Interactions between the beaver (Castor fiber L.) and human societies: A long-term archaeological and historical approach

International audienceThe beaver was a common animal throughout Eurasia in the past. Furthermore, palaeoecological analyses highlight the role of the beaver in the evolution of riparian and aquatic environments. In western Europe the beaver population progressively declined over the centuries, especially from the seventeenth century according to the written sources studied by Véron (1992: 87-108) and probably much earlier (twelfth or thirteenth century) according to archaeological data (Liarsou 2012: 591). The beaver has been reintroduced into many rivers, and this reintroduction has been a success, with the beaver population now consisting of almost one million individuals. A large proportion of this new population is located in eastern Europe. The beaver has a significant impact on the riparian areas it occupies. This phenomenon is studied in detail by ecologists. Taking better account of these changes would be of great interest to archaeologists because they have influenced the behaviour of human societies in prehistoric and historic times. The objective of this article is to highlight the evolution of interactions between humans and beavers as well as the impact of changes in human behaviour towards beaver populations. The analysis of human/beaver interactions in the past finally provides insights into the potential consequences of the reintroduction of the beaver on European rivers