Triquête serves as an integrative umbrella for a number of individual and collaborative research efforts that take as their commonality the study of the evolution of landscape in the region of Burgundy, France. Project researchers employ ethnography, history, archaeology, art history and other social sciences and humanities, as well as geology, climatology, ecology and the biological sciences, to study how human activity and physical conditions modify regions.

Our name combines three related meanings. First, the tripartite form's deep history is that of the 'triskele' (triquête in French), an ancient symbol of motion and reincarnation. Dating from at least Neolithic times, the symbol is a central element in Celtic religion. Secondly, it evokes the 'three-winged bird,' an example of emergent behavior in complex non-linear systems; the three-winged bird visually represents a system in chaos. To produce it, a simple non-linear equation was set to go through a million iterations, with each result plotted as a point in three-dimensional computer phase space. As the system evolved, the three-winged shape emerged, demonstrating the inherent order of chaotic systems, only visible over time. Finally, the logo symbolizes the three central activities of our organization (research, education, organization).

Those three activities form the backbone of the Triquête site. The research section collects the various works of project participants. The education section will contain educational resources for those wishing to learn more, as well as detailing the educational opportunities that Triquête plans to offer. Under the educational umbrella, the links section provides offsite opportunities for further investigation of the subject, while the news section collects press pieces written about Triquête. The organization section describes the history of Triquête, while the who are we and contact sections provide a chance to get to know project participants.

See a slide presentation designed by French Project scholars about the land and the people who live today in the ancient hills, mountains, and valleys of the Saone-et-Loire department of France.