The Archaeology of Medieval Spain, 1100-1500;Magdalena Valor; Avelino Gutiérrez

Magdalena Valor [+–]

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

Avelino Gutiérrez [+–]

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

The Iberian peninsula has a particular archaeology within Europe. In the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and Jews coexisted in towns and in the countryside. But the country was divided between the Christian kingdoms in the north and Muslim al-Andalus in the south. Both areas changed in many ways as the Christians gradually expanded their territory and were finally victorious in 1492. This book focuses on differences and similarities as well as the interchanges between the cultures which produced much of the heritage of present-day Spain.

This book is the first modern survey in English of medieval archaeology in Spain, and it reveals the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological work after the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980s.

Series: Studies in the Archaeology of Medieval Europe

Prelims

Special Topics [+–] iii – iii

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

List of figures [+–] iv – ix

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Acknowledgements [+–] x – xi

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Foreword [+–] xii – xiv

John Schofield

The Study of Medieval Archaeology [+–] 1 -16

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. This chapter provides an introduction to the authors’ survey of the archaeology of Spain between about 1100 and about 1500. It comprises descriptions of the geographic situation of Spain and the main events of the medieval period; a short history of Spanish medieval archaeology; examples of new archaeological techniques in Spain today; and the broad intentions of the two main authors in writing the book.

Rural Settlement and Landscape [+–] 17 – 44

Magdalena Valor,Iñaki García Camino

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. The chapter begins in the countryside, both far from towns and next to towns. Villages, rural settlement and landscape studies are fairly new fields of archaeological study in Spain, in comparison with the archaeology of cities, the most visible form of evidence of the 12th to 15th centuries. Archaeological studies of rural settlement have become more common in the last twenty years; they include excavations in villages, studies of the environment through analyses of pollen, animal bones and soils, and the use of techniques of landscape archaeology such as interpretation of aerial photographs in order to discover deserted villages and former boundaries, forests and crops. The authors review here archaeological models of Andalusi and Christian rural settlement and landscape, agricultural technology and deserted villages.

Urban Settlement [+–] 45 – 72

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. This chapter considers some general parameters for the study of medieval towns in Spain: the nature of the remaining archaeological evidence, including standing buildings; types of town and the periods and places where medieval town-planning evidently took place; and the archaeology of public buildings and works, especially extensions to towns which indicate real or intended growth. Certain urban themes, for instance on fortification, palaces, shipyards and industries, are taken up in more detail in the chapters which follow.

Housing and Domestic Life [+–] 73 – 99

Avelino Gutiérrez,Magdalena Valor

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

Technology, Craft and Industry [+–] 100 – 116

Ricardo Córdoba

University of Córdoba

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. In this chapter the author explores the topic of archaeological research into industrial activities during the Middle Ages is in its infancy. Working tools and devices, have been found in many late medieval rural sites, always in relation to the activities of everyday life. Industrial facilities are less well known as most of those investigated belong to the last centuries of the Middle Ages. Archaeological excavations carried out in recent years however have significantly increased our knowledge of medieval industry, making it one of the most progressive research fields in medieval material culture. There is abundant evidence for textile production, tanning and leatherworking, mining and metallurgy, pottery and glass making; and waterworks for powering olive oil or sugar cane production.

Trade, Transport and Travel [+–] 117 – 148

Avelino Gutiérrez,Magdalena Valor

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. This chapter studies the trade and transport systems as clear indicators of the nature and health of the economic system of any society. The volume and scale of exchange and transfer of goods, people, skills and ideas constitute a measure of the systems of production and of the distribution of goods, from a local or regional scale to an international one. The buildings, public constructions and objects unearthed by archaeology enable us to identify whether a settlement had a subsistence economy, producing its own artefacts such as ceramics or metals and food without external trade, or whether the state had developed a complex market economy with far reaching trade and cultural contacts.

Castles and Fortifications [+–] 149 – 175

Avelino Gutiérrez,Magdalena Valor

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

The Display of Secular Power [+–] 176 – 202

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. This chapter investigates the expression of secular power. This is most evident in both Andalusi and Christian contexts in the form of the royal palace. Here recent archaeological work is significantly altering the picture formerly given by architectural history. We can also follow royal and aristocratic ways of life as they were imitated in town and country by the rich and well-off. So this chapter alludes to the pastimes of hunting, feasting, sports and games, which were aristocratic activities and symbols of power, as well as other methods of display such as regalia and heraldry.

Religions and Religious Buildings [+–] 203 – 235

Magdalena Valor,Fernando Miguel

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

Life, Death and Memory [+–] 236 – 255

Fernando Gil,Magdalena Valor

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

The Iberian Peninsula represents a very particular case within the European context. During the Middle Ages Christians, Muslims and also Jews coexist in cities and the countryside. The territory was divided in Christian kingdoms and al-Andalus, both parts changing drastically between the 12th and 15th century. This book attempts to focus on differences, similarities and influences of these various cultures that developed during this crucial period between High and Late Middle Ages, as well as their heritage in present Spain. The volume is the first modern account in English of medieval archaeology in Spain benefiting from the extraordinary development of Spanish archaeological research arising from the creation of regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas) in the 1980’s. In this chapter we deal with attitudes to life and death as revealed by archaeology, especially the kinds of funerary tombs and rituals; but also the archaeology of beliefs. Differences in religious belief produce differences in food and diet, customs, medicine and health care, as well as different rituals at the graveside. At the same time, both Muslim and Christian burial customs employed a variety of forms, from the simplest grave to the most complex monuments. So differences and variety may have many reasons.

Conclusions and Hopes for the Future [+–] 256 – 257

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez,John Schofield

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Notes

Notes [+–] 258 – 279

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Websites for Spanish medieval archaeology

Websites for Spanish medieval archaeology [+–] 280 – 283

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Glossary

Glossary [+–] 284 – 286

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Bibliography

Bibliography [+–] 287 – 320

Magdalena Valor,Avelino Gutiérrez

University of Seville

Magdalena Valor is Professor of History and Medieval Archaeology at the University of Seville.

University of Oviedo

Avelino Gutiérrez is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oviedo.

Index

Index [+–] 321 – 336

John Schofield

Reviews

For students of medieval Spain, this is a work that has long been needed. It is invaluable for placing architectural structures within the physical environs of the Peninsula and for showing how they changed in the constant interaction between Spain’s Muslim and Christian societies. The authors of this book, however, go farther than that; they lay before us the structures of daily life in medieval Spain. Both the scholarly and general reader should be grateful for this gift.
Sixteenth Century Studies

An extremely useful didactic resource for academics and students alike and an excellent introduction to the archaeology of medieval Spain for both non-specialists and archaeologists new to the region.
Medieval Archaeology

This highly-recommended book covers many topics, a wide geographical area and includes Christians, Muslims and Jews... the hardback includes a lot of colour photographs and maps, an extensive and up-to-date bibliography, and a glossary of specific terms. It seems strange that [such a] book is not in Spanish or produced in Spain, but the English edition will provide a dissemination of the subject at a European level.
Tiempo y Sociedad

Such an ambitious book is difficult to summarise; all one can say is that it is astonishing that so little attention has been paid until now to such a rich archaeological resource ….
Salon

This is an extremely useful book that forms part of a series, which if it develops in the way that is intended, will provide a valuable resource for both historians and archaeologists working on most regions of medieval Europe.
Speculum

There is so much here to be explored and digested, and so much will be of interest to many and varied audiences; and it is certainly a volume to be recommended for immediate purchase for institutional libraries.
Medieval Settlement Research

This is a most welcome publication, which should be a permanent fixture on any syllabus teaching the History or the literature of the Middle Ages in Spain. With more than 40 pages of literature plus an appendix with links to Spanish Medieval archaeology websites, the book really works as a splendid companion.
Medieval Histories

While the English-language publications dedicated to the history, art history and archaeology of early medieval Spain would happily fill several shelves of a bookcase, those on the later medieval period have until now, been somewhat lacking. This book by Valor and Guitierrez begins to reverse that trend and makes a very significant contribution to this field. The book whole-heartedly fulfils its aim to explain Spanish history and archaeology to a non-Spanish audience. Much of the research presented has only previously been published in Spanish and often in publications not widely available outside of Spain. Overall it summarizes some of the latest archaeological research and unpicks the complexities of the typologies which have hitherto been an important element of art historical and architectural Spanish scholarship. As a result, the book is of value to a readership ranging from the undergraduate approaching the subject for the first time to the more seasoned scholar who requires a summary of some of the latest archaeological research.
Journal of Islamic Archaeology

We can only congratulate the authors for this brilliant synthesis.
Mélanges de la Casa de Velázquez

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The Archaeology of Medieval Spain, 1100-1500

Magdalena Valor [+–]

University of Seville

Avelino Gutiérrez [+–]

University of Oviedo

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