Notarial Deeds at the ‘Italian Borders’: The Jurisdictions of Borgo and Primiero – Database (15571904)
The objective of this historical-archival project is to identify, survey, and produce a systematic inventory of notarial deeds generated during private professional practice within the jurisdictions of Primiero and Borgo Valsugana between 1557 and 1904.
The corpus consists primarily of bound notarial registers, with a smaller number of loose records. These records contain acts that have been transcribed almost in full and typically authenticated by the notaries’ signatures and, in some cases, by their notarial marks. The chronological coverage extends from 1557 to 1885 for Borgo Valsugana and from 1583 to 1904 for Primiero. The documentation is derived from two separate archival accessions, comprising a total of 163 archival units.
The project places particular emphasis on records produced by local communities in relation to the governance and exploitation of natural resources. A particular focus is allocated to the analysis of leases pertaining to forests and pastures, in addition to temporary and permanent vicinia rights. Furthermore, the establishment of protected forest areas, designated as “boschi banditi”, is a significant area of interest. The interactions between local communities, feudal authorities, and the central administration in Innsbruck are thoroughly documented in the notarial sources, providing a comprehensive historical record. The projec’s objective is to shed light on long-term institutional practices and community-based resource management in an Alpine context.
Scientific coordinator: Katia Occhi
Researcher: Marco Zanella
Partners
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler – Istituto storico italo-germanico
- Archivio di Stato di Trento
- Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto
