Bountiful Borderlands: A History of Pyrenean Livelihoods

by Martin Locker

Bountiful Borderlands: A History of Pyrenean Livelihoods traces the stories of herders, hunters, woodsmen, blacksmiths and smugglers in the Pyrenees. The archaeological and historical background of these practices are analysed alongside their socio-cultural importance. The various folkloric traditions that grew from these livelihoods are also addressed, with examples of associated songs, artefacts, legends and rituals often presented for the first time in English. What emerges is a rich portrait of these practices and their practitioners, using primary sources and scholarship in Spanish, Catalan, Basque, French and English from the fields of archaeology, history, social history, ethnography and folkore studies. This wide range of reference material allows the reader to grapple with the under-explored question of how Pyrenean people historically survived and thrived among their mountains, forests, pastures and lakes, and how these pursuits shaped their cultures.

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021