Man’s footprints in the mountains – Mapping landscapes of the past

The aim of this workshop is to develop theoretical and methodological reflection on the reading of anthropic and environmental memories inscribed in the landscapes of the Ardèche mountains, by introducing students to interdisciplinarity. Reading landscapes is a gateway to understanding the appropriation of places and territories by societies.

Alternating theory and immersion in the field, students learn to “see” shapes, decipher the landscape and understand its evolution over time. Drawing and cartography, illustrating the diversity of landscape representations, are major tools for developing this analytical eye.

Initially, participants acquire fundamental knowledge of geomorphological cartography: definition, evolution of legends, in situ survey methods and practical applications. The aim is also to develop essential skills: observation drawing, synthesis diagram and cartographic analysis.

The second part of the module is immersion in the field. For four days, students are divided into small groups and work on complementary sectors of an explored route, notably around the Lavoul plateau and the Pascaloune cave in Ardèche. They collect data, carry out surveys and meet with local players to gain a better understanding of the long-term impact of trails and the way people have travelled in these areas. The educational team accompanies the groups throughout the day and leads the evening sharing sessions. All participants are accommodated close to the study site, ensuring total immersion.