Agrarian land use and forest change in Southern Burgundy, France: A multi-source study

This paper discusses historic land use patterns in the agricultural community of Uxeau Commune, Burgundy, France over the last 250 years, using archaeological survey, historical maps within a GIS, and historical documents such as government cadastral data, agricultural reports, and population records as primary sources. We see a dynamic pattern of land use in which vineyards, woods and pasture (of varying types) are found in differing proportions over time, and in similar locations, sometimes even replacing each other. This suggests that at different times vineyards or pasture were potentially more important economically/socially than woods, and vice versa, as these land use practices alternate. In this paper we will discuss the trends of continuity and change in the presence of forests, pastures and vineyards, the relationship between the land uses and the reasons for land use change.