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A sheepfold in Lapurdi. Michel Duvert.

In 1934 J. de Yrizar said “the origins of the farmstead lie in the modest livestock housing known as borda, still seen in the mountains of the Basque Country. […] Most importantly, the building skills and ingenuity of the farmer combined all these elements [stone and oak and chestnut wood]”. In 1981 J.M. de Barandiaran expanded this point of view to note “many ancient rural houses are faithful copies of shepherd’s huts”, which amounts to saying the impact of shepherding practices and communal work (auzolana) resides precisely there, for the work of the hand —not the knowledge— of the artisan in a great number of short-lived or precarious human settlements, as is the case with animal housing, is truly exceptional. (more…)