Gál Éva szerk.: A Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve 53. (2008-2015) (Pécs, 2015)
TERMÉSZETTUDOMÁNYOK - Dénes Andrea: A Villányi-hegység táj használatának történetéhez. Tájhasználat a 20. századig, nagyharsányi területtörténetek botanikai megközelítésből
26 A Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve (2015) On the land-use history of the Villány Mts: Land-use till the 20th century and histories of selected areas around Nagyharsány from a botanical perspective Andrea Dénes Rising abruptly from the surrounding region, the Villány Mts. form a unique mountain range of Hungary, with sub-medterranean climatic influences, a peculiar flora and vegetation, and protected and strictly protected reserves of considerable nature conservation importance. In the past, it was almost literally an island, bordered by marshy areas to the south, thus it was important for agricultural use not only for the settlements situated at the southern mountain foots, but also for settlements from the nearby Ormánság region, which usually possessed vineyards here. Therefore, the vegetation of the Villány Mts. has undergone major changes, or at least the land-use has considerably influenced the present state of its vegetation. In this paper I collected historical data referring to land-use practices and relevant from a botanist’s perspective, based on historical, geographical-literary and archived sources. The ancient state of the landscape has been modified by humans since the paleolithic, but mainly the neolithic cultures, as the region has been continuously inhabited ever since, with a dense network of settlements, regional economic and religious centers, market towns and a 13th-century fortresses. The stony south-facing slopes were used as xeric mountain pastures (there is no grazing any more). Using the mountain-foot slopes covered by loess, local inhabitants have developed the area into a famous wine-region. The historical sources allow a relatively accurate reconstruction of the history of the areas of considerable nature conservation importance (near Nagyharsány: Mt Szársomlyó and the southern slope of Mt Fekete). Their use must have been considerable almost continuously (mainly for grazing and logging). In many cases the secondary origin of certain areas can be verified (abandoned vineyards and orchards), but the most valuable secondary habitats have regenerated from the natural flora of the surrounding areas, which was supported by the abiotic conditions as well (eroded stony surfaces or only shallow and nutrient-poor soils). The views on the geological, mountain formation processes as the only causes for the barrennes of the south-facing slope of Mt Szársomlyó may need a re-consideration in light of the new findings.
