Landscapes of Agricultural Expansion in the Estuaries of the Basque Coast (Sixteenth-Nineteenth Centuries)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from regularly flooded surfaces. This paper explores the role of land reclamation on the historical transformation of estuarine landscapes in the Basque coast (N Spain & SW France) during the Early Modern period (sixteenth-nineteenth centuries). Documentary sources, historical cartography, and field survey are combined to document the main social practices that have shaped polder-like landscapes. Results show that land reclamation has been the driving factor of landscape transformation in the studied areas during the Early Modern period. These processes can be related to a general trend of wetland colonisation across the Atlantic regions of Europe, with colossal social, economic and environmental repercussions. Many material traces of these transformations still exist on the ground, forming highly anthropized cultural landscapes. However, the implementation of wetland restoration projects compromises their preservation, evidencing the need for an accurate documentation of their formation and evolution.