Archéo-écologie des plaines alluviales de la Meuse en France et de la Moselle au Luxembourg

Abstract

Archaeological excavations in alluvial environments, carried out before the extraction of aggregate, allow us to better understand both palaeoenvironmental data and human occupations. Due to the high-resolution palaeoenvironnemental records, a plury-disciplinary approach was carried out to reconstruct the natural and « cultural » landscape. Industrial mining activity has produced an unexpected ecological impact. This is well marked by the development of artificial wetlands such as ponds and a new biological colonization of those habitats. The 1979 Berne’s Convention regarding the conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats accounting for the procedures as Habitats directive and Birds directive controls the protection of those sensitive areas. The increasing interest in environmental preservation has contributed to development of pedagogical organizations, institutes and projects for the public. In that regard, the field of Archaeosciences unravels the valley controlling-factors about palaeoenvironmental evolution. Ancient societies have interacted with their environment, thus Archeology complemented by paleo-environmental reconstructions are essential to consider from the field to the communication with the public. The in-progress fieldwork studies in the Meuse Valley, have paved the long way until the creation of pedagogical space such as the Biodiversum nature conservation center, in the Moselle Valley at the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Keywords

• Ardennes
• Luxembourg
• geoarchaeology
• paleoenvironments
• cultural mediation