Rural Life and Work in Northern Gaul During the Early Middle ages

Abstract

The study of the Merovingian landscape allows us to distinguish two important steps in the transformation of the countryside that followed the end of the Roman Empire. The first, which extended from the end of the fifth to the mid-seventh century, attests to three different forms of land use in the countryside transformed by human occupation. It consisted of dispersed habitations that were sometimes located in the immediate proximity of an ancient settlement, a semi-grouped settlement in a loose organization, and finally a more densely organized grouped settlement. This first stage marked the return to construction largely in wood and earth, with characteristic architectural types such as sunken huts. Beyond agricultural activity, rural settlements provide evidence of artisanal activity such as metallurgy. Many changes characterized the second developmental stage (mid-seventh to late eighth century), which marked the end of antiquity. Land distribution was modified, and grouped habitation became the predominant form of settlement. Settlements were organized more clearly, and sometimes sections were specially reserved for artisanal or agricultural activities. It is during this period that religious structures and/or funerary structures were created among the settlements and cemeteries. Some modifications in construction were equally perceptible. The organization of artisanal and agricultural production also saw important changes.

What is a village? Agroscapes, collective action and medieval villages in northern Iberia

“…Phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ), sulphur trioxide (SO 3 ) and manganese oxide (MnO) show high positive loadings, while MgO shows a moderate positive loading. This reflects the presence of organometallic compounds or non-edaphic organic matter in the sediment (Huang & Jin 2008;Atafar et al 2010), the presence of which can indicate agricultural practices such as manuring (Narbarte-Hernández et al 2019, 2020. Finally, the radiocarbon measurements are summarised in Table 2.…”

“…The results of the recent upsurge of rescue or developer-led archaeology, however, challenge this explanation by demonstrating that the first villages emerged at an earlier date and evolved within different social and political contexts. Recent research has also documented notable regional diversity alongside the generally accepted distinction between the landscapes of the north of the country and the Mediterranean south (Passarrius & Catafau 2018;Peytremann 2020;Favory et al 2021).…”