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Sheep shearing. Carranza (Bizkaia), 1998. Miguel Sabino Díaz.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a sheep’s wool was a most valuable commodity. Shepherds in the Basque Country used to shear their flocks around St John’s festivities and benefit financially from their coats, adding to profits from the sale of lambs, cheese, and older sheep, later in October, that made up for lack of meat before pig slaughter. Wool was woven to make clothing items, typically socks, also laces for rustic shoes known as abarcas, and manes to protect straps and yokes for oxen, and of course, served as filling for mattresses and pillows in every house. Woollens used to be well appreciated for their warmth and moisture absorbing qualities. (more…)
Rebuilt dwelling for herders in Gumadernia. Carranza (Bizkaia), 2018. Miguel Sabino Díaz.
Since ancient times shepherds from the valley who grazed their flocks on hillocks and heights of the Ordunte Mountains belonging to the municipality of Carranza (Bizkaia) have used caves and rocky outcrops in the range, along with improvised shanty constructions for temporary shelter from inclement weather and protection against the presence of wolves and the grave danger they posed to the sheep. (more…)
Animal housing on the ascent to Akoka (Lapurdi). Michel Duvert.
The geographical analysis of the landscape of Lapurdi is approached at three levels perfectly defined in the high mountains (Garazi…), and which slip away southwards towards the ocean, along the axis of the Pyrenean mountain. (more…)
A pen in the commons (Lapurdi). Michel Duvert.
In former times, when the structure of farmhouses (etxeak, in Basque) was still made of wood, open animal housing in the commons (herriko lurrak) was regulated. Enclosures (borda-barrukiak) were built for livestock to use as natural refuge (from heat, flies…). The Charter of Lapurdi, Title III Article I, says: “Every parish in Lapurdi counts with communal and neighbourhood lands owned by all its parishioners where a certain kind and number of farm animals is allowed to graze”. “Sheds, lodges and fencing may be erected for housing livestock, shepherds and rangers”, with no other requirement but the common obligations applying to any “human settlement”. Besides a high regard for private property, we shall mention open access rights, exclusive dedication to pasture, respect for the veto system, protection of trees and forests, etc. This environment would inevitably develop here and elsewhere. (more…)
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