Marginal landscapes: a study of early medieval settlement preferences

This study explores the relationship between environment and rural settlement preferences in post-Roman Northwest Gaul, revealing a surprising concentration of settlements in marginal and wet environments. Using environmental classification, GIS analysis and a unique dataset, it reveals aspects of the socio-economic strategies of a rural population that has become relatively autonomous after the retreat of the Roman administration. These findings challenge traditional views on agricultural productivity and settlement patterns, suggesting that rural communities actively adapted to their environments. These findings challenge the traditional view that agricultural productivity was the primary determinant of settlement location. For future research, this calls for a more flexible perspective—one that moves beyond rigid notions of productivity and remains open to diverse, context-specific land-use systems.