Archeological investigations in one of the most species-rich French Mediterranean dry grasslands (La Crau, Southern France) revealed a dense network of ancient sheep corrals dating from Roman to modern times. By analyzing soil chemistry and vegetation across abandonment dates spanning two millennia, we bring to light a persisting signature of Roman, eighteenth century and modern corrals on present-day ecosystems. Community composition and species-richness reflect time after abandonment of sheep stables and are linked to long-term persistence of eutrophication from historical sheep concentrations. Our data highlight changes in vegetation that persist two millennia after human impacts ceased. Small-scale pastoral legacies from Roman times continue to have significant impacts on present-day herbaceous plant communities. Our findings point to a need for greater consideration of persisting eutrophication in dry grasslands and of the conservation value of these long-term legacies.

在物种最丰富的法国地中海干燥草原（法国南部拉克劳）上进行的考古调查显示，古老的绵羊畜栏网可追溯到罗马，直至现代。通过分析跨越两千年的废弃日期的土壤化学和植被，我们发现了当今生态系统中罗马，十八世纪和现代畜栏的持久特征。群落组成和物种丰富度反映了绵羊s舍被遗弃后的时间，并且与绵羊历史浓度引起的富营养化长期持续存在相关。我们的数据强调了在人类影响停止后的两千年里植被的变化。罗马时代的小规模牧业遗产继续对当今的草本植物群落产生重大影响。