GALADIUS

This collaborative and interdisciplinary project is centred on a Mediterranean mountain space located in Upper Bléone, the Ager Galadius, a space clearly delineated from the Carolingian period thanks to exceptional written sources, including the famous Wadalde Polyptych. Three lines of study emerge: firstly, to apprehend the human, political, and economic dynamics of this territory in the long term (from Prehistory to the Middle Ages), based on notions of geopolitics, in particular through the notions of structuring and network. Within the second axis, the aim is to assess the nature, importance and management methods of available, proven and potential resources (sheep, forest and mining resources). Although written sources have been the subject of numerous studies by historians, no field approach has been carried out to date: prospecting, excavations, surveys, sampling. Finally, the third axis makes it possible to measure the current reaction of the forest after centuries of proven exploitation, particularly in relation to the medieval abbey of Faillefeu.

Launched by the A*Midex Foundation, the 2018 call for projects "Pépinière d'excellence" supports actions that contribute to the structuring of a research project. These actions involve a partnership with actors from the socio-economic or cultural world.