes issues d’un travail de thèse interdisciplinaire. Le bassin versant de la Durance et la Basse Provence, principalement aux xviie et xviiie siècles, servent de cadre à cette étude. Au cours de cette période, le bois a été employé localement par les montagnards, mais également par les militaires dans le cadre des fortifications briançonnaises. La Marine, grosse consommatrice de bois de construction a procédé à plusieurs inventaires des arbres des Alpes du sud et est à l’origine de forts prélèvements dans les forêts de cette région. Les populations civiles ne sont pas en reste puisque les bois de Haute et Moyenne Durance ont été achetés par des marchands et transportés vers les zones situées en aval. La destination de ce bois d’œuvre exporté peut être illustrée par le cas de la ville d’Aix-en-Provence où de nombreuses poutres portent des marques, témoins des échanges entre la montagne et la plaine.
A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of t... more A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of the Faravel mining site (Southern French Alps, between 1950- and 2150m a.s.l.). 232 of these timbers were sampled for dendrochronological analysis and 67% of them were dated. These 156 larch (Larix decidua Mill.) series, crossdated against existing reference chronologies, were averaged for a site chronology spanning from 777 to 1243. From this dataset, 33 timbers with (almost) complete sapwood allowed us to obtain tree felling years with seasonal resolution. The chronological distribution of these felling years highlights nine distinct mining phases that occurred between 1059 and 1243, revealing a discontinuous exploitation of the study site during the medieval period. In addition, the presence of late wood in the vast majority of complete samples, demonstrates that logging mainly occurred during late fall and early winter. These results, combined with historical, palynological and archaeological investigations, plead for short, seasonal, and low-intensity, mining campaigns, mainly carried out after the bulk of agropastoral activities using rudimentary techniques with limited impact on the forest cover.
ARCADE. Approche diachronique et Regards croisés :Archéologie, Dendrochronologie et Environnement, 2019
Dans le cadre d’une campagne de restauration menée entre 2012 et 2014, l’église des Prêcheurs d’A... more Dans le cadre d’une campagne de restauration menée entre 2012 et 2014, l’église des Prêcheurs d’Aix-en-Provence (actuelle église de la Madeleine) a fait l’objet d’une étude architecturale et dendrochronologique, et d’une recherche documentaire. Édifiée à la fin du XIIIe siècle, cette église connaît, jusqu’à la Révolution plusieurs grandes campagnes de travaux et de multiples interventions d’entretien et de réaménagements difficiles à saisir aujourd’hui. L’un des principaux apports de l’exploitation conjointe des différentes sources documentaires a été de restituer la complexité architecturale de cet édifice largement restauré à la fin du XVIIe siècle et d’en proposer un phasage.
ARCADE. Approche diachronique et Regards croisés :Archéologie, Dendrochronologie et Environnement, 2019
La déconstruction d’un ensemble immobilier, au centre du bourg médiéval de Riez, a été l’occasion... more La déconstruction d’un ensemble immobilier, au centre du bourg médiéval de Riez, a été l’occasion, en 2013, de réaliser une étude de bâti préventive d’urgence sur deux hôtels particuliers, autrefois remarquables pour leurs façades en encorbellement et leurs gypseries de l’époque médiévale et moderne. Cette opération offrait également la possibilité, rare, de pouvoir prélever une importante quantité de bois architecturaux (612 individus). Malgré leur difficile localisation au sein de l’ensemble, il a été possible de préciser la datation de certains éléments de ces édifices, érigés entre le XIIIe siècle et le XVIe siècle et d’établir une nouvelle chronologie du sapin, sur plus de deux siècles et demi (1272-1533). Cela permettra, à terme, de mieux comprendre l’histoire de la gestion forestière dans cette région.
A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of t... more A large amount of well-preserved timbers was found during several archaeological excavations of the Faravel mining site (Southern French Alps, between 1950- and 2150 m a.s.l.). 232 of these timbers were sampled for dendrochronological analysis and 67% of them were dated. These 156 larch (Larix decidua Mill.) series, crossdated against existing reference chronologies, were averaged for a site chronology spanning from 777 to 1243. From this dataset, 33 timbers with (almost) complete sapwood allowed us to obtain tree felling years with seasonal resolution. The chronological distribution of these felling years highlights nine distinct mining phases that occurred between 1059 and 1243, revealing a discontinuous exploitation of the study site during the medieval period. In addition, the presence of late wood in the vast majority of complete samples, demonstrates that logging mainly occurred during late fall and early winter. These results, combined with historical, palynological and archaeological investigations, plead for short, seasonal, and low-intensity, mining campaigns, mainly carried out after the bulk of agropastoral activities using rudimentary techniques with limited impact on the forest cover.
A 796 years chronology spanning the period 1214–2009 has been built. Data can be used for dating... more A 796 years chronology spanning the period 1214–2009 has been built. Data can be used for dating projects, paleoecology studies and climate reconstructions. Datasets access at https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01528324. Associated metadata available at: https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/a74b4869-318c-458c-a5fe-f9ff44a5082c Abstract A 796 years tree-ring master chronology (1214-2009) was compiled for Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). This data was collected from 515 living trees and archaeological timbers, in 31 sites in Northern Alps (Maurienne) to Southern Pre-Alps (Ventoux). The results are 31 site chronologies with good correlations, even at long distance The master chronology is available and can be accessed through a website database. This information can be used for numerous projects, such as historical dating, paleoecology studies, and climate reconstruction. It is the hope of the authors that this information can be widely utilized and continuously updated to benefit future research.
Wine presses of la Vignette (village of St-Martin-de-Queyrières) are among the last marks of the ... more Wine presses of la Vignette (village of St-Martin-de-Queyrières) are among the last marks of the ancient wine activity in the southern French Alps (Mallé, 1999, Pogneaux, 2001). An archaeological excavation has been conducted but the results are limited (Segard, 2000). Since 2012 we have been working on the dendrochrono-ecological analysis of the Durance valley constructions, that is why we have been studying these win presses. The first aim of our study was to inventory the structures containing presses in good state of preservation. The second was to date them. And the third aim was to understand the type of woods used to build these presses and therefore to picture the ancient forests. On the site of la Vignette we studied eight structures with win presses in good state and, another one situated close by (Shindo, 2012). Contrary to what was thought until now, the wooden structure of the presses is not only made of larch because some of the sampled levers are in Scots pine. The study of Scots pine pieces helped to build a long floating chronology. As for larch pieces, they have been dated (Edward, 2010) and the occupation of la Vignette dates back to the 17th century. On the Scot pine pieces, there are up to 334 tree-rings, for an average circumference of 1.70 m: they were big and old trees at the time of their fellings. Dendrochronology has demonstrated the modern occupation of the site and showed a use of two species: larch and Scots pine. This shared use is found in several local farms. All these buildings are located around 1000 m high, where the Scot pine is plentiful. It is used because of its availability as the larch. Finally, this study shows the contribution of dendrochronology to the scientific knowledge of an original heritage, witness of the daily life of men, which produced their wine at high altitude.
ARCADE. Approche diachronique et Regards croisés : Archéologie, Dendrochronologie et Environnement, actes du colloque ARCADE 2014, Aix-en-Provence, France, 2019
Les actes de ce colloque ont été publiés par la Direction régionale des affaires culturelles de P... more Les actes de ce colloque ont été publiés par la Direction régionale des affaires culturelles de Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Service régional de l'archéologie. Ils ont été coordonnés par Lisa Shindo, Jean-Louis Edouard, Franck Sumera, Maxence Bailly, Andreas Hartmann-Virnich.
Since almost 20 years, a French and British team is doing archaeological, dendrochronological and... more Since almost 20 years, a French and British team is doing archaeological, dendrochronological and anthracological studies on buildings in the Southern French Alps between 1200-2400 m. The aim is to gather information about traditional building practices and to specify long-term changes in the relationship between human societies and forest management.
In the higher altitudes, between 2070-2360 m, the appearance of stone-built structures and perishable materials is attested from about 2500 BC - 400 AD by radiocarbon dating. Only the base of the walls, consisting of clusters of uncut and unbound shale blocks is conserved (F. Mocci, K. Walsh). The material composition of walls and roof of the domestic space – probably constructed in perishable materials – can be understood from anthracological analyses of burnt remains (European larch, stone pine, B. Talon).
On lower altitudes, between 1200-2060 m, we have studied timbers from about 100 archaeological sites (J.-L. Edouard, L. Shindo). The most important buildings are houses with stables for animals in the lower stone floor. The barn is often incorporated in the house as upper floors, mostly made from wood. This lighter material allows to create many openings which helps with hay drying. Several wood building methods were identified: trusses, ‘blockbau’, half-timbering, ceiling with joists, French ceilings. These timbers are made from local species (Scots pine, European larch, fir, stone pine). Two major wood building phases were identified: 10th-14th and 15th-20th centuries AD. The hiatus in the second half of the 14th century could be linked to the historical “disruptions” which had negative consequences on demography.
Stone as the more durable material was used at least for footings from the beginning. Likewise, European larch and stone pine were employed throughout. Therefore, in this mountain area, building materials were utilized depending on local availability and on their properties.
La dendrochronologie, discipline qui étudie les variations des épaisseurs des cernes de croissanc... more La dendrochronologie, discipline qui étudie les variations des épaisseurs des cernes de croissance des arbres, est connue en archéologie pour être l’une des méthodes de datation les plus précises. L’acquisition d’une date absolue est, le plus souvent, la principale motivation des archéologues pour réaliser des analyses dendrochronologiques. Si le dialogue entre les différents acteurs de la discipline est incontournable pour fiabiliser les acquisitions de datations, voire tout simplement pour les obtenir, les problématiques des dendrochronologues s’étendent aujourd’hui à des espaces encore lacunaires, tels que les secteurs de montagne ou la Méditerranée, ainsi qu’à la question de la place des forêts sur les territoires peu ou fortement anthropisés. Les possibilités qu’offre cette discipline s’étendent bien au-delà de la datation, cette dernière étant bien entendu le point de départ pour mener toutes autres réflexions. Dans le cadre des changements climatiques actuels, les reconstitutions environnementales et les pratiques sylvicoles anciennes s’intègrent notamment dans le champ de la recherche dendrochronologique. Ainsi, la sélection des arbres (choix des espèces ou des caractéristiques dendromorphologiques), les pratiques d’exploitation forestière et leur évolution au cours du temps, mais aussi de la provenance des pièces de bois, sont autant de questions qui mettent en perspective l’étude d’un site archéologique par les interactions entre ses occupants et leur environnement. Cette communication, qui aura ainsi pour vocation de présenter l’actualité de la dendrochronologie et ses enjeux, permettra également de revenir brièvement sur les évolutions de cette discipline depuis son arrivée en France dans les années 1980.
Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant ... more Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant une journée les scientifiques de l'Académie d'Aix-Marseille. Les enseignants de l'académie sont accueillis dans des laboratoires de recherche de toutes spécialités : sciences sociales, sciences de la terre et de l'univers, mathématiques, informatique, physique, chimie, biologie, médecine... et représentent une occasion exceptionnelle d'échanges autour des dernières recherches et découvertes scientifiques. http://www.ac-aix-marseille.fr/cid82437/les-rencontres-scientifiques-enseignants-chercheurs.html
Florence Mocci, Archéologue de terrain spécialisée en milieu rural et alpin et membre du Conseil ... more Florence Mocci, Archéologue de terrain spécialisée en milieu rural et alpin et membre du Conseil scientifique du Parc naturel régional du Queyras, présentera les résultats de ses travaux archéologiques et paléoécologiques.
Depuis 1998, un programme de recherche archéologique et environnemental portant sur le peuplement dans les hauts massifs du Parc national des Ecrins et de ses abords, renouvelle la connaissance de l’occupation humaine et de la gestion de l’espace montagnard depuis la Préhistoire jusqu’à l’époque moderne. Elle sera accompagnée par deux autres chercheuses: Lisa Shindo (IMBE, CNRS- Aix Marseille Université) Brigitte Talon (IMBE, CNRS- Aix Marseille Université)
Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant... more Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant une journée les scientifiques de l'Académie d'Aix-Marseille. Les enseignants de l'académie sont accueillis dans des laboratoires de recherche de toutes spécialités : sciences sociales, sciences de la terre et de l'univers, mathématiques, informatique, physique, chimie, biologie, médecine... et représentent une occasion exceptionnelle d'échanges autour des dernières recherches et découvertes scientifiques. (site internet de l'académie Aix-Marseille) Organisation : Mickaël Albre
De Dendron, « arbre », Chronos, « temps » et Logos, « parole », la dendrochronologie est la scien... more De Dendron, « arbre », Chronos, « temps » et Logos, « parole », la dendrochronologie est la science qui étudie les cernes de croissance des arbres. Le nombre de cernes sous l’écorce que possède un arbre indique son âge et dans le cas d'un arbre mort, la date du dernier cerne produit donne sa date d'abattage. En archéologie du bâti, si le dernier cerne d'une poutre est conservé, il permet d’approcher la date de la construction à l’année, voire à la saison près. Cette discipline méconnue sera présentée en détail et illustrée par les derniers résultats obtenus dans les édifices aixois.
Timber and forest management in the Southern French Alps: dendrochronology and interdisciplinarit... more Timber and forest management in the Southern French Alps: dendrochronology and interdisciplinarity Tuesday, April 25, 2017-12:00pm to 1:00pm Room: Bannister 110 Timber study makes it possible to date the traditional buildings (farms, barns, wine presses, mills, bridge ...) and specify the time variations of relationships between human societies, timber uses and forest management. The studied area is the Durance valley, and, more generally, the southern French Alps. The time window of this study is the medieval times, modern and contemporary periods, when a large amount of material (wood) is available. The first purpose of this work was to establish a better knowledge of the built heritage, using dendrochronology. We have been highlighting the types of wood used (species, age, size) as well as the trees felling and human construction phases. Given the human occupation and the land use changes, the development of this type of study is essential to preserve the historical track of this fragile heritage, witness of a mountain society in strong relationship with its environment , especially forestry. The second purpose is to develop knowledge of the relationship between buildings and forest. This relationship addresses the issue of the Alpine forests state and forest as a resource, during the last millennium. Human occupation history, in the southern French Alps, is questioned. To reach these goals, interdisciplinarity has been a necessity. Thus, a dialogue was established with historians, archaeologists , foresters, computer specialists, carpenters, anthracologists, managers, engineers and workers in construction and restoration. In order to overcome the limits of each discipline, dendrochronology has been used to implement an interdisciplinary approach. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
L’étude s’appuie sur des données récentes issues d’un travail de thèse interdisciplinaire, souten... more L’étude s’appuie sur des données récentes issues d’un travail de thèse interdisciplinaire, soutenue en 2016. Dans cette présentation, nous nous concentrerons sur le bassin de la Durance, aux XVIIe et XVIIIe s., période au cours de laquelle le bois (mélèze, pin sylvestre, sapin, chêne) a été utilisé localement par les montagnards pour construire fermes, pressoirs à vin, boisages de mine etc., mais également par les militaires dans le cadre des fortifications briançonnaises. Plus au sud, les bois de la vallée de la Bléone (affluent de la Durance) ont été achetés par des marchands et transportés vers les zones situées en aval. La destination de ce bois d’œuvre exporté peut être illustrée par le cas de la ville d’Aix-en-Provence où de nombreuses poutres portent des marques de bûcherons ou de marchands en cours d’identification, témoins des échanges entre la montagne et la plaine.
Old forests are studied with timber dendrochronological study, archaeological, historical and car... more Old forests are studied with timber dendrochronological study, archaeological, historical and cartographic data, in the Southern French Alps, during the last millennium.
Since about twenty years, thousand dendrochronological samples were collected in old forest stands (mountain and subalpine zone) and in local traditional buildings settled near these forests. The analysis reveals long tree-ring chronologies for the 1300 last years. These tree-ring series bear witness of very old trees still alive nowadays. The kind of trees diversity in the agro-pastoral building is bring to light (Larix Decidua Mill., Pinus Cembra L., Abies Alba Mill., Pinus Sylvestris L.). These trees, presents in old forests, give evidence of forest areas local use. The study of timber volumes used in constructions allows to estimate the number of trees necessary for their building at different eras and thus to know the available resource of« belle venue » trees ( trees of good growth). In those constructions (the earliest witnesses datesd back to the 12s century) it is also possible to render wich part of the tree has been used (according to diameter and lenght compared to the likely height).
These case studies give us informations about forests areas management and provide a less doom-and-gloom image of the farm forestry than the one described in the Mmiddle Aages and modern age textual sources together with reforestation carried out since last the 19s century.
Lastly this interdisciplinarity approach enhances the knowledge on the commercial uses of mountain forests areas for towns buildings and shipbuilding ( which are large timber consumers).
Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant ... more Les Rencontres scientifiques enseignants-chercheurs offrent la possibilité de rencontrer pendant une journée les scientifiques de l'Académie d'Aix-Marseille. Les enseignants de l'académie sont accueillis dans des laboratoires de recherche de toutes spécialités : sciences sociales, sciences de la terre et de l'univers, mathématiques, informatique, physique, chimie, biologie, médecine... et représentent une occasion exceptionnelle d'échanges autour des dernières recherches et découvertes scientifiques. (site internet de l'académie Aix-Marseille) Organisation : Mickaël Albre
Séminaire de master 1 et 2 et séminaire de recherche. Spécialité 4 "Histoire de l'art et archéolo... more Séminaire de master 1 et 2 et séminaire de recherche. Spécialité 4 "Histoire de l'art et archéologie - Moyen Age, art et archéologie des mondes musulmans et byzantin" (modules Master 1 (ARC Q14 / ARC R9) et Master 2 (ARC S15). Année 2016 - 2017. Coordination au titre du LA3M et du département d'histoire de l'art et d'archéologie : N. Faucherre, A. Hartmann - Virnich.
Lundi 12 décembre 2016, mMSH, salle Georges Duby, 14h - 17h
Conférence organisée par l'Association pour les résidents de Courbons et les Archives communales ... more Conférence organisée par l'Association pour les résidents de Courbons et les Archives communales de Digne-les-Bains
Nous proposons de présenter les premiers résultats d’une recherche dendrochrono-écologique entrep... more Nous proposons de présenter les premiers résultats d’une recherche dendrochrono-écologique entreprise depuis quelques années dans les Alpes françaises du Sud. L’étude de plusieurs milliers de prélèvements dendrochronologiques sur des bois de construction apporte des données inédites sur l’ancienneté de l’habitat et sur les types de bois utilisés.
Ces résultats, croisés aux données des sources textuelles ainsi qu’aux données issues des vieux peuplements forestiers, permettent ainsi d’enrichir l’histoire de la ressource forestière et des usages du bois sur une période qui couvre les derniers mille ans dans cette région. Une des originalités de cette étude concerne la variété des constructions analysées (habitats civils, édifices religieux, édifices à fonction agricole et économique...) dont l’édification s’échelonne du XIIème au XIXème siècle.
En partant de l’étude de quelques sites représentatifs, nous aborderons la variété des essences utilisées, le type d’arbre choisi par l’homme, la relative continuité des phases d’abattage et de construction au cours du temps, la diminution du diamètre des troncs au cours du temps, afin d’esquisser l’aspect et l’évolution du couvert forestier et de la ressource qu’il représente, en haute et moyenne Durance ainsi que dans le Mercantour.
In the southern French Alps, Cervières valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in whic... more In the southern French Alps, Cervières valley (near Briançon city) has traditional houses in which wood plays an important role. Some of them are still inhabited. How old are these houses? How were they built to adapt to the particular environment of this mountain region? What were the lifestyles of the inhabitants, inseparable from this architecture? History, archaeology and dendrochronology provide answers. Six houses (1620-2061 m a.s.l.) have been sampled. Twenty-eight timbers were made of Pinus t. sylvestris and 18 of Larix decidua. While this region is known for its Larix trees, the predominance of Pinus in these buildings is certainly linked to its availability in the surrounding forests. The oldest timbers (16th c.) come from the houses at the highest altitudes, either because they are older or because they have been less restored. One house, which has not been significantly restored since the 18th century, has been studied in depth. It has 8 levels including 5 levels of wood barn. The barn is mainly composed of Pinus with a chronology covering the period 1530-1731. These Pinus have been dated on a Larix mean chronology and are the only archaeological Pinus dated in the southern French Alps. Cervières is mentioned from the 12th c. in the texts but the oldest timbers only date from the 16th c. At that time, and more particularly in the 17th-18th c., several barns were built to store large quantities of provisions. This reflects the prosperity of the inhabitants, undoubtedly linked to favourable environmental conditions.
Uploads
Paper by lisa shindo
Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France and allowed systematic dendrochronological analyses. 144 fir timbers (Abies alba Mill.) were examined and dated between 1303 and 1933. They highlight three felling phases (Medieval period, 17th-18th century, and 19th century). The best documented one corresponds to the 17th-18th centuries and coincides with significant building activity connected to the status of Aix, which is the parliamentary capital of Provence. Around Aix-en-Provence, it is difficult to find timbers with good dimensions. Our results show that timbers were transported from the Alps to Aix's buildings. Potential testimonies of this timber trade have been found, such as raft assemblage marks, and carved signs and letters. A dendroprovenancing case study shows that between 1810 and 1890, some of Aix's timbers could have come from the Northern French Alps or the Verdon-Durance region. Finally, the lack of timbers with good dimension and the difficulties of timber supply contributed to the development of reuse economy and technical innovation. These results are the foundation of a future well-established dendroprovenancing approach in the Southern Alps.
To upload this paper:
http://hal.ird.fr/hal-01344922v1
Many buildings are being restored in the city of Aix-en-Provence, southeastern France and allowed systematic dendrochronological analyses. 144 fir timbers (Abies alba Mill.) were examined and dated between 1303 and 1933. They highlight three felling phases (Medieval period, 17th-18th century, and 19th century). The best documented one corresponds to the 17th-18th centuries and coincides with significant building activity connected to the status of Aix, which is the parliamentary capital of Provence. Around Aix-en-Provence, it is difficult to find timbers with good dimensions. Our results show that timbers were transported from the Alps to Aix's buildings. Potential testimonies of this timber trade have been found, such as raft assemblage marks, and carved signs and letters. A dendroprovenancing case study shows that between 1810 and 1890, some of Aix's timbers could have come from the Northern French Alps or the Verdon-Durance region. Finally, the lack of timbers with good dimension and the difficulties of timber supply contributed to the development of reuse economy and technical innovation. These results are the foundation of a future well-established dendroprovenancing approach in the Southern Alps.
To upload this paper:
http://hal.ird.fr/hal-01344922v1
In the higher altitudes, between 2070-2360 m, the appearance of stone-built structures and perishable materials is attested from about 2500 BC - 400 AD by radiocarbon dating. Only the base of the walls, consisting of clusters of uncut and unbound shale blocks is conserved (F. Mocci, K. Walsh). The material composition of walls and roof of the domestic space – probably constructed in perishable materials – can be understood from anthracological analyses of burnt remains (European larch, stone pine, B. Talon).
On lower altitudes, between 1200-2060 m, we have studied timbers from about 100 archaeological sites (J.-L. Edouard, L. Shindo). The most important buildings are houses with stables for animals in the lower stone floor. The barn is often incorporated in the house as upper floors, mostly made from wood. This lighter material allows to create many openings which helps with hay drying. Several wood building methods were identified: trusses, ‘blockbau’, half-timbering, ceiling with joists, French ceilings. These timbers are made from local species (Scots pine, European larch, fir, stone pine). Two major wood building phases were identified: 10th-14th and 15th-20th centuries AD. The hiatus in the second half of the 14th century could be linked to the historical “disruptions” which had negative consequences on demography.
Stone as the more durable material was used at least for footings from the beginning. Likewise, European larch and stone pine were employed throughout. Therefore, in this mountain area, building materials were utilized depending on local availability and on their properties.
http://www.ac-aix-marseille.fr/cid82437/les-rencontres-scientifiques-enseignants-chercheurs.html
Depuis 1998, un programme de recherche archéologique et environnemental portant sur le peuplement dans les hauts massifs du Parc national des Ecrins et de ses abords, renouvelle la connaissance de l’occupation humaine et de la gestion de l’espace montagnard depuis la Préhistoire jusqu’à l’époque moderne.
Elle sera accompagnée par deux autres chercheuses:
Lisa Shindo (IMBE, CNRS- Aix Marseille Université)
Brigitte Talon (IMBE, CNRS- Aix Marseille Université)
Le nombre de cernes sous l’écorce que possède un arbre indique son âge et dans le cas d'un arbre mort, la date du dernier cerne produit donne sa date d'abattage. En archéologie du bâti, si le dernier cerne d'une poutre est conservé, il permet d’approcher la date de la construction à l’année, voire à la saison près.
Cette discipline méconnue sera présentée en détail et illustrée par les derniers résultats obtenus dans les édifices aixois.
Since about twenty years, thousand dendrochronological samples were collected in old forest stands (mountain and subalpine zone) and in local traditional buildings settled near these forests. The analysis reveals long tree-ring chronologies for the 1300 last years.
These tree-ring series bear witness of very old trees still alive nowadays. The kind of trees diversity in the agro-pastoral building is bring to light (Larix Decidua Mill., Pinus Cembra L., Abies Alba Mill., Pinus Sylvestris L.). These trees, presents in old forests, give evidence of forest areas local use.
The study of timber volumes used in constructions allows to estimate the number of trees necessary for their building at different eras and thus to know the available resource of« belle venue » trees ( trees of good growth).
In those constructions (the earliest witnesses datesd back to the 12s century) it is also possible to render wich part of the tree has been used (according to diameter and lenght compared to the likely height).
These case studies give us informations about forests areas management and provide a less doom-and-gloom image of the farm forestry than the one described in the Mmiddle Aages and modern age textual sources together with reforestation carried out since last the 19s century.
Lastly this interdisciplinarity approach enhances the knowledge on the commercial uses of mountain forests areas for towns buildings and shipbuilding ( which are large timber consumers).
(site internet de l'académie Aix-Marseille)
Organisation : Mickaël Albre
Lundi 12 décembre 2016, mMSH, salle Georges Duby, 14h - 17h
Ces résultats, croisés aux données des sources textuelles ainsi qu’aux données issues des vieux peuplements forestiers, permettent ainsi d’enrichir l’histoire de la ressource forestière et des usages du bois sur une période qui couvre les derniers mille ans dans cette région. Une des originalités de cette étude concerne la variété des constructions analysées (habitats civils, édifices religieux, édifices à fonction agricole et économique...) dont l’édification s’échelonne du XIIème au XIXème siècle.
En partant de l’étude de quelques sites représentatifs, nous aborderons la variété des essences utilisées, le type d’arbre choisi par l’homme, la relative continuité des phases d’abattage et de construction au cours du temps, la diminution du diamètre des troncs au cours du temps, afin d’esquisser l’aspect et l’évolution du couvert forestier et de la ressource qu’il représente, en haute et moyenne Durance ainsi que dans le Mercantour.
Six houses (1620-2061 m a.s.l.) have been sampled. Twenty-eight timbers were made of Pinus t. sylvestris and 18 of Larix decidua. While this region is known for its Larix trees, the predominance of Pinus in these buildings is certainly linked to its availability in the surrounding forests. The oldest timbers (16th c.) come from the houses at the highest altitudes, either because they are older or because they have been less restored. One house, which has not been significantly restored since the 18th century, has been studied in depth. It has 8 levels including 5 levels of wood barn. The barn is mainly composed of Pinus with a chronology covering the period 1530-1731. These Pinus have been dated on a Larix mean chronology and are the only archaeological Pinus dated in the southern French Alps.
Cervières is mentioned from the 12th c. in the texts but the oldest timbers only date from the 16th c. At that time, and more particularly in the 17th-18th c., several barns were built to store large quantities of provisions. This reflects the prosperity of the inhabitants, undoubtedly linked to favourable environmental conditions.