version françaiseResearch Bases
The two databases presented here are part of a multi-stage research process.
Significant exploratory work began in 2002. All the directors of departmental archives
were contacted, and over 80 provided detailed responses on the available
bibliographical and archival information. A wide-reaching survey was conducted
concerning national, regional, and local populations. Moreover, around a hundred
genealogical associations were contacted, and helped as to collect large amounts of data
in most of the French regions.
In order to broaden the initial perspective of this investigation, we used a scientific
environment based on collective work and projects, as well as individual research. In
terms of collective work, we contacted researchers interested in wolves, via several
scientific events in France:
- The 2007-2008 seminar at Caen’s rural centre on “hunting, societies, and rural spaces”.
- A study day on large predators in Blois, as part of the “Is a history of large carnivorous predators in Europe possible?” history conference, on 11 October 2008.
- A study day on “Man and Wolf: why and how should we study wolves today? ” at the Café des Images in Hérouville-Saint-Clair on 3 February 2009.
- A conference at the University of Banyoles (Catalonia): “Wolves and men in Catalonia. from past to present”, 6-8 November 2008, bringing together Catalan, Castilian, Asturian, and Basque researchers.
- A conference in Grenoble on “Man and wild animals in the Alps and mountain areas” (1-3 October 2009), with Swiss, Italian, Spanish, Romanian and French researchers.
- The symposium, “Living with Wolves? Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Overview for France, and European Perspectives” (9-12 October 2013), where historians sought to bring together researchers in the human and life sciences, as well as stakeholders and developers whose activities brought them into contact with wolves (particularly livestock farmers).
