Low water levels along French river help to reveal medieval fishery

Low water levels along French river help to reveal medieval fishery

Source: medievalists

10/6/2022

Low water levels along French river help to reveal medieval fishery

Research carried out by Inrap (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives) along the Loire River in western France has uncovered the medieval fisheries. They were found along left bank of the river, near Île Poulas, when sandbanks emerged in mid-August. The archaeologists excavated stone and wood fittings, which were positioned in a “W” shape and were meant to create a dike to direct part of the river (and fish) into a series of nets and traps. It is believed that they were trying to catch fish swimming upstream, such as salmon.

The fishery dates to about the 12th century, and the archaeologists believe that the site could have accommodated at least one mill-boat, a vessel with paddle wheels that would remain fixed on the river, and then could be used to operate millstones or a sawmill. It is also likely that during the Middle Ages this part of the Loire River was a little south of its present course.