Synergies of river and land circulation in towns with small rivers: The case of Poitiers (France)

Abstract

AbstractThe development of waterfront archeology since the 1970s has motivated the study of the synergies between cities and rivers. The increasing number of excavations in city waterfronts with its inception in Northern Europe, emphasize the complexity and value of riparian areas. These city‐river synergies shed light on such natural and cultural complexity, which requires a multidisciplinary approach and highlights the dynamics of a changing, hybrid and multifunctional riverine area. Although this interdisciplinary field of research has recently been growing, archeological research in France is focused primarily on large hydro systems with respect to smaller ones. This paper focuses on two secondary watercourses—the Clain and the Boivre—surrounding the city of Poitiers in Western France. Studying river and land circulation of the city in a longue durée perspective highlights the importance of small rivers in waterway traffic, as well as their archeological potential. These findings call for a reconsideration of the rich heritage of small rivers in future urban development projects, taking into account the sensitivity of small hydro systems to environmental changes.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Human Water