Reconstruction with high spatio-temporal resolution of past forest dynamics and charcoal-making activities in an upper metallurgical valley in the eastern Pyrenees : first geoarchaeological, dendro and anthracological results

Abstract : This study aims to reconstruct with high spatiotemporal resolution the history of a forest located in the High Vicdessos valley where mining and iron ore processing activities are attested from the Roman period to the 19th century. The study area (Fig. 1) is located on the west part of the Suc-et-Sentenac Commune in the beech forest of Bernadouze (Fig. 2) where 81 charcoal kilns were detected by field investigation(Fig. 3). They range between 1300 and 1500 m asl in an area of 32 ha.